POSITION SUMMARYProvident Financial Services, Inc. and Provident Bank seek a Senior Vice President & Deputy General Counsel to join the Legal Department. This role provides strategic leadership across regulatory engagement, corporate governance, lending, enterprise risk management, employment law, and litigation oversight, and serves as a key advisor to executive management and the Board of Directors.
The Deputy General Counsel supports the organization's business lines by advising on legal and regulatory developments impacting financial institutions and publicly traded companies. This role is responsible for overseeing corporate governance and board-related matters, bank regulatory compliance, corporate finance activities, and significant litigation, while partnering cross-functionally to manage legal risk and support strategic initiatives. This position reports to the General Counsel.
KEY RESPONSIBILITIES:Regulatory & Compliance - Serve as senior legal lead on regulatory matters, including examinations and supervisory engagement.
- Advise on regulatory developments impacting the bank and its affiliated entities.
Business & Lending Support - Provide legal oversight for commercial and residential lending activities.
- Advise on workouts, restructurings, and enforcement matters.
Litigation & Dispute Management - Oversee significant litigation matters and manage outside counsel.
Employment Law & HR Advisory - Provide legal counsel on employment law matters, including employee relations, internal investigations, and workplace compliance.
- Partner with Human Resources to review and maintain policies and mitigate employment-related risk.
Cross-Functional Leadership - Collaborate with executive leadership and cross-functional partners including Risk, Compliance, HR, and Finance to support strategic initiatives.
SKILLS AND TRAINING REQUIRED - Deep expertise in securities laws, corporate governance, and public company requirements.
- Demonstrated experience with mergers & acquisitions, capital markets transactions, and strategic corporate initiatives.
- Strong knowledge of bank regulatory frameworks and financial services industry practices.
- Experience advising on employment law matters, including employee relations, internal investigations, and workplace compliance.
- Ability to navigate complex regulatory environments and provide practical, risk-balanced legal guidance.
- Proven ability to partner with executive leadership and influence decision-making across the organization.
- High integrity, sound professional judgment, and strong risk assessment capabilities.
- Exceptional executive presence, communication, and stakeholder management skills.
- Licensed attorney; admitted to practice in New York and/or New Jersey preferred.
WORK EXPERIENCE - Minimum of 15+ years of progressive legal experience, including significant experience advising financial services organizations either in-house or at a leading law firm.
- Demonstrated experience supporting senior leadership and/or Board-level engagements.
- Broad experience across corporate governance, regulatory, litigation, and employment law matters preferred
EDUCATION - Juris Doctor (JD) required
- Bachelor's degree required
LICENSES AND/OR CERTIFICATIONS - Active bar admission required
OTHER DUTIESPlease note this job description is not designed to cover or contain a comprehensive listing of activities, duties or responsibilities that are required of the employee for this job. Duties, responsibilities, and activities may change at any time with or without notice.
WORKING CONDITIONS: Backoffice/Beacon/PPP:
- Prolonged sitting
- Lifting from 5 to 10 lbs (printer paper, storage boxes)
- Occasional bending or overhead lifting (storing files or boxes)
Work is performed in a normal office environment. Noise levels are usually moderate. May also involve travel to customers and property locations.
HAZARDS: The hazards are mainly those present in a normal office setting and those present in commuting by car. Occasionally, they may be exposed to those conditions present in public forums and meeting places.
This job description may not be all-inclusive. Employees are expected to perform other duties as assigned and directed by management. Job descriptions and duties may bemodifiedwhen deemedappropriate bymanagement. Pay Details: $250,000 - $280,000 annually. The final compensation offered may vary based upon the candidate's skills and experience, job-related knowledge, education, geographic location, internal equity, and other applicable business and organizational needs.
This role is incentive eligible based upon company, business, and/or individual goal achievement and performance.
Team members accrue paid time-off (PTO), receive Holiday (PTO) and are eligible to participate in the bank's Health and Wellness benefits including Medical, Dental and Vision Plans, Flexible and Health Savings Accounts, and a 401(k) Retirement Plan. In addition, the company provides Disability Insurance, an Employee Assistance Program, and Basic Life Insurance. Company sponsored Tuition Disbursement and Loan Repayment programs are also available. Voluntary benefits include Supplemental Life Insurance, Accident, Critical Illness, Hospital Indemnity and Legal plans.
