Job Description:Position Summary:
The Deputy General Counsel supports the Chief Legal and Risk Officer (CLRO) by providing strategic legal counsel to business leaders, managing key legal workstreams, and helping lead the day-to-day delivery of legal services. This role partners closely with Compliance and Risk to help ensure the organization's products, partnerships, and operations comply with applicable laws and regulations. The Deputy General Counsel contributes to effective governance and regulatory readiness by supporting examination response efforts, and strengthening core legal processes, templates, and playbooks. The role may supervise legal team members and coordinate outside counsel on assigned matters.
Primary Responsibilities and Duties: - Support the CLRO on legal, regulatory, and risk-related matters and help drive execution of department priorities
- Provide practical, business-oriented legal counsel to executive and operational leaders across the organization
- Monitor, interpret, and advise on changes in laws, regulations, and supervisory guidance applicable to credit unions and regulated financial institutions, including impact and implementation considerations.
- Support regulatory examinations, audits, and inquiries by reviewing responses and partnering with Compliance, Risk, Finance, and business teams on remediation planning and execution.
- Draft, review, and negotiate a broad range of contracts and arrangements, including vendor and third-party, technology, marketing, real estate, and professional services agreements.
- Provide legal support for product development and member-facing programs, including disclosures, advertising review, complaint matters, and issue management
- Manage or support litigation, claims, and disputes, including oversight of outside counsel, legal holds, discovery coordination, and settlement documentation
- Provide counsel on privacy, information security, and data governance matters in partnership with Information Security and technology teams, including incident response support as needed.
- Provide functional leadership for assigned legal work, including prioritization, quality review, and mentoring of legal team members
- Support management of legal department operations, including intake and workflow processes, matter management, outside counsel selection and spend oversight, and continuous improvement of legal templates and playbooks.
- Assume additional responsibilities as necessary for the continued growth and advancement of the credit union.
Knowledge/Skills:- Strong judgment with the ability to translate complex legal requirements into clear, practical, and actionable guidance.
- Proven ability to manage multiple priorities in a fast-paced, highly regulated environment.
- Excellent interpersonal and communication skills, with the ability to clearly present complex legal concepts to non-legal and executive audiences.
- Demonstrated contract drafting and negotiation skills with a risk-based, commercial mindset.
- Working knowledge of governance frameworks, compliance management systems, and enterprise/operational risk concepts, including three lines of defense, issue management, third-party risk.
- Strong cross-functional leadership, collaboration, and influence skills with the ability to build trust and drive alignment.
- Proficiency with modern business productivity and collaboration tools such as Microsoft Office, Teams, etc.
- Knowledge of the credit union regulatory environment, including NCUA Rules and Regulations preferred.
- Strong project management capabilities, including managing multiple concurrent initiatives and competing priorities.
- Collaborative leadership style with ability to influence outcomes, support change management, and drive enterprise-wide adoption.
- High standards for integrity, confidentiality, and professionalism.
- Excellent prioritization, organizational and execution skills.
Minimum Requirements:- Bachelor's degree in a relevant field, and Juris Doctor (JD) from an accredited law school, is required
- Active license to practice law in Indiana and/or Michigan (or ability to obtain promptly) is required
- 6+ years relevant, progressive legal experience with increasing responsibility (in-house and/or law firm)
- 4+ years of experience in people management or team leadership role.
- Demonstrated experience advising on contracts, regulatory/compliance issues, and risk-based decision making
- Ability to manage sensitive matters with discretion and maintain attorney-client privilege and confidentiality
- Experience in banking/credit union or broader financial services (regulated environment) is preferred
- Experience supporting third-party partnerships, technology procurement, and complex vendor negotiations
- Experience with privacy and data security laws and incident response (e.g., GLBA, state privacy laws, breach notification)
- Experience managing outside counsel, budgets, and legal operations processes
