VP, Assistant General Counsel
Description
Candidates must live within a reasonable commuting distance of the communities served by Travis Credit Union, which include the following counties: Alameda, Colusa, Contra Costa, Merced, Napa, Placer, Sacramento, San Joaquin, Solano, Sonoma, Stanislaus, and Yolo. For hybrid and remote roles, candidates are still required to reside within a commutable distance of our corporate headquarters in Vacaville, California.
We are unable to sponsor or assume sponsorship of employment visas for this position. Candidates must have current authorization to work in the U.S. (no sponsorship available).
Schedule: Monday - Friday. This position has a hybrid work arrangement with occasional onsite work at the corporate office in Vacaville.
Summary: Under the supervision and direction of the Executive Vice President & Chief Legal Officer, Travis Credit Union’s (TCU) Assistant General Counsel provides legal and regulatory compliance guidance to the credit union regarding litigation, business law, corporate governance, complex transactional matters, human resources and employee relations, insurance matters, third-party contracts, sales, purchasing and distribution agreements, and other corporate legal matters. This role analyzes contractual or legal impact on the credit union and provides guidance to effectively manage and mitigate TCU legal risks. Manages/coordinates litigation.
Profile:
- Negotiates, writes, reviews, and edits agreements and contracts on behalf of the company.
- Offers internal counsel on a variety of legal issues.
- Advises on contract status, legal risks, and the legal liabilities associated with different deals.
- Researches and anticipates unique legal issues that could impact the company.
- Provides training to the company on legal topics.
- Keeps current with legislation, regulations, judicial and other legal developments and trends relevant to the credit union, and advocates for real-time adaptive strategies to mitigate risk and/or respond to changed conditions.
- Performs contract review and analysis of TCU third-party contracts. Negotiates directly with third parties to revise contracts as required to protect TCU interests.
- Receives, analyzes, compiles and organizes legal documents to ensure efficient document flow. Drafts, reviews and revises various legal documents including TCU agreements and disclosures to ensure compliance with appropriate state and federal regulations to make sure that there is fair and equitable treatment of consumers and the credit union.
- Drafts business communication and correspondence, reports, or other written materials. Provides guidance and assistance in drafting sensitive correspondence including member complaints, press releases, advertising material and dealings with regulatory agencies.
- Provides advice and guidance upon complex credit union activities, for example, credit union mergers, and bylaw and policy revisions.
- Keeps current with applicable federal and state consumer collections, consumer protection, and employment laws.
- Manages credit union legal filings as necessary to meet local, state and federal requirements. Serves as liaison between court officials and other relevant external contacts. Proofreads and maintains legal documents.
- Corresponds with opposing parties, evaluates risk to the organization and insurance coverage. Notifies the credit union’s insurer and works directly with counsel representing the credit union.
- Oversees management of lawsuits involving the credit union as plaintiff or defendant.
- Supervises external legal counsel, including but not limited to ensuring adherence to the credit union’s objectives, protecting the credit union’s reputation, and scrutinizing billings.
- Where appropriate, represents the credit union in litigation, and prepares staff to do so in small claims matters.
- Oversee, assists, and manages outside counsel with the representation of the credit union in a variety of actions including civil and criminal suits, special settlements, delinquency collection.
- Determines methods and procedures on new assignments and may coordinate activities of other personnel.
- Serves to protect our trademarks and brand.
- Provides legal counsel in areas of consumer and business lending.
- Performs other duties relevant to the responsibilities of the Chief Legal Officer and Legal Office as assigned.
Not all functions/tasks are listed above; however, those listed are considered essential.
Skills:
- Demonstrated knowledge of relevant laws, regulations, court procedures, and decisional authority, and ability to stay abreast of developments and learn new areas as required for particular tasks.
- Knowledge of financial institution operations and sound understanding of compliance-related requirements and state and federal law applicable to financial institutions.
- Demonstrated knowledge of legal concepts and methodologies as well as their application in a financial environment.
- Proficiency in legal reference sources/platforms such as Westlaw and/or other commonly used legal research procedures and methods.
- Strong research and analytical skills that demonstrates effective organizational and multi-tasking skills.
- Capable of quickly identifying and resolving issues, including balancing legal and business risks, and giving clear and concise advice.
- Great attention to detail, proofreading skills and problem-solving capabilities.
- Ability to maintain confidential information and effectively handle and prioritize multiple projects in a fast-paced work environment with minimal supervision.
- Ability to provide sometimes difficult legal advice; distinguish and articulate the difference between legal mandates and desirable conditions; search for options and solutions; and stand firm when appropriate, all while fostering solid relationships with peers.
- Advanced proficiency in MS Office products. (Word, Excel, PowerPoint, Outlook and SharePoint).
- Ability to organize applicable team timelines and follow up with internal and external customer needs.
- Professional written and verbal communication and interpersonal skills and ability to effectively communicate and interact with all levels of staff.
Reporting and Experience:
- Juris Doctorate degree from accredited law school.
- Member in good standing of the State Bar of California.
- Must have a minimum of 5 years of legal experience gained in mid-to-large law firms and/or as in-house counsel in a relevant industry.
- Demonstrated leadership experience building cross-organizational consensus with exposure to technology providers and/or business clients.
- Minimum 5 years of demonstrated experience managing a high-performing, cohesive team.
Compensation:
- VP, Assistant General Counsel: $200,000 – $300,000 annually.
Benefits:
At Travis Credit Union, we prioritize the well‑being of our employees and their families by providing a comprehensive Total Rewards program that supports their health, welfare, and financial security. In turn, this enables our employees to focus on delivering exceptional service to our members and meeting the goals of the credit union.
Eligible employees enjoy a robust benefits package, which includes:
- Competitive medical, dental, and vision insurance
- Mental health and wellness programs
- Employee performance incentive plan
- Merit-based salary increases
- 401(k) program with immediately vested employer match
- Generous holiday and vacation policies
- Exclusive TCU perks such as employee loan and credit card discounts
Travis Credit Union is an Affirmative Action Employer.
EOE / Individuals with Disabilities / Veteran Status