Associate General Counsel, Group Benefit Solutions Counsel, Absence Management

New York Life Insurance Co.; New York (NY); Remote; USD 167,000 - 238,000; Full time

Job summary

New York Life Insurance Co. is seeking an experienced attorney to serve as a key legal partner to the Group Benefit Solutions Absence Management team.

The role advises on leave programs, disability, and related group insurance offerings while coordinating with Product, Operations, Claims, and Compliance to balance legal risk with business objectives. You will review, draft, and negotiate client agreements, monitor evolving laws (FMLA, ADA, PWFA, state leave) and craft scalable solutions to

Qualifications

• Juris Doctor (J.D.) from an ABA-accredited law school and active bar admission in at least one state.
• Five or more years of relevant legal experience in a law firm, corporate legal department, insurer, or similar environment.
• Experience advising on absence management, leave programs (FMLA, ADA, PWFA) and state paid family medical leave.
• Ability to translate evolving legal requirements into practical guidance for product, operations, and business teams.
• Strong contract drafting/negotiation skills and risk communication to senior leaders.

Responsibilities

• Serve as principal legal resource for Absence Management and related programs.
• Advise on product lifecycle, design, implementation, and distribution of absence management offerings.
• Analyze federal/state/local leave and disability requirements and translate into practical guidance.
• Monitor regulatory developments and coordinate with cross-functional teams to implement changes.
• Draft and negotiate client agreements; develop templates and playbooks for consistency.

Skills

Legal analysis

Regulatory guidance

Contract negotiation

Cross-functional collaboration

Communication

Education

Juris Doctor (J.D.)

