Director, Senior Legal Counsel - Board Governance

GWP; Denver (CO); Hybrid; USD 200,000 - 225,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Hybrid work policy

Generous holiday policies

Paid volunteer time

Tuition/qualification reimbursement

Parental leave benefits

Headspace subscription

ClassPass membership

Employee events

Job summary

Janus Henderson Investors in Colorado seeks a senior attorney to support the Boards of Trustees for JIF/JAS, advising on governance and regulatory obligations under the 1940 Act. You will provide independent legal judgment, review board materials, and serve as primary contact for routine matters, escalating to the CLO as needed.

You will collaborate with trustees, internal teams, and external counsel, supporting product development, fund reorganizations, and Section 15(c) reviews.

Qualifications

• Juris Doctor (J.D.) from an accredited law school and active membership in good standing of a U.S. state bar.
• Substantive experience advising U.S. registered investment companies under the Investment Company Act of 1940 and related SEC rules and regulations.
• Experience supporting fund boards of trustees and their committees, including preparation and review of board materials and governance processes.
• Working knowledge of fund board governance, Section 15(c) annual contract review process, committee structures, and board oversight responsibilities under the 1940 Act.
• Excellent verbal and written communication skills, with the ability to translate complex regulatory matters into clear, decision-ready information and to collaborate effectively with trustees, business partners, and management at all levels.
• Strong drafting, analytical, and issue-spotting skills, with sound legal judgment and attention to detail and accuracy.
• Organizational skills with the ability to prioritize and manage multiple deliverables under continuous, deadline-driven workflows and work with minimal supervision.
• Ability to maintain confidentiality, exercise discretion, and act as an independent fiduciary in the best interests of the Trusts and their shareholders.
• Ability to work well in a team-based environment and flexibility to work extended hours, as needed to meet deadlines.

Responsibilities

• Serve as the primary senior attorney supporting the JIF/JAS CLO and Boards of Trustees and their committees (e.g., Audit, Investment Oversight, Nominating and Governance, Operations, Product and Distribution, and Trading and Pricing) across various stakeholders: trustees (interested and disinterested), outside/Trustee counsel, and members of Janus Henderson’s senior management team.
• Prepare and review board and committee materials – integrating inputs from across the firm – to ensure the Boards receive clear, complete, well-vetted, and decision-ready information.
• Provide day-to-day legal execution on board and governance matters, serving as the primary point of contact for routine board legal matters with escalation to the CLO as needed.
• Support board and committee meetings, including agenda planning, materials review, issue spotting, meeting participation, minutes review, and follow-up on action items.
• Support the annual investment advisory contract review (Section 15(c)) process, including coordination with independent trustee counsel, the independent fee consultant, and internal business partners.
• Provide board-level legal support for product development and the creation, launch, liquidation, and reorganization of funds, including matters requiring board approval under applicable SEC rules.
• Support major legal projects from a board-governance perspective, balancing regulatory risk with business objectives.
• Advise on board governance policies, committee charters, and trustee education, supporting strong governance practices and effective board operations.
• Partner effectively with other attorneys, board and disclosure staff, internal business lines, and external counsel.
• Carry out additional duties as assigned.

Skills

J.D.

Mutual funds/ETFs

Board governance

Regulatory interpretation

Communication skills

Legal drafting

Confidentiality

Team collaboration

Education

Juris Doctor (J.D.) from an accredited law school

Job description

Why work for us?

A career at Janus Henderson is more than a job, it’s about investing in a brighter future together.

Our Mission at Janus Henderson is to help clients define and achieve superior financial outcomes through differentiated insights, disciplined investments, and world-class service. We will do this by protecting and growing our core business, amplifying our strengths and diversifying where we have the right.

Our Values are key to driving our success, and are at the heart of everything we do:

Clients Come First - Always | Execution Supersedes Intention | Together We Win | Diversity Improves Results | Truth Builds Trust

If our mission, values, and purpose align with your own, we would love to hear from you!

Your opportunity

You will serve as a senior level attorney supporting the Boards of Trustees of Janus Henderson’s U.S. retail and intermediary mutual fund products, referred to as Janus Investment Fund (“JIF”) and Janus Aspen Series (“JAS”) and their committees.

You will provide independent legal judgement, regulatory interpretation, and decision-ready information in support of the Trusts’ governance and regulatory obligations under the Investment Company Act of 1940. Reporting to the Chief Legal Officer (CLO) for JIF/JAS, you will be accountable for day-to-day legal execution on board and governance matters, with escalation of complex issues to the CLO as appropriate.

