ERS - Assistant General Counsel

Our mission is simply stated: ERS offers competitive benefits to enhance the lives of its members. Each team member across the agency contributes to our ongoing success. ERS is open for business five days a week, 8:00 am to 5:00 pm, to meet customers where they need us: in person, on the phone, in their communities, and online. ERS currently offers opportunities that include flexible work schedules.

ERS is seeking an Assistant General Counsel to perform advanced to highly advanced and/or managerial (senior-level) professional legal work which involves regular contact with the General Counsel, Executive Director, and various division directors of the Employees Retirement System of Texas (ERS), as well as with the legal staffs of vendors and other persons and entities with whom ERS contracts. May specialize in one or more areas of ERS operations. Work is performed under the general direction of the General Counsel, with limited to minimal supervision from senior attorneys at ERS, allowing considerable to extensive latitude for the use of initiative and independent judgment.

Essential Responsibilities include, but are not limited to:

• Serves as the lead attorney providing advice to agency staff regarding internal appeals involving ERS health insurance, disability insurance, life insurance, dental insurance, and other benefits.
• Represents ERS in the administrative hearing process in cases involving ERS benefits and other related matters.
• Represents the agency in litigation matters involving ERS benefits and other related matters.
• Interprets and provides legal advice regarding federal and state statutes, constitutional provisions, rules, and regulations.
• Performs legal research and responds to requests for legal services from various agency divisions regarding a variety of matters, including ethics issues.
• Provides legal counsel in connection with the rulemaking process.
• Drafts, analyzes, and tracks legislation that is relevant to the agency and works closely with other agency employees and third parties regarding legislative issues.
• Assists in developing and writing ERS policies and procedures and provides training to ERS staff.
• Attends work regularly in accordance with agency leave and attendance policies.
• Complies with all applicable agency policies and procedures, including safety policies and standards of conduct.

The General Counsel IV performs the same core duties as the General Counsel III, operating with greater complexity, broader responsibility, and increased independence. Work at this level carries a wider scope and organizational impact, requiring more advanced judgment and deeper experience in handling sensitive legal matters.

Other Duties and Responsibilities:

• Performs other duties as assigned.
• May handle or assist with subrogation and other litigation.

Required Minimum Qualifications: Your application for employment must reflect how you meet each of the following minimum qualifications:

1. Graduation from an accredited law school with a juris doctorate degree, a license to practice law in the State of Texas, and an active membership with the State Bar of Texas that is in good standing.

2. Three (3) years’ experience as lead counsel in litigation.

3. Four (4) years’ experience with legal research and writing.

To qualify as a General Counsel IV:

4. Six (6) years’ experience as lead counsel in litigation.

5. Eight (8) years’ experience in legal research and writing.

Preferred Qualifications: Your application for employment should reflect how you meet the following preferred qualifications:

6. Experience in administrative law, especially in matters involving the Texas Administrative Procedure Act.

7. Experience with employee benefits, especially health insurance.

8. Experience related to the Texas legislative process, especially legislative drafting.

9. Experience drafting administrative rules.

10. Experience as an ethics advisor.

11. Experience interpreting state and federal statutes and regulations that impact ERS.

PLEASE NOTE: All applications should contain complete job history entries, which includes job title, dates of employment, name of employer, supervisor's name and phone number and a description of duties performed. If this information is not submitted, your application may be rejected because it is incomplete. Resumes do not take the place of this required information.

Other Information: In accordance with state law, authorization for telework may not be awarded to an employee as a condition of hiring. As an agency process, new employees complete a 30 day fully onsite period before evaluation for a telework agreement. This position may require access to privileged, confidential, or sensitive data. ERS will conduct either a TXDPS or FBI criminal history check on all new hires. For more information about this policy inquiries can be made to employment@ers.texas.gov. Please note: Internal applicants in the same salary group and classification as the posted position are eligible to receive an increase in salary where applicable up to the posted maximum.

Military Occupational Specialty Codes:

Veterans, Reservists or Guardsmen with experience in the Military Occupational Specialty (https://hr.sao.texas.gov/Compensation/MilitaryCrosswalk/MOSC_Legal.pdf) along with the minimum qualifications listed above may meet the minimum requirements and are highly encouraged to apply. Please contact Human Resources at employment@ers.texas.gov with questions or for additional information.

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