Staff Counsel, LACERA (Benefits)

This announcement is for a Call for Resumes for the position of Staff Counsel, LACERA - (Benefits)

The Call for Resumes can be officially suspended at any time.

Annual Salary: $11,997.08 - $18,158.54 Monthly.

BENEFITS: LACERA offers a comprehensive benefits package including a cafeteria benefit plan (14.5% - 17% of monthly base salary), annual leave, defined benefit retirement plan, Savings Plan (401k), Deferred Compensation Plan (457), 13 paid holidays per year, savings plan, tuition reimbursement, hybrid work schedule, and a ride share program.

The Los Angeles County Employees Retirement Association (LACERA) administers and manages the $91 billion retirement fund for the County of Los Angeles. We provide retirement, disability, and death benefits to eligible County Employees and their Beneficiaries, and collect, deposit, invest, and manage retirement funds collected from the County, Outside Districts, and County Employees. LACERA is one of the largest county retirement associations in the United States with almost 200,000 members. Our Membership is comprised of individuals from a diverse range of careers, age groups, and ethnicity - all contributing to the greater welfare of Los Angeles County. LACERA also manages the $5 billion OPEB Master Trust whose purpose is to pre-fund OPEB Program medical, dental, and vision benefits for the retirees of participating employers.

LACERA is located in Gateway Plaza at 300 North Lake Avenue in the beautiful City of Pasadena. The building is easily accessible from the Foothill Freeway (210) and the Metro Lake Station. We offer convenient free parking for staff members in our secure structure adjacent to the building in addition to a robust rideshare program providing commuting alternatives such as ride-matching, vanpool, carpool, parking services and more. Prioritizing health, well-being, and sustainability, Gateway Plaza is a Class “A” office building, LEED Gold Certified and EPA Energy Star Certified. With a Walkability Score of 91, LACERA staff members easily enjoy the approximately 150 shops, food, and dining options that make up the popular South Lake Avenue District.

Our members dedicate their careers contributing to the welfare of Los Angeles County. For their service, the County contributes to their promised benefits, and LACERA is dedicating to serving them in return throughout their career and their life afterwards.

ABOUT THE POSITION:

The Legal Division is comprised of a Chief Counsel, Senior Staff Counsels, Staff Counsels, Legal Analysts, and Legal Secretaries. Legal staff work in one of four sections: Litigation and Employment, Investments and Commercial Transactions, Benefits, and Disability.

The current vacancy is in the Benefits Section of the Legal Division. This position will be part of a team of attorneys, legal analysts, and secretarial support that provide legal advice and representation on all aspects of administration of the pension plan and retiree health care plan other than disability to LACERA and its Boards of Retirement and Investments, the Executive Office, the Member Operations Group, and other divisions as needed in the performance of LACERA’s fiduciary duty of loyalty and prudence in providing benefits to members and their beneficiaries. Issues will include interpretation of the California Constitution, County Employees Retirement Law of 1937 (CERL), the Public Employees' Pension Reform Act of 2013 (PEPRA), the Internal Revenue Code, and other benefit eligibility and delivery laws, regulations and internal policies, and procedures. The position will involve legal research, analysis, writing, collaboration, and presentation to the Board of Retirement and its committees. The position will advise the Board of Retirement on administrative appeals by members.

SELECTION REQUIREMENTS:

Four years' experience in the practice of employee benefits law, tax law related to employee benefit plans, public agency law or a comparable legal specialty.

Other Requirements: Applicants must be able to perform the essential functions of this classification, with or without a reasonable accommodation.

LICENSE:

Admission to practice law in all courts of California

DESIRABLE QUALIFICATIONS

• Demonstrated experience providing legal advice with regards to the administration of retirement, health, and other employee benefits.
• Demonstrated experience reviewing court orders regarding dissolution, guardianship, and conservatorship.
• Demonstrated experience making presentations on benefit issues.
• Demonstrated experience advising a board of trustees or directors, or a board level committee, preferably on benefits issues.

How to Submit Your Interest...

If you wish to be considered for this position, please submit your resume along with a cover letter that describes how you meet the selection requirements and any of the desired qualifications listed above, along with 2 writing samples.

Resume, cover letter and 2 writing samples MUST be attached during the submission of your online application. Faxed, emailed, or hard copy submissions will not be accepted. Application submissions without a resume AND cover letter AND 2 writing samples may be disqualified from further consideration.

To submit your interest online, go to governmentjobs.com.

Please contact Sharon Norton, Senior Human Resources Analyst at snorton@lacera.gov for any questions.