Assistant General Counsel, Distribution, Global Employee Benefits, Maxis & Affinity/Association Business

Description and Requirements
Position: AVP & Assistant General Counsel: Distribution, Global Employee Benefits, Maxis & Affinity/Association Business
Location: 200 Park Ave (Preferred) or Virtual
Setting : Hybrid or Remote
Reports to: VP & Associate General Counsel
Travel : Less than 5%
The Team You Will Join
Building confident futures is at the center of all our work at MetLife. In Legal Affairs, that means empowering our trusted advisors and advocates to focus on what's possible while safeguarding MetLife's global interests. Collaborating with each other and our businesses around the globe, we support innovative solutions while protecting our customers, employees, communities, and shareholders. And we work in an environment founded on integrity, trust, candor, and respect, where new challenges and diverse perspectives are encouraged and celebrated.
This role sits within the Group Benefits Unit of the US Insurance Law Section of Legal Affairs focused on the US Group Business. This Section provides strategic legal advice on a wide variety of issues impacting US Group Business. Its members strive to provide actionable advice that considers commercial implications and to become trusted advisors to their business.
The Opportunity
The AVP will lead the Affinity/Association, Distribution and MAXIS team providing advice on legal issues related to group insurance regulations and distribution, product development and design, marketing, sales and administration. This will include supervising and developing subject matter expertise in the other attorneys that support distribution of MetLife products and products sold in the Affinity/Association and Global Employee Benefits space. It also includes providing legal advice on the Maxis joint venture, where you will supervise the attorney who negotiates global pooling and captive reinsurance arrangements. In addition, the AVP will be responsible for supporting Group Benefits more broadly by taking on additional responsibilities with respect to substantive cross-product topics.
How You'll Help Us Build a Confident Future:
This role is primarily focused on providing legal risk mitigation strategies in connection with the distribution of Group Benefits products across multiple jurisdictions in the U.S, including in the Affinity/Association and Global Employee Benefits space.
Other key responsibilities include drafting, negotiating and reviewing a variety of legal agreements with customers and vendors, regulatory filings, policyholder notices, requests for proposals, customer communications and sales materials.
Specific responsibilities will include:

• Supervisory Responsibilities for Affinity/Association, Distribution and Global Employee Benefits/MAXIS: This AVP will serve as the lead attorney and Sub-Unit Head for Affinity/Association, Distribution and MAXIS. In addition, the AVP will be expected to supervise, train and support other team members on day-to-Affinity/Association, Distribution and MAXIS matters.
• Lead Attorney for the Head of Broker Operations and Global Employee Benefits: The AVP will serve as the lead attorney for the Head of Broker Operations and Global Employee.
• Leading, managing and developing four attorneys.
• Supervising and assisting attorneys in advising the business on substantive legal issues.
• Thought leader and subject matter expert on Group Benefits products and administration issues.
• Providing strategic advice on trends and risk mitigation.

What You Need to Succeed (Required Qualifications):

• Minimum of twelve years of experience as legal counsel in either a law firm, a consulting firm, government, or as in-house counsel.
• Juris Doctorate degree and current member of a state bar in good standing.
• Material experience with group insurance and distribution.
• Strategic thinker and solutions oriented.
• Effective leader; prior experience managing a team of attorneys in a corporate setting.
• Strong analytical skills with experience in managing complex projects.
• Strong communication skills, including a strong desire and ability to make complex topics understandable for various audiences.
• Demonstrated capability for collaboration across diverse populations.

What Will Give You an Edge (Additional Skills)

• Experience with compensation structuring
• Experience advising on broker and third-party compensation

The salary range for applicants for this position is $161,000 - $214,600.
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, volunteer time off, tuition assistance and much more!
About MetLife
Recognized on Fortune magazine's list of the 2025 "World's Most Admired Companies", Fortune World's 25 Best Workplaces™ for 2024, as well as the 2025 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.
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 empathy, 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 [email protected]. 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.
$161,000 - $214,600
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