If you are motivated and believe in the credit union philosophy of "People Helping People," join our team!
PURPOSE:
Staff Counsel I - Contracts will be an integral part of the operation of the Legal Services team and will be responsible for reviewing and negotiating SECU contracts.
DUTIES:
Work closely with the Contracts team, including the Deputy General Counsel, Associate General Counsel and Senior Staff Counsel to develop and implement contract review guidelines and procedures for all SECU commercial agreements
Review, draft, and negotiate SECU contracts to optimize SECU’s position and minimize the risks posed in SECU’s vendor relationships
Assist with developing standardized documents, templates, and clauses to streamline contract management processes
Provide practical legal advice to business units to facilitate, improve, and strengthen operational decision-making and risk management
Liaise with outside counsel as necessary on transactional or other matters
Stay abreast of the latest legal developments impacting SECU’s commercial agreements and vendor relationships
Act in a professional manner on and off the job and be courteous and discreet in the performance of duties and hold information in strict confidence
Work independently and on a time-sensitive basis while managing competing priorities
Accept special projects and perform other tasks as assigned
REQUIREMENTS:
J.D. degree from an accredited law school; four-year degree from an accredited college or university.
Admission to North Carolina Bar or eligibility for admission within one (1) year of employment.
At least one (1) year of relevant experience in a law firm or corporate legal department.
Working knowledge of transactional and general corporate law
Excellent reading and language comprehension skills with attention to detail.
Excellent communication and customer service skills.
Ability to organize work, prioritize multiple tasks, and perform routine duties independently.
Highest level of integrity and objectivity.
Ability to remain flexible and adapt to changing departmental demands.
Must be able to speak English fluently.
Ability to cooperate and collaborate with co-workers and be cordial in all interactions with co-workers and vendors.
PREFERRED SKILLS AND EXPERIENCE:
Experience in a position involving contract management or legal services.
Knowledge of commercial contract drafting and negotiation.
JOB ENVIRONMENT:
Office setting with physical proximity to other employees; some background noise from other employees, copy machine, and telephone.
Ability to work in Credit Union’s office in Raleigh, NC at least three (3) days per week.
PHYSICAL DEMANDS:
Must be able to comprehend phone calls and carry out verbal and written instructions.
May require a substantial amount of sitting.
Must be able to use hands and fingers to press keys on a computer keyboard to enter or retrieve information or press telephone key pad and lift receiver.
Must be able to lift up to 30 pounds.
SECU provides equal employment opportunity to all qualified persons regardless of race, color, religion, age, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, genetic information, disability, veteran status, or other classification protected by law.
Disclaimer
State Employees' Credit Union reserves the right to fill this role at a higher/lower level based on business need.
Skills Required
- J.D. degree from an accredited law school
- Four-year degree from an accredited college or university
- Admission to the North Carolina Bar or eligibility for admission within one year of employment
- At least one year of relevant experience in a law firm or corporate legal department
- Working knowledge of transactional and general corporate law
- Excellent reading, language comprehension, communication, and customer service skills
- Ability to organize work, prioritize multiple tasks, and work independently
- Fluency in English
- Ability to work in the Raleigh, North Carolina office at least three days per week
- Experience involving contract management or legal services
- Knowledge of commercial contract drafting and negotiation
SECU Compensation & Benefits Highlights
The following summarizes recurring compensation and benefits themes identified from responses generated by popular LLMs to common candidate questions about SECU and has not been reviewed or approved by SECU.
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Retirement Support — Immediate 100% vesting and a 200% employer match on employee 401(k) contributions from 1–5% of pay (up to a 10% employer match) stand out. This level of support is described as unusually rich among financial‑services employers.
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Leave & Time Off Breadth — 11 paid holidays plus 16 floating‑holiday hours, paid parental and caregiver leave, bereavement and volunteer time, and PTO that can reach 32 days per year with carryover up to 280 hours. These provisions provide predictable time off and flexibility across life events.
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Healthcare Strength — Medical (PPO or HDHP) with HSA/FSA options, dental including a minor‑child orthodontia option, and vision are available for employees and eligible dependents. Employer‑paid basic life/AD&D and short‑term disability, with subsidized long‑term disability, add robust income protection.
SECU Insights
What We Do
Even though we're North Carolina's largest credit union, we're still just "people helping people." We currently serve over 2.6 million members through more than 270 branch offices - and growing! Members have 24/7 access to account services from over 1,100 ATMs, as well as via phone, our website, and the SECU Mobile App. Since 1937, we've provided financial services to employees of the State of North Carolina, public boards of education, and employees of associations formed for the benefit of State employees, as well as their immediate family members. We are the trusted provider of financial services for millions of members. And, according to Forbes Magazine, we're the best credit union in North Carolina. State Employees' Credit Union (SECU) is an Equal Housing Opportunity lender and federally insured by NCUA. SECU provides equal employment opportunity to all qualified persons regardless of race, color, religion, age, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, genetic information, disability, veteran status, or other classification protected by law.
