Purpose:Athene is seeking an AVP, Legal Counsel to support Vitera, an Athene- and Apollo-backed platform transforming retirement income through innovative defined contribution solutions. This role provides strategic and practical legal counsel across Vitera's commercial, product, and technology initiatives-operating at the intersection of insurance, asset management, and retirement innovation.
You will play a critical role in enabling business growth while managing legal and regulatory risk, partnering closely with Vitera leadership and Athene stakeholders. This is a unique opportunity to influence a category-defining platform with direct exposure to senior leadership and enterprise-wide strategy.
Accountabilities:- Serve as a trusted legal advisor to Vitera leadership and cross-functional teams, providing guidance on corporate, commercial, operational, and regulatory-adjacent matters
- Draft, review, and negotiate complex commercial agreements, including strategic partnerships, technology (SaaS), data-sharing, and vendor contracts
- Structure and support partnerships across the defined contribution ecosystem (recordkeepers, asset managers, insurers, consultants, and platform providers)
- Identify and mitigate legal, regulatory, operational, and reputational risks while enabling pragmatic, business-aligned solutions
- Partner with product, technology, and operations teams to support scalable implementation across retirement plan infrastructure and platforms
- Advise on antitrust, conflicts, ethics, and governance matters, ensuring alignment with Athene and Vitera risk frameworks
- Support marketing and communications review, including claims substantiation, disclosures, and partner alignment
- Coordinate with outside counsel (including ERISA specialists), translating complex legal advice into actionable business guidance
- Contribute to corporate governance, policy development, and operational processes in a fast-paced, evolving environment
Qualifications and Experience:- 8+ years of relevant experience in a law firm and/or in-house legal environment
- Juris Doctor (JD) with active bar membership in good standing
- Strong experience in commercial contracting, including technology, data-sharing, and strategic partnership agreements
- Working knowledge of the defined contribution/retirement ecosystem and/or insurance/annuity products; ERISA familiarity preferred
- Demonstrated ability to operate with strong judgment, agility, and a bias for action in ambiguous, fast-paced environments
- Bachelor's degree required (in addition to JD)
$217,232.00 - $325,848.00 USD Annual
Annual Salary for this role is market competitive. Actual salary for all roles will be based upon geographic location, work experience, education, licensure requirements and/or skill level and will be finalized at the time of offer. Depending on the role, a discretionary bonus plan or variable sales incentive may be included.
