General Counsel

New York City, NY - USA

Monthly Salary: Not Disclosed

Posted on: 30+ days ago

Vacancies: 1 Vacancy

Job Summary

Since 1917 the Teachers Retirement System of the City of New York (TRS) has been securing better futures for NYC educators. With a pension fund valued at approximately $120 billion TRS serves over 215000 members providing them with retirement disability and death benefit services.

TRS Qualified Pension Plan (QPP) is a defined benefit plan that provides members with a monthly retirement allowance upon meeting certain eligibility requirements. TRS members can also enhance their benefits with a Tax-Deferred Annuity (TDA) Program which offers multiple investment options and tax-deferred earnings.

At TRS we seek dedicated professionals who are passionate about their work and committed to excellence. We pride ourselves on our member-centric culture focused on delivering outstanding service and support to our members.

TRS is seeking a highly accomplished and strategic General Counsel to serve as the agencys chief legal officer. This executive-level position reports directly to the Executive Director and is responsible for leading all legal functions across the organization. The General Counsel will provide authoritative legal guidance to the Board of Trustees Executive Leadership and operational units ensuring compliance with applicable laws regulations and policies governing public pension administration.

This role requires a seasoned legal professional with deep expertise in public sector law pension systems and fiduciary governance. The ideal candidate will be a senior-level or executive with at least 1015 years of progressively responsible legal experience including leadership of legal teams and direct engagement with high-stakes regulatory and policy matters.

Key Responsibilities:
- Serve as the agencys top legal advisor shaping legal strategy and ensuring alignment with TRSs mission values and regulatory obligation.
- Provide expert counsel to the Board of Trustees and Executive Leadership on governance fiduciary duties risk management and policy development.
- Lead and manage the Legal Division including attorneys and support staff; oversee outside counsel and legal consultants.
- Negotiate and draft complex contracts agreements and legal documents critical to TRSs operations and strategic initiatives.
- Advise on labor relations employment law and union matters; collaborate with HR and senior management to address workplace legal issues.
- Oversee legal review of Domestic Relations Orders (DROs) Powers of Attorney (POAs) and other binding documents.
- Represent TRS in legal matters with regulators external counsel and key stakeholders; maintain strong relationships built on trust and credibility.
- Monitor legal and regulatory developments affecting public pension systems; participate in relevant industry and professional forums.
- Promote legal awareness across the agency; communicate legal guidance clearly and effectively to internal and external audiences.

EXECUTIVE AGENCY COUNSEL - 95005

Qualifications :

Admission to the New York State Bar; and four years of recent full-time responsible relevant satisfactory legal experience subsequent to admission to any bar eighteen months of which must have been in the supervision of other attorneys in an administrative managerial or executive capacity or performing highly complex and significant legal work.

Incumbents must remain Members of the New York State Bar in good standing for the duration of this employment.

Additional Information :

The City of New York is an inclusive equal opportunity employer committed to recruiting and retaining a diverse workforce and providing a work environment that is free from discrimination and harassment based upon any legally protected status or protected characteristic including but not limited to an individuals sex race color ethnicity national origin age religion disability sexual orientation veteran status gender identity or pregnancy.

Remote Work :

Employment Type :

Full-time