You will:

• Serve as the primary senior attorney supporting the JIF/JAS CLO and Boards of Trustees and their committees (e.g., Audit, Investment Oversight, Nominating and Governance, Operations, Product and Distribution, and Trading and Pricing) across various stakeholders: trustees (interested and disinterested), outside/Trustee counsel, and members of Janus Henderson’s senior management team.
• Prepare and review board and committee materials – integrating inputs from across the firm – to ensure the Boards receive clear, complete, well-vetted, and decision-ready information.
• Provide day-to-day legal execution on board and governance matters, serving as the primary point of contact for routine board legal matters with escalation to the CLO as needed.
• Support board and committee meetings, including agenda planning, materials review, issue spotting, meeting participation, minutes review, and follow-up on action items.
• Support the annual investment advisory contract review (Section 15(c)) process, including coordination with independent trustee counsel, the independent fee consultant, and internal business partners.
• Provide board-level legal support for product development and the creation, launch, liquidation, and reorganization of funds, including matters requiring board approval under applicable SEC rules.
• Support major legal projects from a board-governance perspective, balancing regulatory risk with business objectives.
• Advise on board governance policies, committee charters, and trustee education, supporting strong governance practices and effective board operations.
• Partner effectively with other attorneys, board and disclosure staff, internal business lines, and external counsel.
• Carry out additional duties as assigned.

What to expect when you join our firm

• Hybrid working and reasonable accommodations
• Generous Holiday policies
• Paid volunteer time to step away from your desk and into the community
• Support to grow through professional development courses, tuition/qualification reimbursement and more
• Maternal/paternal leave benefits and family services
• Complimentary subscription to Headspace – the mindfulness app
• Corporate membership to ClassPass and other health and well-being benefits
• Unique employee events and programs including a 14er challenge
• Complimentary beverages, snacks and all employee Happy Hours

Must have skills

• Juris Doctor (J.D.) from an accredited law school and active membership in good standing of a U.S. state bar.
• Substantive experience advising U.S. registered investment companies (mutual funds and/or ETFs) under the Investment Company Act of 1940 and related SEC rules and regulations.
• Experience supporting fund boards of trustees and their committees, including preparation and review of board materials and governance processes.
• Working knowledge of fund board governance, Section 15(c) annual contract review process, committee structures, and board oversight responsibilities under the 1940 Act.
• Excellent verbal and written communication skills, with the ability to translate complex regulatory matters into clear, decision-ready information and to collaborate effectively with trustees, business partners, and management at all levels.
• Strong drafting, analytical, and issue-spotting skills, with sound legal judgment and attention to detail and accuracy.
• Organizational skills with the ability to prioritize and manage multiple deliverables under continuous, deadline-driven workflows and work with minimal supervision.
• Ability to maintain confidentiality, exercise discretion, and act as an independent fiduciary in the best interests of the Trusts and their shareholders.
• Ability to work well in a team-based environment and flexibility to work extended hours, as needed to meet deadlines.

Nice to have skills

• Experience with ETFs
• Experience supervising or leading a board team or paralegals
• Experience championing automation and process improvement within a legal function

Supervisory responsibilities

• The role may include oversight of board support staff (e.g., board managers and assistants) within the JIF/JAS support model.

Potential for growth

• Mentoring
• Leadership development programs
• Regular training
• Career development services
• Continuing education courses

Compensation information

The base salary range for this position is $200,000-$225,000. This range is estimated for this role. Actual pay may be different. This position will be open through September 30, 2026.

Colorado law requires an estimated closing date for job postings. Please don't be discouraged from applying if you see this date has passed.

At Janus Henderson Investors we’re committed to an inclusive and supportive environment. We believe diversity improves results and we welcome applications from candidates from all backgrounds. Don’t worry if you don’t think you tick every box, we still want to hear from you! We understand everyone has different commitments and while we can’t accommodate every flexible working request, we’re happy to be asked about work flexibility and our hybrid working environment. If you need any reasonable accommodations during our recruitment process, please get in touch and let us know at [e-mail].

Annual Bonus Opportunity

Position may be eligible to receive an annual discretionary bonus award from the profit pool. The profit pool is funded based on Company profits. Individual bonuses are determined based on Company, department, team and individual performance.

Benefits

Janus Henderson is committed to offering a comprehensive total rewards package to eligible employees that includes; competitive compensation, pension/retirement plans, and various health, wellbeing and lifestyle benefits. To learn more about our offerings please visit the Why Join Us section on the career pagehere.

Janus Henderson Investors is an equal opportunity employer.All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, disability or veteran status. All applications are subject to background checks.

Janus Henderson (including its subsidiaries) will not maintain existing or sponsor new industry registrations or licenses where not supported by an employee’s job functions (as determined by Janus Henderson at its sole discretion).

You should be willing to adhere to the provisions of our Investment Advisory Code of Ethics related to personal securities activities and other disclosure and certification requirements, including past political contributions and political activities. Applicants’ past political contributions or activity may impact applicants’ eligibility for this position.

You will be expected to understand the regulatory obligations of the firm, and abid by the regulated entity requirements and JHI policies applicable for your role.