VP & Associate General Counsel, Group Benefits

Description and Requirements
Position: VP & Associate General Counsel, Group Benefits
Location(s): 200 Park Avenue
Setting : Hybrid
Reports to: SVP & Chief Counsel, U.S. Business
Travel: Less than 10%
The Team You Will Join
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 role sits within the US Insurance Law Section of Legal Affairs focused on the US Businesses. This Section provides strategic legal advice across the enterprise on a wide variety of issues impacting US Business. Its members strive to provide actionable advice that considers commercial implications and to become trusted advisors to their business partners around the globe.
The Opportunity
MetLife is seeking an attorney who will serve as the Unit Head responsible for leading a team of 24 attorneys who support our flagship Group Benefits business, a $25 billion business (fees and premiums) with over 30 products, Global Employee Benefits (including MAXIS, Ex-Pat and In-Pat), Distribution and Reinsurance. This Unit provides guidance on all aspects of the Group Benefits Business, including drafting and negotiating agreements, new product/services reviews and fillings, claims adjudication and underwriting, distribution and compensation, regulatory inquiries, sales and training material review, responses to requests for proposals, assisting in potential transactions, review of new laws and implementation of these laws. This Unit Head will be the lead attorney to the Head of Group Benefits, sit on the Group Benefits Section Leadership Team and attend all Group Benefits Leadership meetings.
How You'll Help Us Build a Confident Future:

• Leading, managing and developing 24 attorneys (including four sub-unit heads).
• Supervising and assisting managers and attorneys in advising the business on substantive legal issues.
• Serving as the lead attorney for the Head of Group Benefits, including discussions on a day-to-day basis as well as formal one-on-ones.
• Attending all the Group Benefits Senior Leadership Meetings and other related meetings.
• Serving as the lead attorney and trusted advisor for all Group Benefits potential acquisitions and divestitures; serving as the primary partner to Audit, Compliance and Global Government Relations; resolving escalations of other Group Benefits legal matters; and assisting the Chief Counsel of US Insurance Law on significant matters involving Group Benefits execution of its strategy.
• Leading the Group Benefits legal team responsible for providing strategic guidance on: (a) contract negotiations with group customers; (b) various regulatory inquiries concerning Group Benefits products/services; (c) all new product/service-related developments and ongoing product/service inquires; (d) distribution, compensation, underwriting and claims; and (e) reinsurance.
• Thought leader and subject matter expert on Group Benefits products and administration issues.
• Providing strategic advice on trends and risk mitigation.
• Developing a pipeline of talent and providing motivational leadership to a team of 24 attorneys

What You Need to Succeed (Required Qualifications):

• Minimum of fifteen years of experience as legal counsel in either a law firm, a consulting firm, government, or as in-house counsel.
• Juris Doctorate degree and current member of a state bar in good standing.
• Material experience with group insurance, reinsurance and distribution.
• Strategic thinker and solutions oriented.
• Effective leader; prior experience managing a team of attorneys in a corporate setting.
• Strong analytical skills with experience in managing complex projects.
• Strong communication skills, including a strong desire and ability to make complex topics understandable for various audiences.
• Demonstrated capability for collaboration across diverse populations.

What Will Give You an Edge (Additional Skills)

• Prior experience managing people managers in a corporate setting.

Benefits We Offer
Our U.S. benefits address holistic well-being with programs for physical and mental health, financial wellness, and support for families. We offer a comprehensive health plan that includes medical/prescription drug and vision, dental insurance, and no-cost short- and long-term disability. We also provide company-paid life insurance and legal services, a retirement pension funded entirely by MetLife and 401(k) with employer matching, group discounts on voluntary insurance products including auto and home, pet, critical illness, hospital indemnity, and accident insurance, as well as Employee Assistance Program (EAP) and digital mental health programs, parental leave, volunteer time off, tuition assistance and much more!
About MetLife
Recognized on Fortune magazine's list of the 2023 "World's Most Admired Companies" as well as the 2023 Fortune 100 Best Companies to Work For ®, 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. With operations in more than 40 markets, we hold leading positions in the United States, Latin America, Asia, Europe, and the Middle East.
Our purpose is simple - to help our colleagues, customers, communities, and the world at large create a more confident future. United by purpose and guided by empathy, we're inspired to transform the next century in financial services. At MetLife, it's #AllTogetherPossible. Join us!
Equal Employment Opportunity/Disability/Veterans
If you need an accommodation due to a disability, please email us at [email protected]. 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.
The salary range for applicants for this position is $229,500 - $306,000.
Benefits We Offer
Our U.S. benefits address holistic well-being with programs for physical and mental health, financial wellness, and support for families. We offer a comprehensive health plan that includes medical/prescription drug and vision, dental insurance, and no-cost short- and long-term disability. We also provide company-paid life insurance and legal services, a retirement pension funded entirely by MetLife and 401(k) with employer matching, group discounts on voluntary insurance products including auto and home, pet, critical illness, hospital indemnity, and accident insurance, as well as Employee Assistance Program (EAP) and digital mental health programs, parental leave, volunteer time off, tuition assistance and much more!
About MetLife
Recognized on Fortune magazine's list of the 2024 "World's Most Admired Companies", Fortune World's 25 Best Workplaces™ for 2024, as well as the 2024 Fortune 100 Best Companies to Work For ®, 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. With operations in more than 40 markets, we hold leading positions in the United States, Latin America, Asia, Europe, and the Middle East.
Our purpose is simple - to help our colleagues, customers, communities, and the world at large create a more confident future. United by purpose and guided by empathy, we're inspired to transform the next century in financial services. At MetLife, it's #AllTogetherPossible . Join us!
Equal Employment Opportunity/Disability/Veterans
If you need an accommodation due to a disability, please email us at [email protected]. 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.
$229,500 - $306,000
#BI-Hybrid