Associate Director, Pension Benefits and Policy

Socket.dev; Toronto; On-site; CAD 103,000 - 153,000; Full time

Job summary

HOOPP is seeking an Associate Director, Pension Benefits & Policy, reporting to the Senior Director, Pension Design & Strategy. You will work with the Pension Benefits & Policy team to support pension plan design, administration, policy, research and regulatory compliance, providing legal advice on ongoing projects and escalations.

The role emphasizes mentoring, collaboration across HOOPP divisions, and delivering high‑quality regulatory and policy guidance for a defined benefit plan.

Qualifications

• A law degree is required and the candidate should be a member in good standing of the Ontario bar with a minimum of 7 years of legal experience.
• The candidate should have a minimum of 5 years of direct pension subject‑matter expertise in working with defined benefit pension plans; however, similar experience in labour and employment will also be considered.
• Industry knowledge of pension and related legislation and regulatory compliance, with a proven ability to interpret and deal with complex legislation and contractual agreements.
• Proven excellence in research, analytical and communication skills (both oral and written), with demonstrated thoroughness and attention to technical detail.
• Ability to work with minimal supervision.
• Willingness to mentor and support the development of other Pension Services staff.
• Team player, as both participant and leader.

Responsibilities

• Provide legal advice on matters of pension plan administration.
• Support the evolution of Plan design, administration, compliance and policies.
• Produce high‑quality research and materials for Board discussions and senior management.
• Develop Pension Services staff capability and empower decision‑making.
• Collaborate with HOOPP divisions on cross‑divisional projects.

Skills

Pension law knowledge

Regulatory compliance

Research skills

Analytical skills

Mentoring

Team leadership

Education

Law degree

Ontario bar admission

Job description

Why you’ll love working here:

• high-performance, people-focused culture

• our commitment that equity, diversity, and inclusion are fundamental to our work environment and business success, which helps employees feel valued and empowered to be their authentic selves

• learning and development initiatives, including workshops, Speaker Series events and access to LinkedIn Learning, that support employees’ career growth

• membership in HOOPP’s world class defined benefit pensionplan, which can serve as an important part of your retirement security

• competitive, 100% company-paid extended health and dental benefits for permanent employees, including coverage supporting our team's diversity and mental health (e.g., gender affirmation, fertility and drug treatment, psychological support benefits of $2,500 per year, parental leave top‑up, and a health spending account).

• optional post-retirement health and dental benefits subsidized at 50%

• yoga classes, meditation workshops, nutritional consultations, and wellness seminars

• the opportunity to make a difference and help take care of those who care for us, byproviding a financially secure retirement for Ontario healthcare workers

Job Summary:

Reporting directly to the Senior Director, Pension Design & Strategy, the Associate Director, Pension Benefits & Policy will work closely with the Pension Benefits & Policy team and across Pension Services and other HOOPP divisions to support work related to defined benefit pension plan design, administration, pension policy, research, and complex regulatory compliance. The successful candidate will apply their legal skills and pension industry expertise to provide legal advice related to ongoing projects and research, supporting the administration, design and evolution of the Plan. They will support work related to resolving member, employer and regulator escalations. In addition to monitoring legal developments. The successful candidate will also assist in the development of policies to facilitate compliance with regulatory changes.

The ideal candidate will also have a passion for learning, mentoring and self‑development in a dynamic, member‑focused organization and within a high‑caliber team of pension and policy experts.

What you will do:

• Work with the Senior Director, Pension Design & Strategy to provide legal advice on matters of pension plan administration.

• Support work related to the evolution of Plan design, administration, compliance and policies, relying on experience and legal understanding of the Plan's regulatory environment.

• Assist in the production of high‑quality research and materials to support the Plan's design and administration, including materials to support discussion of these items amongst Senior Management and the Board of Trustees and its committees.

• Support initiatives to develop Pension Services' staff capability to transfer unique and highly specialised industry knowledge to others within Pension Services and empower decision‑making.

• Be prepared to work with all divisions within HOOPP (Legal and External Affairs, Pension Marketing and Communications , HR) on cross‑divisional projects.

What you bring:

• A law degree is required, and the candidate should be a member in good standing of the Ontario bar with a minimum of 7 years of legal experience.

• The candidate should have a minimum of 5 years of direct pension subject‑matter expertise in working with defined benefit pension plans; however, similar experience in labour and employment will also be considered. Additional focus on estates law or litigation is a strong asset.

• Industry knowledge of pension and related legislation and regulatory compliance, with a proven ability to interpret and deal with complex legislation and contractual agreements.

• Proven excellence in research, analytical and communication skills (both oral and written), with demonstrated thoroughness and attention to technical detail.

• Ability to work with minimal supervision.

• Willingness to mentor and support the development of other Pension Services staff.

• Team player, as both participant and leader.

The expected annual base salary range for this role is: $103,000 - $153,000 CAD

The actual base salary offered to the successful candidate may vary based on multiple factors including, but not limited to, individual's expertise and level of experience applicable to the role they are being offered.

This role is eligible to participate in discretionary incentive plan(s), subject to the terms and conditions of the applicable incentive plan text.

This job is for an existing vacancy.

HOOPP may use artificial intelligence tools to assist in screening, assessing and selecting applicants for this position. These tools support our recruitment process but do not replace human judgment and decision‑making.