Senior Counsel

Senior Counsel-Associate General Counsel - Benefits Hybrid

At Allianz Life, we are driven by our mission - we secure your future - and by our common goal of caring for tomorrow. We care for our employees by promoting an inclusive culture where everyone has the opportunity to grow and be rewarded for their success. We care for our customers by creating new products that help them protect their families and pursue their retirement goals. We care for our community by giving time, resources, and donations. In addition, we care for the future by supporting sustainability, protecting the local environment, and promoting societal equity.

The Legal Department seeks an experienced employee benefits attorney to provide legal benefits support to Allianz Life Insurance Company of North America, and several related companies. This attorney will be responsible for collaborating with the Benefits and Compensation Team and other key stakeholders to provide legal advice and support regarding benefits plan design, implementation, interpretation, governance, compliance, fiduciary training, etc.

What you do:

This position is responsible for providing legal counsel on matters related to qualified and nonqualified retirement plans, incentive compensation plans, health and welfare benefit plans, QDROs, etc., including:

1. Partnering closely with, and providing advice and support to, the company's benefits and compensation team regarding benefit plan design, implementation, interpretation, governance, and compliance.
2. Providing analysis and review of benefit plans, benefit plan administration, and related documentation.
3. Drafting and reviewing documents concerning employee benefit plans including plan documents, summary plan descriptions, and participant communications.
4. Reviewing service provider agreements.
5. Providing advice regarding compliance of benefit plans and programs, including compliance with ERISA, HIPAA, Affordable Care Act, COBRA, the Internal Revenue Code (including Sections 125 and 409A), FSAs, HRAs, HSAs, and other related state and federal laws.
6. Keeping current on legal developments and changes in laws and regulations related to employee benefit and executive compensation plans.
7. Advising plan fiduciaries on plan governance matters, including advice and training on ERISA and fiduciary responsibilities related to ERISA qualified plans.
8. Advising on executive compensation matters.
9. Advising on employee benefit plan and executive compensation governance matters.

What you bring:

1. Education: Juris Doctor from an accredited law school, and admission and member in good standing to applicable State Bar.
2. 8-10 years of legal experience, including at least 6 years legal experience as an employee benefits and compensation attorney.
3. Strong expertise and experience with retirement, health and welfare, and executive compensation plans, governance, and related laws and regulations, as well as experience drafting benefit plan documents and advising plan fiduciaries.
4. Strong knowledge and understanding of both federal and state benefits and executive compensation laws.
5. Ability to establish and maintain successful relationships with legal teams, Benefits and Compensation Department, corporate boards, settlor and fiduciary committees, parent company personnel, and outside counsel.
6. Demonstrated ability to collaborate with other stakeholders, steer complex conversations, and effectively influence senior leaders.
7. Demonstrated ability to effectively prioritize, focus, and execute on critical priority projects.
8. Outstanding written and verbal communication; ability to build trust and effectively communicate legal concepts to business partners.
9. Demonstrated commitment to high professional ethical standards and a diverse workplace, and demonstrated self-initiative, integrity, and resilience.
10. Proficient in Microsoft Office Suite: Word, PowerPoint, and Excel.

Preferred:

1. A combination of law firm and in-house experience.
2. Employment law and/or benefits law litigation experience.
3. Experience and expertise regarding benefits issues across multiple related companies.

What we offer:

At Allianz Life, we're proud to provide a benefits package that supports the True Balance of our employees and their families. We offer: a choice of comprehensive medical, dental and vision plan options, health savings account, tuition reimbursement, student loan retirement plan, generous annual paid leave, an outstanding 401(k) company match, and life insurance. Plus, our employees enjoy an award-winning campus with an array of discounted amenities, including an onsite health center, child development center, fitness facility, convenience store and two cafeterias. Our employees and leaders take an active role in shaping our culture through our Employee Resource Groups, whose activities and advocacy contribute to an environment that welcomes, includes and celebrates diversity. Our generous benefits, campus amenities and inclusive, engaged culture are among the many reasons we're routinely recognized as a top workplace employer.

Allianz Group is one of the most trusted insurance and asset management companies in the world. Caring for our employees, their ambitions, dreams and challenges, is what makes us a unique employer. Together we can build an environment where everyone feels empowered and has the confidence to explore, to grow and to shape a better future for our customers and the world around us. We at Allianz believe in a diverse and inclusive workforce and are proud to be an equal opportunity employer. We encourage you to bring your whole self to work, no matter where you are from, what you look like, who you love or what you believe in. We therefore welcome applications regardless of ethnicity or cultural background, age, gender, nationality, religion, disability or sexual orientation.