Senior Counsel - Global Cybersecurity

MetLife; Cary (NC); Hybrid; USD 160,000 - 213,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Health plan

Life insurance

401(k) with match

Parental leave

Job summary

MetLife is seeking an experienced attorney with global cybersecurity legal experience to join its cyber legal team. The Senior Counsel will advise the Enterprise on navigating evolving cybersecurity laws and regulations, and collaborate with Legal Affairs, Global Security, Compliance, Risk, and Government Affairs to support MetLife’s global security program.

Location is Cary, NC, hybrid role with at least 3 days in office.

Qualifications

• JD degree and active state bar membership.
• 8+ years of legal counsel experience in law firm, consulting, government, or in-house environment.
• Extensive expertise in cybersecurity and privacy law, with knowledge of security standards, frameworks, risk assessments, and certification processes.
• Strong analytical, investigative, and problem-solving skills with experience managing complex legal matters.
• Excellent communication and project management abilities, including translating technical and legal concepts for diverse audiences.

Responsibilities

• Lead cyber incident response investigations, ensuring regulatory compliance while minimizing risk.
• Provide legal counsel on cybersecurity matters, including incident response, third-party risk, audits, regulatory inquiries, and business transactions.
• Manage interactions with law enforcement and regulatory agencies and monitor evolving cybersecurity laws and policy trends.
• Develop and enforce information security policies, standards, and procedures to meet regulatory and contractual requirements.
• Provide strategic legal guidance on cybersecurity programs, including vulnerability management, identity and access management.
• Support executive and board reporting, cybersecurity training, and cross-functional collaboration.

Skills

Cybersecurity law

Regulatory compliance

Analytical skills

Communication skills

Cross-functional collaboration

Education

JD degree

Tools

AI tools

Job description

In Government & Legal Affairs, you'll be an engaged and trusted partner - empowered to deliver innovative solutions, influence public policy, and achieve results that enable MetLife’s growth and protect its global interests. Applying a commercial and contemporary mindset, you'll advocate for what’s possible, overcome challenges, and embrace different perspectives. If you also pride yourself on acting with accountability, transparency, and respect.

The Opportunity

MetLife is seeking an attorney with global cybersecurity legal experience to join our cyber legal team. The Senior Counsel position will assist in advising the Enterprise on navigating rapidly changing laws and regulations that govern our cybersecurity preparedness and response. Working closely and collaboratively with professionals across Legal Affairs, Global Security, Compliance, Risk, and Government Affairs, the attorney in this role will provide support to MetLife’s Global Security organization and be a point of contact for providing legal interpretation and guidance on cybersecurity laws and regulations across the Enterprise.

Key Responsibilities

• Lead and advise on cyber incident response investigations, ensuring regulatory compliance while minimizing litigation and regulatory risk.
• Provide legal counsel on cybersecurity matters, including incident response, third‑party risk, audits, regulatory inquiries, emerging technologies, and business transactions across global regions.
• Manage interactions with law enforcement and regulatory agencies and monitor evolving cybersecurity laws, regulations, and policy trends.
• Develop, implement, and enforce information security policies, standards, and procedures to meet regulatory and contractual requirements.
• Provide strategic legal guidance on cybersecurity programs, including vulnerability management, application security, identity and access management, and related initiatives.
• Support executive and board reporting, cybersecurity training and tabletop exercises, and foster strong collaboration across legal, business, and cybersecurity stakeholders worldwide.

Required Qualifications

• Juris Doctor (JD) degree, active state bar membership, and at least eight years of legal counsel experience in a law firm, consulting, government, or in‑house environment.
• Extensive expertise in cybersecurity and privacy law, with knowledge of security standards, frameworks, risk assessments, and certification processes.
• Strong analytical, investigative, and problem‑solving skills with experience managing complex legal and business matters.
• Excellent communication and project management abilities, including translating complex technical and legal concepts for diverse audiences.
• Proven ability to collaborate effectively, build relationships, and work across diverse teams, regions, and stakeholder groups.
• Highly organized team player capable of multitasking, prioritizing competing demands, and driving results in a fast‑paced environment.

Preferred Qualifications

• In‑house legal experience in financial services, particularly in connection with supporting a technology or cybersecurity team.
• Experience with internal investigations, regulatory enforcement, law enforcement, and/or national security matters in relation to cybersecurity.
• Experience with AI‑enabled tools

Location Expectation: This is a hybrid role requiring a minimum of 3 days per week in office.

The expected salary range for this position is $159,900 - $213,200.

Benefits We Offer

Our U.S. benefits address holistic well‑being with programs for physical and mental health, financial wellness, and support for families. We offer a comprehensive health plan that includes medical/prescription drug and vision, dental insurance, and no‑cost short‑and long‑term disability. We also provide company‑paid life insurance and legal services, a retirement pension funded entirely by MetLife and 401(k) with employer matching, group discounts on voluntary insurance products including auto and home, pet, critical illness, hospital indemnity, and accident insurance, as well as Employee Assistance Program (EAP) and digital mental health programs, parental leave, paid time off, paid holidays, volunteer time off, tuition assistance and much more!

About MetLife

Recognized on Fortune magazine's list of the "World's Most Admired Companies", Fortune World’s 25 Best Workplaces™, as well as the Fortune 100 Best Companies to Work For®, MetLife, through its subsidiaries and affiliates, is one of the world’s leading financial services companies; providing insurance, annuities, employee benefits and asset management to individual and institutional customers. With operations in more than 40 markets, we hold leading positions in the United States, Latin America, Asia, Europe, and the Middle East.

As part of our New Frontier strategy, MetLife is building an AI‑enabled, people‑centered future. We’re looking for people who bring curiosity, adaptability, and a growth mindset as we use AI to enhance how we serve customers, support communities, and evolve the way work gets done. At MetLife, AI is a responsible partner that supports human judgment, creativity, and continuous improvement while helping us build trust, inclusion, and long‑term value.

Our purpose is simple - to help our colleagues, customers, communities, and the world at large create a more confident future. United by purpose and guided by our core values - Win Together, Do the Right Thing, Deliver Impact Over Activity, and Think Ahead - we’re inspired to transform the next century in financial services. At MetLife, it’s #AllTogetherPossible. Join us!

MetLife is an Equal Opportunity Employer. All employment decisions are made without regards to race, color, national origin, religion, creed, sex (including pregnancy, childbirth, or related medical conditions), sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, age, disability, marital or domestic/civil partnership status, genetic information, citizenship status (although applicants and employees must be legally authorized to work in the United States), uniformed service member or veteran status, or any other characteristic protected by applicable federal, state, or local law (protected characteristics).

If you need an accommodation due to a disability, please email us at [e-mail]. This information will be held in confidence and used only to determine an appropriate accommodation for the application process.

MetLife maintains a drug‑free workplace.

It is unlawful in Massachusetts to require or administer a lie detector test as a condition of employment or continued employment. An employer who violates this law shall be subject to criminal penalties and civil liabilities.

This posting is for a current vacancy and is anticipated to remain open for at least 90 days from the listed posting date.