AVP, Associate General Counsel

Venerable; West Chester (Chester County); Hybrid; USD 120,000 - 160,000; Full time

Job summary

Venerable is seeking an AVP, Associate General Counsel to provide specialized legal support for its proprietary variable insurance mutual funds. The role involves leading negotiations of various agreements, drafting exemptive orders, and advising on fund operations and compliance. Candidates must have a J.D. and 8+ years of experience in investment companies or SEC-registered advisers. This position offers a hybrid work model with responsibilities across West Chester, PA, and New York offices.

Qualifications

• 8+ years of experience counseling investment companies and SEC-registered investment advisers.
• In-house counsel experience strongly preferred.
• Ability to interface with senior management and influence decision making.

Responsibilities

• Lead negotiations of various service agreements.
• Draft and interpret exemptive orders and no-action letters.
• Provide legal advice on fund operations and compliance matters.

Skills

Legal expertise

Negotiation skills

Analytical skills

Communication skills

Project management

Education

J.D. from an ABA approved school

Bachelor's degree

Job description

This individual will serve as a subject matter expert and provide highly specialized legal counsel to SEC-registered investment advisers for Venerable’s proprietary variable insurance mutual funds. The individual will also provide legal support, legal project management, and guidance regarding the proprietary variable insurance mutual funds, including advice regarding fund operations and fund board matters. In-depth knowledge of the Investment Company Act of 1940 (1940 Act), the Investment Advisers Act of 1940, the Securities Act of 1933, and related regulations and SEC positions is required.

This individual will bring a strong legal mindset combined with an exceptional ability to develop effective working relationships across the organization and to partner with others to creatively solve identified issues. This individual must be comfortable working in a fast-paced environment and interfacing with and influencing senior management as well as other peers and colleagues.

We are open to candidates who can commit to working in a hybrid work model at either our West Chester, PA office or New York office.

The AVP, Associate General Counsel must possess a strong legal background, a positive "can do" and collaborative attitude, be highly organized, adept at handling competing deadlines, and able to think strategically.

The general responsibilities of the AVP, Associate General Counsel will include:

• Leading the negotiations of service agreements, advisory agreements, consulting agreements, confidentiality agreements, vendor contracts, futures agreements, trading services agreements and other agreements for services supporting the advisers and the mutual fund complex.
• Drafting, negotiating and interpreting exemptive orders and no-action letters.
• Providing legal advice on the ongoing operation of Venerable’s proprietary variable insurance mutual funds and the advisory and administrative services provided to the proprietary variable insurance mutual funds.
• Providing legal advice on and facilitating the filing of fund registration statements, supplements, annual and other regulatory reports, filings, and certifications with applicable regulators.
• Providing legal advice and guidance on fund board matters and materials, including procedural and other requirements for board meetings and adviser board meeting materials.
• Counseling business leaders as necessary on fund and adviser policies and procedures and providing other legal support on fund and adviser compliance matters.
• Providing legal advice regarding strategic initiatives and related business lines/products; and regarding new fund development and compliance.
• Collaborating with peers and leadership across the enterprise to provide legal expertise for complex projects.
• Advising fund complex and advisers on new laws, changes/developments in the laws and other industry developments (legislative, regulatory, case law) and assisting with key regulatory compliance across the Venerable enterprise.
• Assisting in all regulatory examinations of the fund complex and adviser.
• Directing outside counsel on various legal matters, as appropriate.

Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities:

• Bachelor's degree is required.
• J.D. from an American Bar Association approved school and a member of a state Bar in good standing is required.
• 8+ years of experience counseling investment companies and SEC-registered investment advisers. In-house counsel experience strongly preferred.
• Excellent written and oral communication skills with the ability to interface with and influence senior management as well as other peers and colleagues.
• Balance functional and business knowledge - strong ability to develop effective working relationships, make articulate recommendations regarding potential solutions to issues, and be a strategic partner to the business.
• Established ability to multi-task, prioritize and organize time effectively in a fast-paced, results-oriented environment.
• Strong analytical skills and consistent attention to detail.
• Strong emotional IQ and people skills.
• Strong commitment to professionalism, teamwork, collaboration, and mutual respect.

Venerable is currently working in a hybrid work model, which consists of working in the office 3 days/week and remote 2 days/week; during the summer months it is working in the office 2 days/week and 3 days remote.

Every position at Venerable has responsibility for living out the company's values as described here:

We are Courageous - We think critically, ask "why?" and seek out creative solutions.

We are Curious - We take calculated risks, learn from our failures, and challenge traditional ways of thinking.

We are Connected - We are connected to each other, our customers and our community.

Please note: The use of AI tools (such as ChatGPT or similar platforms) during interviews is not permitted without the prior approval of Venerable, as the use of such tools may interfere with company confidentiality, misrepresent a candidate’s skills and experience or otherwise conflict with Venerable’s hiring policies. If you are selected for an interview and a reasonable accommodation is needed, please notify the Venerable Human Resources recruiter aligned to the open position in which you are interviewing for.

If Venerable, in its sole discretion, determines that AI is being used during an interview without prior approval, Venerable reserves the right to end the interview early and/or disqualify a candidate.