Sr. Counsel - Regulatory and Group Benefits

MetLife; New York (NY); On-site; USD 180,000 - 270,000; Full time

Job summary

MetLife is seeking a Regulatory and Group Benefits Counsel to provide practical, risk‑based legal advice on federal and state regulatory matters affecting vision plans in government programs in the United States.

You will support growth and informed decision‑making by delivering strategic counsel, negotiating agreements, and leveraging technology to improve contracting workflows and knowledge management.

Qualifications

• J.D. required from an accredited law school.
• Admission to the New York Bar or eligibility with prompt pursuit.
• 7–10 years of relevant legal experience, including at least 2 years advising managed care on government programs.
• Hands‑on experience with generative AI, legal tech, and workflows.

Responsibilities

• Provide strategic, risk‑based legal and compliance guidance on federal/state insurance, managed care, and government programs.
• Monitor regulatory developments and translate into actionable business recommendations.
• Draft and negotiate client, provider, and vendor contracts while mitigating risk.
• Leverage technology to improve efficiency and risk visibility in contracting processes.
• Support growth and decision‑making with practical legal counsel aligned with objectives.
• Own and enhance key legal workflows including intake, triage, contracting, approvals, escalations.

Skills

Regulatory affairs

Contract drafting

AI in legal workflows

Legal technology

Risk assessment

Education

J.D. degree

New York Bar admission

Tools

Contract management tools

Workflow tools

Generative 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, apply to join our Government & Legal Affairs team today.

The Opportunity

The Regulatory and Group Benefits Counsel is responsible for providing practical advice on a broad range of insurance regulatory matters with a particular emphasis on vision plans participating in government programs in the United States. This is an exciting opportunity to provide strategic, risk-based advice to the vision business while enabling responsible growth and informed decision making.

Key Responsibilities

• Provide strategic, risk-based legal and compliance guidance on federal and state insurance, managed care, and government program requirements.
• Monitor and interpret regulatory, statutory, and market developments, translating them into actionable business recommendations.
• Draft, review, and negotiate client, provider, and vendor agreements while identifying and mitigating legal and business risk.
• Leverage approved technology and contract management tools to improve efficiency, consistency, and risk visibility in contracting processes.
• Support business growth and decision-making by delivering practical legal counsel aligned with organizational objectives.
• Own and continuously enhance key legal workflows, including intake, triage, contracting, approvals, escalations, and knowledge management.

Required Qualifications

• J.D. degree from an accredited law school.
• Admission to the New York Bar, or eligibility for admission and a commitment to obtain it promptly (or relevant bar admission if not working in New York office).
• 7 to 10 years of relevant legal experience and a demonstrated record of accomplishment. Relevant experience should include at least two years at a law firm advising managed care companies on participation in government programs.
• Hands‑on experience using generative AI, legal technology, and workflow tools in substantive legal work, including prompt development, testing, iteration, output validation, and responsible‑use safeguards.

Preferred Qualifications

• Experience advising managed care companies or their subcontractors on compliance with laws and regulations governing Medicare Advantage and Medicaid Managed Care.
• Experience drafting and negotiating contracts in the managed care environment, including value-based contracts.
• Experience advising companies on compliance with a broad range of health care laws, including fraud and abuse laws.
• Experience directly building or scaling AI‑enabled legal workflows, self‑service tools, automated intake, or reusable knowledge of assets beyond a single team.
• In‑house experience with a managed care company is strongly preferred.