Associate Counsel Manager, Retirement Services

Vanguard; Malvern (Chester County); Hybrid; USD 180,000 - 240,000; Full time

Job summary

Vanguard is seeking a dynamic legal leader to advise senior stakeholders and shape retirement and financial wellness offerings. You will guide regulatory initiatives, draft essential documents, and supervise a team to drive compliance in a fast-evolving landscape.

The role emphasizes cross-functional collaboration, stakeholder engagement, and staying abreast of ERISA and Advisers Act developments to support Vanguard's client-focused retirement strategy.

Qualifications

• Minimum eight years related legal work experience.
• Supervisory experience preferred.
• Undergraduate degree or equivalent combination of training and experience.
• Law degree (JD) required.
• Deep technical expertise in ERISA with focus on fiduciary responsibility and prohibited transaction exemptions.
• Advisers Act expertise a plus.

Responsibilities

• Hires, evaluates, and supervises crew. Provides guidance and training as necessary to develop crew. Sets performance standards, reviews performance, and makes informed compensation decisions in accordance with all applicable Human Resources policies and procedures.
• Provides business leaders with legal advice on issues impacting Vanguard's retirement and financial wellness business activities and advice and educational service development, transactions, and regulatory matters. Ensures that business activities, policies, practices, and transactions comply with all relevant laws and regulations.
• Drafts and negotiates legal documents such as regulatory filings, contracts, agreements, and correspondence of legal significance.
• Monitors, analyzes, and responds to legislative and regulatory developments relevant to Vanguard's business activities and investment products to ensure they are adequately addressed.
• Directs the work being performed by outside counsel. Reviews and evaluates outside counsel invoices.
• Maintains a high level of expertise in regulatory law, Vanguard’s business and products, and the investment industry. Stays abreast of industry and regulatory developments affecting Vanguard, and maintains affiliations with relevant industry, compliance, and risk associations.
• Develops and maintains relationships with key stakeholders to ensure a thorough understanding of business needs and objectives.
• Participates in special projects and performs other duties as assigned.

Skills

ERISA expertise

Regulatory compliance

Leadership

Education

JD required

Undergraduate degree or equivalent

Job description

Are you a lawyer who is ready to lead with purpose and make a meaningful impact on retirement security for millions of investors? Vanguard is seeking a dynamic leader to join our team, where you’ll play a pivotal role in shaping our retirement and financial wellness offerings. This position offers the opportunity to advise senior stakeholders, lead legal initiatives, and influence the development of retirement services—all while mentoring a high-performing crew and driving compliance in a fast-evolving regulatory landscape.

Responsibilities:

• Hires, evaluates, and supervises crew. Provides guidance and training as necessary to develop crew. Sets performance standards, reviews performance, and makes informed compensation decisions in accordance with all applicable Human Resources policies and procedures.
• Provides business leaders with legal advice on issues impacting Vanguard's retirement and financial wellness business activities and advice and educational service development, transactions, and regulatory matters. Ensures that business activities, policies, practices, and transactions comply with all relevant laws and regulations.
• Drafts and negotiates legal documents such as regulatory filings, contracts, agreements, and correspondence of legal significance.
• Monitors, analyzes, and responds to legislative and regulatory developments relevant to Vanguard's business activities and investment products to ensure they are adequately addressed.
• Directs the work being performed by outside counsel. Reviews and evaluates outside counsel invoices.
• Maintains a high level of expertise in regulatory law, Vanguard’s business and products, and the investment industry. Stays abreast of industry and regulatory developments affecting Vanguard, and maintains affiliations with relevant industry, compliance, and risk associations.
• Develops and maintains relationships with key stakeholders to ensure a thorough understanding of business needs and objectives.
• Participates in special projects and performs other duties as assigned.

Qualifications

• Minimum eight years related legal work experience. Supervisory experience preferred.
• Undergraduate degree or equivalent combination of training and experience. Law degree (JD) required.
• Deep technical expertise in ERISA required, with a focus on fiduciary responsibility and prohibited transaction exemptions. Advisers Act expertise a plus.

Sponsorship

Vanguard is not offering visa sponsorship for this position.

About Vanguard

At Vanguard, we don't just have a mission—we're on a mission.

To work for the long-term financial wellbeing of our clients. To lead through product and services that transform our clients' lives. To learn and develop our skills as individuals and as a team. From Malvern to Melbourne, our mission drives us forward and inspires us to be our best.

How We Work

Vanguard has implemented a hybrid working model for the majority of our crew members, designed to capture the benefits of enhanced flexibility while enabling in-person learning, collaboration, and connection. We believe our mission-driven and highly collaborative culture is a critical enabler to support long-term client outcomes and enrich the employee experience.