Assistant General Counsel, SRP

Agency

Division

Job Classification Title

Position Number

Grade

About Us

Our mission is to preserve, protect and sustain the state’s pension and healthcare plans, generate investment returns in excess of comparable public pensions, properly account for and report on all funds that are deposited, invested, and disbursed through the North Carolina Department of State Treasurer, assure the financially sound issuance of debt for state and local governments, maintain the state’s “AAA” bond rating, and provide exemplary service across all divisions of the Department.

Description of Work

Knowledge Skills and Abilities/Management Preferences

The attorney in this position must exercise substantial discretion and make quick, independent, responsible decisions, and will be expected, in most instances, to carry out their job functions with minimal assistance from others. The attorney in this position also must be able to work effectively with others, including the State Treasurer, other high-level state officials, the General Counsel for the Department of State Treasurer, and the staff and attorneys of other state agencies with which the Department of State Treasurer and its affiliated boards and committees frequently must work. The position is exciting and challenging and requires a willingness to use a variety of approaches to problem solving in a complex, constantly evolving environment.

• Provides Legal Advice to Executive Director of the Retirement Systems Division, Director of the Supplemental Retirement Plans, and Board of Trustees (35%)
  • The position provides legal services and advice to the Director of the Retirement Systems, Deputy Director of the Plan, and the Board of Trustees.
  • Examples of these legal duties include:
    • Providing advice and counsel on fiduciary matters;
    • Interpreting federal and state laws and regulations governing the Plans, and overseeing implementation of any actions necessary to ensure compliance with those laws and regulations;
    • Drafting legal documents concerning the operation of the Plans;
    • Providing advice and counsel on state laws concerning the operation of the Board of Trustees; and
    • Reviewing meeting materials and minutes of the Board and respective committees.

• Manages Transaction-, Plan Document-, and Policy-Related Matters (35%)
  • The position participates and oversees transaction-related matters for the Plans, including:
    • Assistance with procurement and drafting of new contracts with major service providers to the Plans, including without limitation the third-party recordkeeper, investment consultant, and custodian;
    • Amending existing contracts as necessary;
    • Providing or overseeing all certifications that a State attorney has reviewed contracts that are required by state law;
    • Review, drafting, and assistance with the Plans’ contracts with investment managers; and
    • Review and amendment of the Plan Documents, policies, and associated documents for the Plans.

• Supports the Assistant General Counsel for RSD (10%)
  • The position provides support to the Assistant General Counsel regarding defined benefit plans.
  • The position also assists RSD staff with operational and transactional matters including beneficiary issues dealing with estates, guardianships and powers of attorney.

• Provides Statutory and Regulatory Interpretation, Drafting and Review (5%)
  • The position assists in drafting and interpreting statutes, rules, guidelines and criteria to govern defined contribution programs and policies for which the Department of State Treasurer and its affiliated boards and committees are (or would become) responsible.
  • The position also assesses the need for statutory and regulatory revisions as those policies and programs evolve.

• Supports the NC ABLE Program (5%)
  • The position provides legal services and advice to the NC ABLE Program and the NC ABLE Program Board of Trustees, including:
    • Providing advice on the Federal ABLE Act, the North Carolina ABLE Act, and other laws affecting the NC ABLE Program
    • Managing contracts with the program administrator and the National ABLE Alliance
    • Reviewing communications

Knowledge Skills and Abilities/Management Preferences

Qualified applicants must possess, and application must clearly reflect work experience that demonstrates the following:

• License to practice law in North Carolina and 2 years’ experience working as an attorney.
• Comprehensive knowledge of governmental defined benefit/defined contribution plans, primarily governmental 401(k) and 457(b) plans.
• Understanding of fiduciary responsibilities, prohibited transactions, conflicts of interest.
• Ability to comprehend complex legal documents, proficiency in drafting and amending plan documents, Summary Plan Descriptions (SPDs), and other agreements.
• Proficiency in using legal research platforms like Westlaw to interpret state and federal statutes and regulations.

Management Preferences:

• Strong written and verbal skills to explain complex issues to constituents, vendor partners, staff, and others.
• Creative, proactive approach to solving complex benefits issues and navigating disputes.
• Experience with transactional work concerning benefit plan structure and investments.

Recruitment Range - $99,000 - $149,000

Minimum Education and Experience

Some state job postings say you can qualify by an “equivalent combination of education and experience.” If that language appears below, then you may qualify through either years of education, years of directly related experience, OR a combination of both. See oshr.nc.gov/experience-guide for details.

Important: This posting closes at 11:59:59 PM the night BEFORE the End Date above.

If you have student loans, becoming a state employee includes eligibility for the Public Service Loan Forgiveness Program. Visit https://studentaid.gov/ to learn more.

