Assistant General Counsel

NRECA is a unique national trade association providing advocacy, financial services and business support services to over 900 consumer owned electric cooperatives across the country.  NRECA employees are united by our mission, inclusive culture, collaborative workplace and commitment to service excellence.  As a "best place to work" employer, we operate with integrity, transparency and a spirit of innovation.

Summary of Position 
Join a talented team of legal and compliance professionals focused on delivering high-quality, actionable, and thoughtful legal, compliance and audit services across NRECA's broad product and service offerings.  This position oversees all assigned legal aspects of maintaining NRECA-sponsored ERISA-regulated health and welfare benefit plans, including medical, dental, vision, long and short-term disability, Life/AD&D and business travel insurance, HSA, HRA, FSA, and various other health-related benefits. The person in this role serves as the assigned legal subject matter expert and counsel on matters related to federally regulated health and welfare benefit plans. They will be responsible for litigation management on most matters related to health and welfare benefit plans. They will serve as subject matter expert related to ACA, HIPAA, and certain employment law matters. Experience firsthand how NRECA supports the legal issues facing electric cooperatives by working for the national association supporting our 900+ members. Position is eligible for NRECA's hybrid schedule which allows flexibility to work from home up to 2 days per/week.

Key Responsibilities  

•    Group Benefits Program (GBP): Lead all legal aspects (ERISA, IRC, COBRA, GINA, ACA, HIPAA, HHS, DOL, EEOC, CMS, MHPAEA, VEBA) of maintaining the NRECA-sponsored GBP.

•    Fiduciary Legal Services: Act as legal expert and counsel to NRECA executive management and plan fiduciaries.

•    Subsidiary Business Support: Oversee legal matters for for-profit subsidiaries, including Cooperative Benefit Administrators, Inc. (CBA) and Cooperating Insurance Services (CIS), focusing on CBA's TPA operations, claims administration for GBP's self-insured plans, and single-employer cafeteria plans with FSAs and HRAs.

•    Affordable Care Act: Direct implementation of applicable ACA provisions, including PHSA mandates, excepted benefits, "play or pay" tax, individual mandate, PCORI fees, TRP contributions, and employer reporting.

•    Litigation Management: Handle litigation and disputes involving the GBP and related subsidiaries.

•    HIPAA Compliance: Ensure HIPAA compliance for NRECA, CBA, group health plans, and TPA operations.

•    Contracts and Procurement: Draft, review, and negotiate contracts for GBP and CBA partners, including PBM, life insurance, Medicare Part D, bariatric services, reinsurance, PPO networks, vision insurance, transplant services, population health, Medicare exchange, overpayment recovery, wellness programs, and COBRA administration.

•    Document Drafting and Filings: Supervise, draft, and amend plan documents and required filings to maintain tax-favored status and regulatory compliance with IRS, DOL, and other agencies.
 

Required Qualifications and Skills  

• years of health and welfare plan legal experience.

•    5+ years of experience in litigation, litigation management or equivalent.

•    5+ years of experience as counsel for a (a) federal agency that regulates benefit plans (b) a benefit plan law firm or equivalent. 

•    Experience with relevant provisions of the Employee Retirement Income Security Act (ERISA) and Internal Revenue Code (Code) and related guidance.

•    Licensed member of the bar of any state.

•    Eligible for Virginia bar or Virginia Corporate Counsel designation

•    Ability to report to the office when required 

Preferred Qualifications and Skills 

•    VEBA experience and Employment law experience preferred.
 

Essential Physical Requirements:

• The worker is required to have close visual acuity to perform an activity such as: preparing and analyzing data and figures; transcribing; viewing a computer terminal and extensive reading.
• Exerting up to 20 pounds of force occasionally, and/or up to 10 pounds of force frequently, and/or a negligible amount of force constantly to move objects. If the use of arm and/or leg controls requires exertion of forces greater than that for sedentary work and the worker sits most of the time, the job is rated for light work.
   

Disclaimer Statement: The preceding job description has been written to reflect management's assignment of essential functions. It does not prescribe or restrict the tasks that may be assigned.

Additional Requirement:

The preceding job description has been written to reflect management's assignment of essential functions. It does not prescribe or restrict the tasks that may be assigned.  All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, religion, national origin, disability, veteran status, or other legally protected status.

NRECA is committed to working with and providing reasonable accommodation to individuals with physical and mental disabilities. If you need special assistance or an accommodation while seeking employment, please e-mail or call: NRECA Arlington Human Resources. Please call NRECA Lincoln Human Resources, for Lincoln, NE employment opportunities. We will make a determination on your request for reasonable accommodation on a case-by-case basis.

The U.S. Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC) recently released the 'Know Your Rights' poster, which updates and replaces the previous "EEO is the Law" poster and "EEO Is the Law Poster Supplement". 

Pay Transparency Non-Discrimination. NRECA will not discharge or in any other manner discriminate against employees or applicants because they have inquired about, discussed, or disclosed their own pay. Please see the Pay Transparency Nondiscrimination Provision for more information.

E-Verify. As a Federal Contractor, NRECA is required to participate in the E-Verify Program to confirm eligibility to work in the United States. For information please click on the following link: E-Verify.

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