Overview
The General Counsel provides legal counsel and guidance to executives, officers, and other team members regarding legal matters. The incumbent is responsible for providing legal advice related to credit union operations, retail customer transactions, regulatory compliance, employee relations, and customer complaints. The incumbent will lead, facilitate and coordinate legal matters and actions relating to credit union operations.
ESSENTIAL JOB RESPONSIBILITIES AND FUNCTIONS:
Provide professional interpretations and recommendations to executives and other credit union personnel, including written memoranda and correspondence to management and other internal clients with respect to legal issues.
Responsible for researching and analyzing legal issues, statutes, regulations, and cases and developing guidance.
Lead and coordinate responses to and/or negotiations with outside parties, member complaints or issues, and legal disputes. As necessary, will coordinate these efforts with outside counsel.
Responsible for anticipating, identifying, communicating, and mitigating potential legal problems within the organization and developing strategies to avoid litigation and appropriately manage risk.
Maintain current knowledge and keep informed of industry-specific regulations and ensure that appropriate risk management strategies are in place.
Maintain a working knowledge of the credit unions written policies and procedures and other regulations.
Provide most, if not all, legal work, and direction in support of the organizations collection efforts.
Drafts, negotiates, reviews, and advises management on agreements/contracts to minimize risks and maximize legal rights in alignment with credit union risk posture.
May provide guidance on material purchases and sales, acquisitions, engagement of vendors for new and complex services, complex business loans, and current and/or future business structures and legal entities.
Provide legal expertise and advice concerning consumer and business lending transactions/activities including collections.
Provide legal expertise and advice concerning HR related issues and coordinate work with outside HR counsel, as necessary.
Provide support and legal expertise, as needed, to the Compliance and Internal Audit functions.
Assesses the merits of cases filed against or on behalf of the credit union and work with outside. counsel/experts to define a strategic defense and recommend credit union actions, including settlement of disputes where warranted.
Engage and manage outside counsel to ensure costs are within budget; and supervise and coordinate work performed by outside counsel.
Perform other duties as assigned.
Qualifications
JOB REQUIREMENTS:
Juris Doctorate degree from accredited law school.
Admitted to practice in relevant jurisdictions (WA, OR ID)
Minimum 8 Years relevant experience, either as in-house counsel or as outside counsel advising on financial institution consumer compliance, corporate governance matters, employee relations, and/or banking/credit union regulatory issues
SKILLS/ABILITIES:
Thorough understanding and high-level knowledge of all aspects of the legal, regulatory, and compliance matters impacting credit unions and the financial services industry and working level understanding of credit union operations including, but not limited to, lending, collections, and human resources
Adept at recommending business decisions in light of governing regulations and the goals of the credit union
Collaborative, tactful, and strong written and verbal communication skills, and ability to interact effectively with all levels of staff throughout the organization
Significant level of diplomacy, trust and confidentiality. High degree of professional ethics and integrity
Ability to foster sound relationships with other entities, companies, and/or individuals
Ability to anticipate legal issues or risks and to see around the corner
Strong leadership skills used in influencing both direct and indirect relationships
Strong organization skills
Occasional travel
Leadership Core Competencies
Leaders at Gesa Credit Union are lifelong learners who, by developing themselves, are better able to grow our team members and our organization as well as serve as influential role models for each other. We believe that every team leader, no matter their position or years of experience, must model and continue to strengthen these competencies which are foundational to our view of leadership and support the achievement of our strategic goals.
Leading Others
Developing Others
Emotional Intelligence
Social Responsibility
Performance & Results Orientation
PHYSICAL REQUIREMENTS:
Per the Dictionary of Occupational Titles, this is considered a sedentary position.
Ability to sit for long periods of time (71-100%).
Seldom walking and standing (1-10%).
Ability to lift up to 10 lbs. frequently, including negligible forces.
Ability to lift up to 20 lbs. on a seldom basis.
Frequent repetitive hand and wrist motions.
Work environment is indoors, in a clean office area.
Gesa Credit Union reserves the right to revise or change the job description as the need arises. This job description is not all inclusive of total job responsibilities nor does it constitute a written or implied contract of employment.
Regular Full Time Employee Benefits
Your Wellbeing:
Medical, Dental, and Vision Plans
20 Days Accrued Paid Time Off
10 Paid Holidays
Employer Provided Short Term Disability and Long Term Disability
Voluntary Pet Insurance
Your Financial:
401k & Roth 401k With Employer Match
Employer Provided Life Insurance & AD&D
Tuition Assistance & Reimbursement Programs
Employee Loan Discounts
Quarterly Incentive Program
Annual Incentive Program
Your Extra Perks:
Employee Assistance Program
Development Training
Employee Recognition Program, Gesa Gold & Service Awards
Gesa Credit Union reserves the right to revise or change the job description as the need arises. This job description is not all inclusive of total job responsibilities nor does it constitute a written or implied contract of employment.
Selected candidate(s) must be able to pass a pre-employment drug screen which includes screening for all drugs considered illegal or controlled by the State of Washington, as well as, a credit/background check and a skills assessment.
Gesa reserves the right not to hire any relatives of or those in a close personal relationship with any Gesa employee, Board member or Supervisory Committee member.
Gesa Credit Union is an Equal Opportunity Employer and, as such, affirms in policy and practice to recruit, hire, train, and promote, in all job classifications, without regard to race, religion, color, national origin, citizenship, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, age, veteran status, disability, genetic information, or any other protected characteristic. Gesa Credit Union will not discriminate against persons because of their disability, including disabled veterans, and will make reasonable accommodations for known physical or mental limitations of qualified employees and applicants with disabilities. If you are interested in applying and require special assistance or accommodations due to a disability, please contact our Human Resources department at (509) 378-3100.
EOE/AA – Minority/Female/Sexual Orientation/Gender Identity/Disability/Veteran