AVP, Associate General Counsel -CLESS

If you're passionate about being part of a diverse organization that enables a Fortune 100 company with nearly $70 billion in annual sales to deliver innovative business solutions with excellence, then Nationwide's Legal team could be the place for you! At Nationwide®, “on your side” goes beyond just words. Our customers are at the center of everything we do and we’re looking for associates who are passionate about delivering extraordinary care.

Job Description Summary

Would you thrive in an environment where you can deliver top-quality legal services to support the goals and objectives of a Fortune 100 insurance and financial services company? If you possess the legal education, skills and expertise needed to provide outstanding service, advice, and counsel, we want to hear from you!
As an Associate General Counsel, you'll ensure that legal services are provided for the Commercial Lines, Excess & Surplus, and Specialty (CLESS) businesses. We'll count on you to work closely with the Office of the Chief Legal Officer (OCLO), business and senior leaders to evaluate the legal impact of various corporate or department strategies.

Job Description

Key Responsibilities: 

• Lead legal support for the most complex business matters arising from the Commercial Lines and Excess & Surplus and Specialty business, including the Small Commercial, Middle Market, Wholesale, Programs, planning units, as well as Shared Services. Serve as primary business unit counsel for these businesses by supporting the associated leaders and teams as they assess legal risks associated with strategic business opportunities.

• Engage with Presidents, SVPs, VPs, AVPs, and other senior leaders on Commercial Lines underwriting, product, distribution, claims, and portfolio opportunities; Wholesale and Programs strategy and distribution opportunities; and Shared Services operations, technology, data, vendor, and enterprise-support initiatives to coordinate vertical and horizontal risk mitigation throughout the businesses.

• Leverage business unit knowledge and a superior understanding of business unit objectives to direct OCLO support by actively identifying and assessing potential legal risks, considering business unit objectives, and fostering deal efficacy across Small Commercial, Middle Market, Wholesale, Programs, and Shared Services.

• Provide strategic legal advice and counsel on matters affecting commercial insurance operations, wholesale and distribution relationships, shared-services functions, business transformation, third-party relationships, data and technology, regulatory requirements, insurance products, contracts, and other complex business initiatives.

• Coordinate with subject-matter legal partners and other OCLO teams to provide integrated, practical, and consistent legal guidance across Small Commercial, Middle Market, Wholesale, Programs, and Shared Services, while appropriately prioritizing matters and aligning legal resources to business needs.

• Serve as a member of the CLESS Legal leadership team, driving strategic priorities related to enabling a world class underwriting company, talent development and retention, and data & technology adoption for the benefit of the legal team, as well as business partners. This role will lead cross-team collaboration within the P&C Legal team on projects of high importance.

May perform other responsibilities as assigned.

Reporting Relationships:  Reports to VP, AGC – CLESS. Manages approximately 7 direct and indirect reports, including 2 Managing Counsel, 3 Senior Counsel, 1 Counsel and 1 Paralegal professionals.

Typical Skills and Experiences: 

Education:  Juris Doctorate (JD) from an American Bar Association-accredited law school.

License/Certification/Designation Associates reporting within Nationwide’s Office of the Chief Legal Officer (OCLO) who are functioning in attorney roles must be fully licensed in accordance with OCLO policy, in good standing and in compliance with all continuing legal education requirements at all times in the state(s) in which they practice.

Experience: Minimum fifteen years of deep insurance underwriting, commercial insurance, wholesale or distribution, and regulatory experience. Preferably would have extensive experience in and exposure to the multiple businesses of insurance, including Standard Commercial, wholesale and distribution operations, and shared-services functions. Excellent legal, verbal and written communication skills for contact with all levels of management and clients. Analytical ability to interpret statutes, regulations, insurance policies, and other contracts. Decision-making ability to set work priorities and make recommendations. Ability to lead cross-functional projects. Ability to lead, initiate, organize, and coordinate complex projects and/or cases. Leadership skills to effectively coach and support team members, while building upon the engagement across the P&C Legal teams. Must be able to work in a collaborative environment with management, peers, clients, and direct team.

Knowledge, Abilities and Skills:

Extensive understanding of P&C Insurance, including commercial insurance underwriting, wholesale and distribution models, and the legal and regulatory considerations affecting shared-services operations. Strong legal skills that can be communicated verbally, in writing, and in easy-to-understand presentations. Awareness of external and internal resources that are available to assist in accelerating the understanding of trends in applicable areas and practical advice that balances risk versus real-world outcomes.  Collaborative, involved, willing to speak up and raise issues when there is a concern or an idea/alternative option available, ability to step back and see the bigger picture, provide constructive feedback and have tough conversations with clients and within OCLO.  Collaborative, involved, willing to speak up and raise issues when there is a concern or an idea/alternative option available, ability to step back and see the bigger picture, provide constructive feedback and have tough conversations with clients and within OCLO.

Other criteria, including leadership skills, competencies and experiences may take precedence.

Staffing exceptions to the above must be approved by the hiring manager’s leader and Human Resource Business Partner.

Values:  Regularly and consistently demonstrates the Nationwide Values.

Job Conditions: 

Overtime Eligibility: Exempt (Not Eligible)

Working Conditions: Normal office environment

ADA:  The above statements cover what are generally believed to be principal and essential functions of this job.  Specific circumstances may allow or require some people assigned to the job to perform a somewhat different combination of duties. 

Benefits

We have an array of benefits to fit your needs, including: medical/dental/vision, life insurance, short and long term disability coverage, paid time off with newly hired associates receiving a minimum of 18 days paid time off each full calendar year pro-rated quarterly based on hire date, nine paid holidays, 8 hours of Lifetime paid time off, 8 hours of Unity Day paid time off, 401(k) with company match, company-paid pension plan, business casual attire, and more. To learn more about the benefits we offer, click here.

Nationwide is an equal opportunity employer. We celebrate diversity and are committed to creating an inclusive culture where everyone feels challenged, appreciated, respected and engaged. Nationwide prohibits discrimination and harassment and affords equal employment opportunities to employees and applicants without regard to any characteristic (or classification) protected by applicable law.

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NOTE TO EMPLOYMENT AGENCIES:

We value the partnerships we have built with our preferred vendors. Nationwide does not accept unsolicited resumes from employment agencies. All resumes submitted by employment agencies directly to any Nationwide employee or hiring manager in any form without a signed Nationwide Client Services Agreement on file and search engagement for that position will be deemed unsolicited in nature. No fee will be paid in the event the candidate is subsequently hired as a result of the referral or through other means.

Nationwide pays on a geographic-specific salary structure and placement within the actual starting salary range for this position will be determined by a number of factors including the skills, education, training, credentials and experience of the candidate; the scope, complexity and location of the role as well as the cost of labor in the market; and other conditions of employment. If a Sales job, Sales Incentives, based on performance goals are possible in addition to this range. Note on Compensation for Part-Time Roles: Please be aware that the salary ranges listed below reflect full-time compensation. Actual compensation may be prorated based on the number of hours worked relative to a full-time schedule.

The national salary range for AVP, Associate General Counsel - Commercial Lines, E&S/Specialty : $175,000.00-$326,000.00

The expected starting salary range for AVP, Associate General Counsel - Commercial Lines, E&S/Specialty : $175,000.00 - $291,000.00