Principal, Assistant General Counsel (Employment/Benefits)

What You'll Do :

This role will provide legal counsel to internal business clients on both routine and complex matters regarding legal risk and specifically employment and employee benefits matters.

Primary Duties and Responsibilities :

To perform this job successfully, an individual must be able to perform each primary duty satisfactorily.

Provide legal and regulatory support to business partners on a broad range of employment and employee benefits matters, including routine legal matters, significant transactions, and project-based corporate initiatives.

Act as subject matter expert for the legal function by providing specialized legal and regulatory advice to internal clients on a variety of matters, with an emphasis in the areas of employee relations, benefit and compensation programs, accommodation and leave requests, and diversity, equity and inclusion initiatives.

Counsel Human Resources on a variety of employment matters spanning the entire employee lifecycle from talent acquisition and onboarding through separation, as well as providing guidance on applicable policies and procedures and other HR initiatives.

Serve as main point of contact for the provision of legal services to the Total Rewards team and advise on the Corporation’s employee benefit plans, including qualified and non-qualified retirement plans, welfare benefit plans, and cafeteria plans, and its compensation programs and pay practices.

Serve as an advisor to the Corporation’s Administrative Committee.

Advise internal clients on regulatory and legal matters related to employment and employee benefits laws, such as Title VII and other discrimination laws, ADEA, ADA, equal pay laws, FLSA and other wage and hour laws, FMLA and paid leave laws, the Affordable Care Act, ERISA, and HIPAA.

Analyze and advise on employment laws in various U.S. jurisdictions where OCC may recruit or employ individuals.

Monitor proposed legislation, and ensure the Corporation is apprised of legal developments in matters concerning employment / employee benefits.

Lead investigations related to alleged violations of the Corporation’s policies governing employee conduct.

Conduct risk assessments of complaints and develop legally sound strategies for the Corporation’s defense of potential legal actions.

Manage employment-related potential / threatened litigation.

Draft, review and negotiate contracts related to employment, benefits or other HR initiatives.

Assist in supervision of, and work closely with, outside counsel, as appropriate

Assist in ensuring business initiatives are in compliance with current and proposed regulatory requirements.

Perform other duties as required.

Supervisory Responsibilities :

None

Qualifications :

The requirements listed are representative of the knowledge, skill, and / or ability required. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the primary functions.

Required Substantial experience in one or more of the following areas : employment law and employee benefits laws.

Required Ability to promptly produce high-quality, accurate, and detailed work product.

Required Excellent analytical and problem-solving, interpersonal, communication, and collaboration skills, including strong writing skills.

Required Capable of handling several high complexity matters with a significant degree of independence.

Required Ability to expeditiously identify and assess issues and provide legally sound recommendations consistent with good business practices and reason and to quickly shift priorities in response to changing business environment or priorities.

Preferred Familiarity with securities and commodity laws and regulations and experience working with regulatory agencies or regulated financial institutions.

Preferred General working knowledge of the clearance and settlement and risk management functions of a clearing organization.

Technical Skills :

Required Microsoft Office (Excel, Word)

Education and / or Experience :

Required 5-10 years of relevant employment and / or benefits experience at a law firm or corporate in-house position

Required Juris Doctor or equivalent degree from a law school accredited by the American Bar Association

Required Bachelor’s degree from accredited college or university

Required Admitted to practice law in Illinois

Certificates or Licenses :

None required

Who We Are

The Options Clearing Corporation (OCC) is the world's largest equity derivatives clearing organization. Founded in 1973, OCC is dedicated to promoting stability and market integrity by delivering clearing and settlement services for options, futures and securities lending transactions.

As a Systemically Important Financial Market Utility (SIFMU), OCC operates under the jurisdiction of the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC), the U.

S. Commodity Futures Trading Commission (CFTC), and the Board of Governors of the Federal Reserve System. OCC has more than 100 clearing members and provides central counterparty (CCP) clearing and settlement services to 19 exchanges and trading platforms.

More information about OCC is available at www.theocc.com.

What We Offer

A highly collaborative and supportive environment developed to encourage work-life balance and employee wellness. Some of these components include :

A hybrid work environment, up to 2 days per week of remote work

Tuition Reimbursement to support your continued education

Student Loan Repayment Assistance

Technology Stipend allowing you to use the device of your choice to connect to our network while working remotely

Generous PTO and Parental leave

Competitive health benefits including medical, dental and vision

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