Job Information
MetLife Senior Counsel - Employee Benefits & Comp in New York, New York
Role Value Proposition:
MetLife, through its subsidiaries and affiliates, is one of the world’s leading financial services companies, providing insurance, annuities, employee benefits and asset management to individual and institutional customers. We’re united by our purpose to help our customers and each other create a confident future; we’re guided by empathy; and we’re inspired by each other to make a difference in the lives of our coworkers, customers, communities, and the world at large. At MetLife, it’s #AllTogetherPossible. Join us!
Legal Affairs - Building confident futures is at the center of all our work at MetLife. In Legal Affairs, that means empowering our trusted advisors and advocates to focus on what’s possible while safeguarding MetLife’s global interests. Collaborating with each other and our businesses around the globe, we support innovative solutions while protecting our customers, employees, communities, and shareholders. And we work in an environment founded on integrity, trust, candor, and respect, where new challenges and diverse perspectives are encouraged and celebrated.
This Senior Counsel position will support the Legal team in advising human resources business partners (the "business partners") on a variety of legal domestic and international employee benefit matters, including retirement, deferred compensation programs and health & welfare plans.
Key Responsibilities:
Provide legal counsel on full range of issues in support of the in-house ERISA plans and other employee benefit programs
Partner in the legal support for the review of general commercial contracts for employee benefit plans and other arrangements
Provide proactive and timely legal advice and knowledge sharing to business partners and other stakeholders
Draft and amend employee benefit plans and deferred compensation arrangements, including employee communication materials, as needed
Support business partners in review of general commercial contracts with respect to vendor relationships on behalf of benefit plans
Track legislation affecting employee benefits to determine the impact to in-house employee benefit plans and communicate to business partners the impact of laws to employee benefit plans
Provide legal counsel to business partners on employment tax-related issues including the determination of taxation of compensation, fringe benefits and payroll related items
Provide legal assistance and counsel for ad hoc projects as needed
Essential Business Experience and Technical Skills:
Required:
Minimum of eight years of experience as legal counsel in either a law firm, a consulting firm or as in-house counsel
Firm knowledge of U.S. benefit laws with respect to retirement, deferred compensation, health & welfare, including IRC, ERISA, HIPAA, COBRA and PPACA
Working knowledge of international benefits programs, regulations, and income tax treaties
Strong writing skills
Team player with strong interpersonal and communication skills and ability to multi-task and prioritize
Good business acumen and ability to provide both technical and practical legal counsel to internal business partners
Current member of a state bar in good standing
Preferred:
- Juris Doctorate degree required, Master of Laws ("LLM") a plus
At MetLife, we’re leading the global transformation of an industry we’ve long defined. United in purpose, diverse in perspective, we’re dedicated to making a difference in the lives of our customers.
Equal Employment Opportunity/Disability/Veterans
If you need an accommodation due to a disability, please email us at accommodations@metlife.com. This information will be held in confidence and used only to determine an appropriate accommodation for the application process.
MetLife maintains a drug-free workplace.