Job description

Job DescriptionRequisition ID94979DepartmentOffice of the General CounselJob FunctionOffice of the General CounselLocationRemote,New York,United StatesRole Location DesignationFully RemoteLocation Designation: Fully RemoteOGC, Group Benefit Solutions Counsel, Absence ManagementOffice of the General Counsel | New York LifeWork ArrangementFully RemoteRelocation Assistance: Relocation assistance is not available for this opportunity.About the Office of the General CounselJoin the Office of the General Counsel where we collaborate with diverse business units, providing effective and creative legal guidance that aligns with New York Life's core values. Your work directly impacts how the company makes decisions, fostering sound business practices, safeguarding its reputation and optimizing efficiency. Become part of a team dedicated to serving as a trusted partner, helping the business navigate the legal landscape and achieve its goals.Role Overview:New York Life's Office of the General Counsel (OGC) is seeking an experienced attorney to serve as a key legal partner to the Group Benefit Solutions, Absence Management business.In this role, you will provide strategic, practical legal advice regarding the development, implementation, administration, sale, and ongoing enhancement of New York Life's absence management and leave administration solutions, statutory disability and paid family and medical leave offerings, workplace accommodation services, and related group insurance and service offerings.You will work closely with leaders and subject matter experts across Product, Operations, Claims, Distribution, Compliance, Government Affairs, Risk, Technology, and other functions to evaluate complex and evolving legal requirements, translate those requirements into practical business and operational guidance, and help the business make informed decisions that appropriately balance legal and regulatory risk with business objectives.This role offers the opportunity to work in a dynamic area shaped by a rapidly evolving landscape of federal, state, and local leave, disability, accommodation, employee benefits, and insurance laws.What You'll Do:· Serve as a principal legal resource to the Group Benefit Solutions Absence Management business on legal and regulatory matters affecting leave administration, statutory disability and paid family and medical leave programs, workplace accommodations, and related products and services.· Advise on the full lifecycle of Absence Management products and services, including product strategy and design, development of new capabilities, implementation, administration, Distribution and marketing, client arrangements, and ongoing product and operational enhancements.· Analyze complex federal, state, and local legal and regulatory requirements affecting Absence Management offerings and translate those requirements into practical product, administrative, and operational guidance.· Monitor and assess legislative, regulatory, and other legal developments and partner with Product, Operations, Claims, Distribution Compliance, Government Affairs, and other stakeholders to evaluate their impact and implement appropriate changes to products, services, processes, and business practices.· Provide risk-based legal advice to business leaders, clearly identifying legal and regulatory risks, areas of uncertainty, available options, and potential mitigants to support informed business decision-making.· Partner with cross-functional teams to address complex operational and client issues involving leave administration, statutory disability, workplace accommodations, and related services and to develop practical, scalable solutions.· Review, draft, and negotiate client agreements and other arrangements relating to Absence Management products and services, and help develop and maintain contract provisions, templates, guidance, and playbooks that promote consistency and efficient legal support.· Advise, in coordination with other subject matter experts within the Office of the General Counsel, on related issues involving ERISA, group insurance regulation, employment law, privacy and data use, technology, and other areas relevant to the Absence Management business.· Support the development and launch of new products, services, and capabilities and provide legal guidance regarding associated client communications, marketing materials, implementation approaches, and operating models.· Build strong relationships with business leaders and other partners and serve as a practical, solutions-oriented legal advisor who understands both the legal environment and the business's strategic and operational objectives.· Lead or participate in initiatives to improve legal-service delivery, develop scalable guidance and tools, and enhance legal and business processes.What You’ll Bring:· Juris Doctor (J.D.) degree from an ABA-accredited law school and active membership in good standing in at least one state bar.· Five or more years of relevant legal experience in a law firm, corporate legal department, insurance company, employee benefits organization, absence management provider, or comparable environment.· Meaningful experience advising on absence management, employee leave, workplace accommodations, employee benefits, employment law, or a closely related area, including experience with FMLA, ADA, PWFA, and state paid family medical leave programs. s,.· Demonstrated ability to analyze complex and evolving legal requirements and translate them into clear, practical advice for product, operational, and business teams.· Strong business judgment and the ability to identify and communicate legal risk in a manner that enables business leaders to make informed decisions.· Excellent communication and relationship-management skills, including the ability to explain complex legal issues clearly to operational professionals, product teams, business leaders, senior executives, and other stakeholders.· Demonstrated ability to work effectively across functions, manage multiple priorities, exercise sound legal judgment, and develop pragmatic solutions to complex legal and business issues.· Strong commercial contracting skills, including experience drafting and negotiating client agreements and developing contract templates or playbooks.· Knowledge of laws and regulations affecting leave and absence management products and services, including federal and state leave requirements, statutory disability and paid leave programs, workplace accommodation requirements.Preferred Skills:· Experience advising an insurer, employee benefits organization, third-party administrator, or other provider of absence management or leave administration services.· Knowledge of ERISA and insurance regulation.· Experience supporting group insurance or employee benefits products and services.· Experience advising on product development, implementation, or regulatory-change initiatives involving technology-enabled administrative services.· Experience working with Product, Operations, Claims, Distribution, Compliance, Government Affairs, Risk, Privacy, Technology, or other cross-functional partners.Pay TransparencySalary Range: $166,500-$238,000Overtime eligible: ExemptDiscretionary bonus eligible: YesSales bonus eligible: NoActual base salary will be determined based on several factors but not limited to individual’s experience, skills, qualifications, and job location. Additionally, employees are eligible for an annual discretionary bonus. In addition to base salary, employees may also be eligible to participate in an incentive program.Company OverviewAt New York Life, our 180-year legacy of purpose and integrity fuels our future. As we evolve into a more technology-, data-, and AI-enabled organization, we remain grounded in the values that drive lasting impact.Our diverse business portfolio creates opportunities to make a difference across industries and communities—inviting bold thinking, collaborative problem-solving, and purpose-driven innovation. Here, you’ll find the rare balance of long-standing stability and forward momentum, supported by an inclusive team that honors tradition while embracing progress.As a Fortune 100 mutual company, we offer a place to grow your skills, contribute to meaningful work, and deliver solutions that matter. Your ideas drive what’s next, and your growth powers it.Our BenefitsWe provide a full package of benefits for employees – and have unique offerings for a modern workforce, including leave programs, adoption assistance, and student loan repayment programs. Based on feedback from our employees, we continue to refine and add benefits to our offering, so that you can flourish both inside and outside of work. Click here to discover more about our comprehensive benefit options or visit our NYL Benefits Site.Our Commitment to InclusionAt New York Life, fostering an inclusive workplace is fundamental to who we are and how we serve our communities. We have a longstanding commitment to creating an environment where individuals can contribute their best and succeed together. This foundation is rooted in our core values of humanity and integrity, ensuring that every employee feels valued and supported. By embracing a broad range of perspectives and experiences, we achieve greater success and fulfill our promise of providing financial security and peace of mind to families across all communities. Click here to learn more about New York Life’s leadership in this space.Recognized as one of Fortune’s World’s Most Admired Companies, New York Life is committed to improving local communities through a culture of employee giving and volunteerism, supported by the Foundation. We're proud that due to our mutuality, we operate in the best interests of our policy owners. To learn more about career opportunities at New York Life, please visit the Careers page of www.NewYorkLife.com.Visit our LinkedIn to see how our employees and agents are leading the industry and impacting communities.Visit our Newsroom to learn more about how our company is constantly evolving to meet our clients' and employees’ needs.Job Requisition ID: 94979#LI-MC1#LI-REMOTE