Managing Senior Counsel - Benefits & Compensation

CVS Health; Bristol (RI); On-site; USD 175,000 - 335,000; Full time

Job summary

CVS Health is seeking a Managing Senior Legal Counsel, Compensation & Benefits to partner with the Compensation & Benefits Legal Team. You will advise on health and welfare plans, retirement programs, and executive compensation, ensuring regulatory compliance and governance across the organization.

This role involves drafting policy documents, supporting fiduciaries, and guiding strategic benefits initiatives for a large corporate environment.

Qualifications

• Admitted to practice law in at least one state and in good standing.
• 10+ years advising on employee benefits and executive compensation.
• Experience with ERISA, IRC, ACA, HIPAA, COBRA, and 409A.
• Strong drafting, negotiation, and analytical skills.
• Ability to communicate complex legal concepts to business stakeholders.
• Ability to manage multiple priorities in a fast-paced environment.
• Strong business judgment and solution-oriented approach.

Responsibilities

• Advise on design and governance of health and welfare benefit plans.
• Ensure compliance with ERISA, IRC, ACA, HIPAA, COBRA, and state/federal laws.
• Support administration of defined contribution and retirement programs; draft plan documents.
• Counsel on execution of executive compensation programs and equity awards.
• Provide guidance on mergers and acquisitions related to employee benefits and compensation.

Skills

Employee benefits experience

Executive compensation knowledge

ERISA/IRC/ACA knowledge

Legal drafting & negotiation

Stakeholder communication

Risk assessment & governance

Education

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

Job description

We’re building a world of health around every individual — shaping a more connected, convenient and compassionate health experience. At CVS Health®, you’ll be surrounded by passionate colleagues who care deeply, innovate with purpose, hold ourselves accountable and prioritise safety and quality in everything we do. Join us and be part of something bigger – helping to simplify health care one person, one family and one community at a time.

Position Summary

As Managing Senior Legal Counsel, Compensation & Benefits, you will serve as a key member of the Compensation & Benefits Legal Team within the CVS Health Corporate Affairs organisation. You will provide strategic, practical, and business-focused legal counsel to internal stakeholders, senior/executive management and fiduciaries regarding the design, implementation, administration, governance, and regulatory compliance of health and welfare plans, retirement plans and executive compensation programmes and related issues. You will also be responsible for assisting with management of the Compensation and Benefits legal team.

Major Responsibilities

1. Health and Welfare Benefits

• Provide legal counsel regarding the design, implementation, administration, and governance of health and welfare benefit plans.
• Advise on compliance with ERISA, the Internal Revenue Code, ACA, HIPAA, COBRA, MHPAEA, CAA, and other applicable federal and state laws.

2. Retirement Plans

• Provide legal support for the administration and governance of defined contribution and other retirement programmes.
• Draft, review, and amend plan documents, summary plan descriptions, committee charters, resolutions, and related participant communications.
• Advise plan fiduciaries regarding fiduciary responsibilities, prohibited transaction considerations, governance practices, and risk mitigation strategies.
• Support responses to participant inquiries, benefit claims, appeals, and regulatory matters.

3. Employee Benefits Compliance and Governance

• Support benefit plan audits, governmental examinations, Form 5500 filings, and other compliance-related activities.
• Advise on benefit plan governance structures and fiduciary committee operations.
• Review and negotiate benefits related contracts.
• Collaborate with internal stakeholders to promote compliance and operational excellence.

4. Executive Compensation

• Provide legal counsel regarding the design, implementation, administration, and governance of executive compensation programmes, including incentive programmes, equity awards, nonqualified deferred compensation plans, and severance plans.

5. Mergers & Acquisitions

• Advise on employee benefits and executive compensation matters in mergers, acquisitions and divestitures.

Required Qualifications

• Admitted to practice law in at least one state and member in good standing of applicable state bar association(s).
• 10+ years of experience advising on employee benefits and executive compensation matters, including regarding ERISA, IRC, ACA, HIPAA, COBRA and 409A, preferably in a large law firm, corporate legal department, or combination thereof.
• Strong drafting, negotiation, analytical, and problem‑solving skills.
• Ability to provide legal advice using extensive knowledge of law and risk awareness.
• Ability to clearly communicate complex legal concepts to business stakeholders
• Ability to manage multiple priorities and work effectively in a fast‑paced, collaborative environment.
• Strong business judgment and a solution‑oriented approach to legal counselling.

Preferred Qualifications

• Experience supporting benefits programmes for a large, complex employer.
• Experience advising fiduciary committees and supporting ERISA litigation, government audits, or regulatory investigations.
• Experience managing junior colleagues.

Education

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

Pay Range

The typical pay range for this role is:

$175,100.00 - $334,750.00

This pay range represents the base hourly rate or base annual full‑time salary for all positions in the job grade within which this position falls. The actual base salary offer will depend on a variety of factors including experience, education, geography and other relevant factors. This position is eligible for a CVS Health bonus, commission or short‑term incentive programme in addition to the base pay range listed above. This position also includes an award target in the company’s equity award programme.

Our people fuel our future. Our teams reflect the customers, patients, members and communities we serve and we are committed to fostering a workplace where every colleague feels valued and that they belong.

Great benefits for great people

We take pride in offering a comprehensive and competitive mix of pay and benefits that reflects our commitment to our colleagues and their families.

This full‑time position is eligible for a comprehensive benefits package designed to support the physical, emotional, and financial well‑being of colleagues and their families. The benefits for this position include medical, dental, and vision coverage, paid time off, retirement savings options, wellness programmes, and other resources, based on eligibility.

Additional details about available benefits are provided during the application process and on Benefits Moments .

We anticipate the application window for this opening will close on: 11/06/2026

Qualified applicants with arrest or conviction records will be considered for employment in accordance with all federal, state and local laws.