Assistant General Counsel, Client Solutions & Wealth Management

Guided by our company Purpose of “Inspiring well-being for our colleagues, consumers, and communities,” we are committed to building a best-in-class Law Department.

We drive a high-performance culture across our Legal, Compliance, and Government Affairs functions, aligned to “what” we deliver (i.e., our goals and objectives) and “how” we demonstrate our values and behaviors while focusing on the customer. We do this through leveraging a series of core capabilities, which includes accountability, interpersonal effectiveness, ability to demonstrate business savvy, being a subject matter expert, all while supporting the Law Department’s Mission to be a trusted advocate and advisor to drive strategic solutions that advance Guardian’s purpose, priorities, and values.

Do you want to be part of a collaborative Legal Team?

This role will support the day-to-day operations of Guardian’s Client Solutions & Wealth Management (“CSWM”) Practice in the Law Department. You will play a critical role in providing legal advice to business partners regarding Guardian’s individual markets business with a particular emphasis on the distribution of individual insurance products, and support for the company’s broker/dealer and registered investment adviser as well as supporting its advanced markets team.

A successful candidate will have excellent research and organizational skills, and business judgment as you will be required to understand and manage the laws and regulations affecting individual insurance products and wealth management offerings and provide practical advice in a rapidly changing and high-profile regulatory environment. You will also need to draft applicable agreements with distribution partners and help to facilitate the succession of general agencies. The ability to influence and drive proactive partnership in a changing business environment is critical. You will develop cross-business connections, provide industry perspective and best practices guidance while considering long-term outcomes and the needs of partners/clients when providing advice.

You are

• Energized and excited by challenging goals; and reflected in a true sense of competitiveness and drive for results.
• Adaptable. You embrace ambiguity, complexity, uncertainty, and volatility.
• A strategic problem solver able to simplify strategic success and innovation.
• An effective communicator, with a proven record of influencing cross-functional teams establishing and leading strong relationships with critical partners and executive stakeholders.
• Able to effectively convey ideas and engage in meaningful conversations.

You will

• Provide advice and counsel to CSWM strategies and innovation initiatives in their organizations.
• Participate in external forums, build partnerships internally across Guardian, and help ensure that Guardian’s CSWM business practices and policies are compliant with applicable law.
• Advise and assist with the implementation of new distribution and wealth management related laws and regulations.
• Represent the practice group as a key advisor to stakeholders to establish, inform, and maintain company-wide compliant policies.
• Provide effective, prompt compliance advice and support business compliance, rectifying problems, and responding to emerging challenges.
• Keep informed regarding pending industry changes, trends, and best practices and assess the potential impact of these changes on organizational processes.

You have

• 7 – 10 years of experience, preferably in connection with the life insurance and/or wealth management industries.
• JD and licensed to practice law in New York
• Ability to address complex and challenging issues and communicate effectively with business leaders at all levels to optimize risk management, productivity, and communication.
• Ability to work in a dynamic, hands-on, fast-paced environment and respond to questions from business areas and a complex subsidiary organization.
• Respect for diversity and ideas of others, willingness to collaborate in a fast-paced team environment and motivation skills required.
• Demonstrated leadership ability in an organizational setting, corporation integrity and strong interpersonal skills are essential to success.

Reporting Relationships

As our Assistant General Counsel, you will report to the Associate General Counsel, CSWM.

Critical Competencies / Behaviors •

In accordance with our success factors of Acting with accountability, leading with the consumer at the center, committing to collaborate, communicating transparently, and connecting with empathy and compassion:

• Instills Trust: Gains the confidence and trust of others through honesty, integrity, and authenticity.

• Ensures Accountability: Holds self and others accountable to meet commitments

• Decision Quality: Makes sound and timely decisions that propel the organization forward

• Courage: Steps up to address difficult issues, communicating clearly and professionally

• Customer Focus: Builds strong customer relationships and delivers customer-centric solutions

• Communicates Effectively: Develops and delivers communications that convey a clear understanding of the unique needs of different audiences. Proven track record of communication to Executive level management and Board of Directors • Values Differences: Recognizes the value that diverse perspectives and cultures bring to an organization and serves as a role model for inclusion and diversity

Salary Range:

The salary range reflected above is a good faith estimate of base pay for the primary location of the position. The salary for this position ultimately will be determined based on the education, experience, knowledge, and abilities of the successful candidate. In addition to salary, this role may also be eligible for annual, sales, or other incentive compensation.

Our Promise

At Guardian, you’ll have the support and flexibility to achieve your professional and personal goals.  Through skill-building, leadership development and philanthropic opportunities, we provide opportunities to build communities and grow your career, surrounded by diverse colleagues with high ethical standards.

Inspire Well-Being

As part of Guardian’s Purpose – to inspire well-being – we are committed to offering contemporary, supportive, flexible, and inclusive benefits and resources to our colleagues. Explore our company benefits at www.guardianlife.com/careers/corporate/benefits. Benefits apply to full-time eligible employees. Interns are not eligible for most Company benefits.

Equal Employment Opportunity

Guardian is an equal opportunity employer. All qualified applicants will be considered for employment without regard to age, race, color, creed, religion, sex, affectional or sexual orientation, national origin, ancestry, marital status, disability, military or veteran status, or any other classification protected by applicable law.

Accommodations

Guardian is committed to providing access, equal opportunity and reasonable accommodation for individuals with disabilities in employment, its services, programs, and activities. Guardian also provides reasonable accommodations to qualified job applicants (and employees) to accommodate the individual's known limitations related to pregnancy, childbirth, or related medical conditions, unless doing so would create an undue hardship. If reasonable accommodation is needed to participate in the job application or interview process, to perform essential job functions, and/or to receive other benefits and privileges of employment, please contact MyHR@glic.com. Please note: this resource is for accommodation requests only. For all other inquires related to your application and careers at Guardian, refer to the Guardian Careers site.

Visa Sponsorship

Guardian Life is not currently or in the foreseeable future sponsoring employment-based visas (e.g., such as an H-1B). In order to be a successful applicant, you must be legally authorized to work in the United States, without the need for employer sponsorship/support now or at any time in the future.

Notice Regarding Guardian’s Use of Artificial Intelligence in Recruitment

As part of Guardian’s job application process, Guardian may use artificial intelligence tools (“AI Tools") to automate the sorting and filtering of information provided by applicants as part of its preliminary screening. This preliminary screening may be used to help identify applicant materials and resumes relative to their indication that the applicant meets the requirements for the specific job for which they are applying, as specified in the listing posted on Guardian’s jobs website (Careers at Guardian at https://www.guardianlife.com/careers). At Guardian, we do not use AI Tools to substantially assist or replace human judgment or discretionary decision making in our hiring process. All hiring decisions will be made by Guardian colleagues.

Please be aware that if you apply for a specific position with Guardian, you will have the choice of opting out of Guardian’s use of AI Tools during the job application process. If you would like to request an alternative process that does not utilize AI Tools or would like to request a reasonable accommodation, within ten business days of your position application, you must email your request to MyHR@glic.com, making sure to provide your name and job requisition identification number. Guardian will retain your applicant materials and resume and all information therefrom in accordance with Guardian’s document retention policy, a copy of which you may request via MyHR@glic.com.

Additionally, at applicable times, Guardian will make public the most recent bias audit results for such AI tools, which may be found here. 

Current Guardian Colleagues: Please apply through the internal Jobs Hub in Workday.