AVP & Assistant General Counsel, Deputy Corporate Secretary – MetLife

Job Description

Position: AVP & Assistant General Counsel, Deputy Corporate Secretary

Location(s): 200 Park Avenue, New York, NY

Setting: Hybrid

Reports to: Senior Vice President and Corporate Secretary

Travel: 0%

MetLife, through its subsidiaries and affiliates, is one of the world’s leading financial services companies, providing insurance, annuities, employee benefits and asset management to individual and institutional customers. We’re united by our purpose to help our customers and each other create a confident future; we’re guided by empathy; and we’re inspired by each other to make a difference in the lives of our coworkers, customers, communities, and the world at large. At MetLife, it’s #AllTogetherPossible. Join us!

The Team You Will Join

The Corporate Secretary’s Office (CSO) is responsible for corporate governance, public company disclosure and SEC compliance at MetLife. This is a very collaborative team of high-performing attorneys that provides counsel and advice to the board of directors and executive management on a variety of matters of strategic importance to the company.

The Opportunity

The Deputy Corporate Secretary (DCS) serves as the practice group lead for subsidiary governance in the Corporate Secretary’s Office. You will play a critical and proactive role in developing policies and managing corporate governance across the MetLife enterprise, including complex transactions involving and affecting subsidiaries and joint ventures.

You will prepare of coordinate the preparation of board and committee meetings and briefing materials, including drafting meeting minutes, consents, resolutions, agendas, scripts, presentations and other materials. You will also manage the preparation and maintenance of corporate documents, including articles, bylaws, charters and related documents and advise on amendments as appropriate.

You will partner with members of the Executive Leadership Team and others in senior management who serve as directors and executives of MetLife subsidiaries to develop meeting agendas and provide expert corporate governance advice in connection with various capital management matters, structuring transactions and other business matters that require Board of Director and/or officer approval. You will provide assignments, advice and guidance to the direct report and paralegals aligned with the CSO from the Legal Affairs Services Team. You will also serve as Corporate Secretary for several of MetLife’s most significant subsidiary entities and operating companies.

The DCS will be appointed Assistant Secretary for MetLife, Inc. and Metropolitan Life Insurance Company, and will have the opportunity to support board and committee meetings and transactions involving these companies, as well.

The DCS will work closely with the Senior Vice President and Corporate Secretary and be a member of the Corporate Secretary’s Management Team. You will participate in the assignment of work across the Corporate Secretary’s Office, talent development, and establishing procedures, strategies and goals for CSO.

How You’ll Help Us Build a Confident Future:
• Lead subsidiary corporate governance for the global MetLife enterprise
• Establish relevant policies (director appointment, conflict, etc.) for the corporate entities operating in various countries around the world
• Manage one governance professional, and oversee two paralegals
• Coordinate with local counsel and business leaders in various global jurisdictions to manage board meetings, implement policies and manage transactions, including director appointments, mergers and acquisitions, capital deployments and investments.
• Lead the quarterly data collection and verification process for subsidiary entities to ensure information reported in MetLife’s periodic filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission and insurance regulators is complete and accurate.

What You Need to Succeed (Required Qualifications):
• Law degree from an accredited law school, and admission to the bar
• Extremely good judgment, and the ability to balance considerations related to legal risks and requirement with business needs.
• Ability to think on your feet and provide advice and guidance as new situations arise.
• Strong sense of partnership to build successful and productive relationships with those in Finance, Treasury, Tax and other business partners across the enterprise.
• Ability to effectively advise and interact with senior members of executive management in a manner that instills confidence in your expertise.

What Will Give You an Edge (Additional Skills)
• Experience in a highly-regulated industry
• Experience providing legal support of significant/strategic transactions
• Familiarity with principles of corporate governance

Salary Range: The wage range for applicants for this position is between $154,700 and $206,300.

Benefits We Offer

Our U.S. benefit programs are geared toward health and wellness, financial protection, and retirement savings. In addition to comprehensive health coverage including medical/prescription drug, dental, vision, and no-cost short- and long-term disability benefits also include:
• Retirement plan (cash balance pension) with a minimum monthly contribution regardless of an employee’s pay and 401(k) with employer matching.
• Company-paid life insurance and legal services, and discounts on voluntary insurance products including auto and home, pet, critical illness, hospital indemnity, and accident insurance.
• Employee Assistance Program (EAP) and digital mental health programs.
• Expert support for medical second opinions, cancer care navigation, diabetes and hypertension, weight loss/fitness, joint and spine health, caregiving, and more.
• Generous paid time off, including a floating cultural heritage day.
• Paid volunteer time off and charitable contribution match.
• Tuition assistance.
• Family benefits including paid parental leave, adoption and surrogacy assistance, child and eldercare support, college advising program.

Equal Employment Opportunity/Disability/Veterans

If you need an accommodation due to a disability, please email us at accommodations@metlife.com. This information will be held in confidence and used only to determine an appropriate accommodation for the application process.

MetLife maintains a drug-free workplace.