NC State Health Benefits:
The State of North Carolina offers excellent comprehensive benefits. Employees can participate in health insurance options, standard and supplemental retirement plans, and the NC Flex program (numerous high-quality, low-cost benefits on a pre-tax basis). Employees also receive paid vacation, sick, and community service leave. In addition, paid parental leave is available to eligible employees.

Visit the website for State Benefits

Supplemental and Contact Information

The North Carolina Department of State Treasurer (DST) is an Equal Opportunity Employer that embraces an Employment First philosophy, which consists of complying with all federal laws, state laws, and Executive Orders. We are committed to reviewing requests for reasonable accommodation at any time during the hiring process or while on the job. For more information about DST: NCTreasurer | NC Treasurer.

DST uses the Merit-Based Recruitment and Selection Plan to fill positions subject to the State Human Resources Act with the most qualified individuals. Hiring salary will be based on relevant qualifications, internal equity, and budgetary considerations pertinent to the advertised position.

In accordance with the Governor’s Executive Order 303, our agency supports second-chance employment for individuals who were previously incarcerated or justice-involved. We invite all potential applicants to apply for positions for which they may be qualified.

Application Process
Be sure to complete the application in its entirety. Resumes will not be accepted in place of completing this application.

• Information should be provided in the appropriate areas, to include the following: Education, including high school and all degrees obtained, Work Experience, and Certificates & Licenses. It is critical to our screening and salary determination process that applications contain comprehensive candidate information.
• Answers to Supplemental Questions are not a substitute for providing all relevant information within the body of your application. To receive credit for the supplemental questions, you must provide supporting information within the "Work Experience" section of the application to support your answers.
• Applicants may be subject to a criminal background check. All candidates selected for positions considered "Positions of Trust" will be subject to a criminal background check.
• Due to the volume of applications received, we are unable to provide information regarding the status of your application over the phone. To check the status of your application, please log in to your account. Upon the closing date, applications are "Under Review" and will be screened by Human Resources for qualified applicants. The hiring process may take several weeks.
• Degrees must be received from appropriately accredited institutions. Transcripts and degree evaluations may be uploaded with your application. The State of North Carolina/Office of State Human Resources uses the National Association of Credential Evaluation Services (NACES) as a referral resource for applicants who need to have their credentials certified as equivalent.
• For a list of organizations that perform this specialized service, please visit the NACES membership website at https://www.naces.org/members.

Degree/College Credit Verification

Degrees must be received from appropriately accredited institutions. Transcripts, degree evaluations, and cover letters may be uploaded with your application.

Veterans’ and National Guard Preference

• Applicants seeking Veteran's Preference must attach a DD-214 Member-4 Form (Certificate of Release or Discharge from Active Duty) to their applications.
• Applicants seeking National Guard Preference must attach an NGB 23A (RPAS), along with the state application, if they are a current member of the NC National Guard in good standing.
• Applicants who are former members of either the NC Army National Guard or the NC Air National Guard, with honorable discharge and six years of creditable service, must attach a copy of the DD 256 or NGB 22, along with the state application.

ADA Accommodations

Consistent with the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) and the Pregnant Workers Fairness Act (PWFA), DHHS is committed to the full inclusion of all qualified individuals. As part of this commitment, DHHS will ensure that people with disabilities, or known limitations covered by the PWFA, are provided with reasonable accommodation. If reasonable accommodation is needed to participate in the job application or interview process, please contact the person indicated below.

Background Check

• The selected candidate will be subject to a criminal history background check through Castle Branch.
• One or more of the following may also be reviewed, depending on the nature and requirements of the position: employment history, professional references, credit history, and educational verification (i.e., degree, license, or official transcript).
• The selected candidate will be required to pass the background check to the satisfaction of the North Carolina Department of State Treasurer. All offers of employment are conditional until the satisfactory completion of the background check.

EEO Statement

The State of North Carolina is an Equal Employment Opportunity Employer and is dedicated to providing employees with a work environment free from all forms of unlawful employment discrimination, harassment, or retaliation. The state provides reasonable accommodation to employees and applicants with disabilities; known limitations related to pregnancy, childbirth, or related medical conditions; and for religious beliefs, observances, and practices.

Contact Information:

If there are any questions about this posting, other than your application status, please email the NC Department of State Treasurer at [email protected].

Minimum Education and Experience

Some state job postings say you can qualify by an “equivalent combination of education and experience.” If that language appears below, then you may qualify through EITHER years of education OR years of directly related experience, OR a combination of both. See the Education and Experience Equivalency Guide for details.

EEO Statement

The State of North Carolina is an Equal Employment Opportunity Employer and dedicated to providing employees with a work environment free from all forms of unlawful employment discrimination, harassment, or retaliation. The state provides reasonable accommodation to employees and applicants with disabilities; known limitations related to pregnancy, childbirth, or related medical conditions; and for religious beliefs, observances, and practices.

Recruiter:

Recruiter Email:

[email protected]