Assistant General Counsel

How You'll Contribute:
The Assistant General Counsel provides leadership and legal support to the company’s corporate governance, corporate compliance, procurement and risk management functions. The Assistant General Counsel advises departments and business leaders on contract and transactional aspects of the business to contribute to its financial and operational success. Additionally, the Assistant General Counsel has significant responsibilities over the corporate minutes, resolutions and recording-keeping functions. The individual assists with the governance, compliance and documentation for the Company’s risk committees. This position has significant interaction with key external parties including vendors, regulators, auditors, and examiners.

About Us:
EquiTrust Life Insurance Company is a national carrier of competitive, client-friendly annuity products sold through a variety of distribution channels, including more than 20,000 independent agents and independent marketing organizations (IMOs). Since 2003, we have provided exceptional customer service to our clients by operating with integrity and passion. Our efforts are supported by a dedicated workforce who execute their responsibilities through teamwork and an entrepreneurial spirit. EquiTrust sells products nationwide and is headquartered in Chicago, Illinois, with operations in West Des Moines, Iowa.

Position Summary:
As an Assistant General Counsel, you will play a key leadership role in delivering strategic legal guidance across corporate governance, compliance, procurement, and risk management functions. This position collaborates cross-functionally with business leaders, external partners, and internal legal and compliance teams to ensure the company’s operations remain aligned with regulatory standards and business objectives. We are looking for candidates who are passionate about corporate law, value ethical excellence, and bring strong communication, contract negotiation, and risk advisory experience to the team.

What You’ll Do:

• Procurement Responsibilities:
  • Drafts, reviews and negotiates a variety of vendor contracts and other contracting documents (MSAs,
    SaaS agreements, consulting agreements, lease agreements, Scopes of Work).
  • Drafts, reviews and negotiates non-disclosure agreements.
  • Collaborates with outside counsel as needed regarding vendor contract or other negotiations.
• Corporate Governance Responsibilities:
  • Facilitates communication between the Chief Legal Officer, the Board of Directors and the Company.
  • Drafts Board meeting minutes and creates board meeting books.
  • Drafts Board action documents such as consents and resolutions.
  • Maintains and updates Board-related document files and records.
  • Collaborates with outside counsel regarding corporate governance-related documents.
• Corporate Compliance Responsibilities:
  • Drafts, reviews and submits annual, quarterly and subject matter-based regulatory filings and
    coordinate the submission of these filings with outside counsel, as needed.
  • Provides requested corporate governance and compliance-related documents to both internal and
    external auditors.
  • Drafts and provides documentation for KYC and AML-related disclosure and compliance requirements.
  • Provides colleagues with advice and resources regarding general legal and corporate governance-
    related inquiries.
  • Reviews and negotiates engagement letters for auditors and outside counsel.
  • Collaborates with legal and compliance colleagues as well as outside counsel in responding to routine
    examination-related requests from regulators.
• Risk Management Program:
  • Assists the Chief Legal Officer with compiling, drafting and submission of responsive materials and review of proposals for corporate risk management coverages
• Additional Responsibilities:
  • Supports other business units or Company Affiliates/Related Parties on an as-needed basis.
  • Supports the Regulatory Compliance team and/or other departments on an as-needed basis.
  • Willingly takes on additional responsibilities as requested in order to accomplish department and Company objectives.
  • Actively participates and contributes to the goals and objectives of the Company by working
    collaboratively and fostering a positive and inclusive work environment.
  • Exposure to one or more of the following areas preferred but not required:
  • Supporting insurance agency licensing, appointments and operations.
  • Drafting and negotiating reinsurance agreements.
  • Mergers and acquisitions/asset purchases and/or assumption reinsurance.
  • Shared services arrangements.
  • Vendor management best practices and procurement lifecycles/workflows, with an interest in helping to
    shape and build more formalized processes.

What You'll Bring:

Education:

• Juris Doctor required.

Experience:

• Minimum 10 years of transactional legal experience required, preferably consisting of a combination of both law firm and in-house experience.
• Experience partnering with and managing outside counsel required.
• License to practice Illinois law in good standing required.
• Minimum 1 year of experience in the insurance industry preferred.
• Experience supervising, leading, managing, and/or delegating work to junior lawyers preferred.

Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities:

• Strong understanding of contract law and corporate governance principles.
• Excellent verbal and written communication and negotiation skills.
• Ability to work independently with a proactive and solution-oriented mindset
• Exceptional organizational and multitasking abilities under time-sensitive conditions.
• Competence in legal research and clear synthesis of findings for business teams.
• Proficiency with Microsoft Office Suite, Adobe Acrobat/Nuance, and DocuSign.
• Familiarity with tools such as WestLaw, collaboration platforms (e.g., SharePoint, Teams, Zoom), and regulatory portals (e.g., NIPR, NAIC).
• Adaptable to evolving technology, systems, and workflows.

Where You’ll Work: 

• Chicago, IL
• Office Location: Mostly Off-Site 
• Expected Travel: Occasional travel (5 – 10% of the time)

Compensation and Pay Philosophy: 
The pay range for this role is $174,652.00-$240,146. This reflects the expected compensation for the position at the time of posting. The final offer will be based on factors such as the candidate’s experience, qualifications, geographic location, and internal equity, and may be higher or lower than the posted range. The pay range is subject to change in the future in accordance with applicable laws. EquiTrust is committed to fair and competitive compensation that considers individual and organizational needs.  

Total Rewards:
In addition to base pay, eligible employees may receive an annual discretionary incentive bonus and access to a competitive benefits package including: 

• Medical, Dental & Vision coverage:
• 401(k) with Company Match
• Paid time off: Vacation, Sick, Holiday, and more
• Paid Parental Leave for both Mothers and Fathers
• Hybrid/Remote Work Options
• Early Friday Closure

EquiTrust is an Equal Opportunity Employer and participates in the U.S. Federal E-Verify program. Applicants have rights under federal and state employment laws. To learn more, visit EquiTrust Careers. 

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Salary : $174,652 - $240,146