Senior Counsel - GEBI

Job Location: United States : New York : New York

Alternate Job Location: Not Applicable : Not Applicable

Work Arrangement: Hybrid

Role Value Proposition: 

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!  

MetLife is seeking an agile, dynamic attorney with strong commercial contracting expertise. This attorney should have experience in some or all the following areas: Procurement, Leasing, Marketing, and Banking agreements. They will negotiate procurement, bank account and services agreements, commercial leases, and marketing agreements, and advise on company operations policies, collaborating across Legal Affairs, Compliance, and Third-Party Risk Management to advise on complex, high-value global and regional commercial contracts for products, services, and MetLife’s operations.

This role sits within the Section of the Law Department focused on Global Technology and Operations, Employment, Benefits, and Information (GEBI). GEBI provides strategic legal advice on a wide variety of issues across the MetLife enterprise, including for senior leaders in Corporate Real Estate, Global Procurement, Global Brand & Marketing, and Treasury Operations. GEBI’s members provide actionable advice that considers commercial implications and are trusted advisors to their business partners around the globe.

Key Responsibilities:

• Lead and coordinate the negotiation of complex commercial contracts, such as Leases and Procurement, and Bank Account and Services agreements. Procurement agreements include master services, hosted services, SaaS, licenses and support enterprise operations, growth initiatives, and our drive for greater efficiency.

• Negotiate and advise on leases, facilities operations, and sponsorship, marketing, special event, and sponsorship contracts.
• Provide strategic legal advice for Global Procurement’s supplier sourcing team, corporate services and corporate real estate and facilities management business units worldwide.
• Collaborate with MetLife’s Treasury Operations team to negotiate agreements for bank accounts and services for employee, supplier, and customer payments and to support strategic transactions.
• Advise on international and cross border procurement and other commercial contracts for businesses in Latin America, Asia, Europe, and the Middle East.
• Partner with the business and Legal and functional colleagues in areas such as Privacy Law, Employment Law, Third-Party Risk Management, Facilities & Services, and IT Risk & Security to mitigate potential liabilities, to develop practical risk-adjusted solutions to legal and business issues, and to comply with regulatory and corporate governance policies and requirements.
• Keep business partners, colleagues and management apprised of relevant issues and developments.
• Collaborate with our Audit and Litigation teams to resolve disputes associated with global procurement, corporate real estate, sponsorship, and corporate events contracts and to negotiate terms governing audit rights, dispute resolution, choice of law and forum.
• Develop, enhance, and implement procurement and leasing contract templates, policies, procedures, playbooks, and additional negotiation guidance documents.
• Provide Corporate Real Estate and Global Procurement support on transition services and contract assignment during M&A.
• Proactively supply thought leadership on legal and regulatory change impacting this GEBI team’s practice areas.
• Contribute to Legal Affairs, enterprise and GEBI Section initiatives, including Sustainability, and Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion.

Essential Business Experience and Technical Skills:

Required:

• 7+ years of experience at a major law firm and/or in-house legal department with a substantial portion including Commercial Real Estate or Corporate Facility Management or Procurement or Marketing/Sponsorship contract negotiation.
• Holds a Juris Doctor degree from an accredited law school and admitted to the New York State (or other appropriate) bar.
• Has experience leading the negotiation of complex, global, high-value commercial leasing or Procurement outsourcing, consulting, call center, marketing, e-commerce, and other supplier and sponsorship contracts, as well as familiarity with technology issues in commercial contracts and/or negotiating technology agreements.
• Exhibits crisp, clear oral and written communication skills; demonstrates command of contract drafting and negotiation and the ability to analyze and reduce legal issues to straightforward, practical advice for senior leadership.
• Able to manage complex, multi-faceted transactions with multiple, inter-related work streams.
• Demonstrates persuasion and leadership skills, especially in the context of the ability to relate to different stakeholders, business partners, and colleagues.

Preferred:

• Experience in commercial real estate, corporate facility management, banking, and marketing/sponsorship law a plus.
• Some knowledge of international privacy and personal information protections laws/regulations.
• Background in any of the following areas: insurance and/or other regulated financial services, navigating multinational organizations and international laws and regulations.

Assignment Category

Full Time

Business Category

Legal

Number of Openings

 1

At MetLife, we’re leading the global transformation of an industry we’ve long defined. United in purpose, diverse in perspective, we’re dedicated to making a difference in the lives of our customers.” 

MetLife:

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 help its individual and institutional customers navigate their changing world. Founded in 1868, MetLife has operations in more than 40 countries and holds leading market positions in the United States, Japan, Latin America, Asia, Europe and the Middle East.

We are one of the largest institutional investors in the U.S. with $642.4 billion of total assets under management as of March 31, 2021. We are ranked #46 on the Fortune 500 list for 2021. In 2020, we were named to the Dow Jones Sustainability Index (DJSI) for the fifth year in a row. DJSI is a global index to track the leading sustainability-driven companies. We are proud to have been named to Fortune magazine’s 2021 list of the “World’s Most Admired Companies.”      

MetLife is committed to building a purpose-driven and inclusive culture that energizes our people. Our employees work every day to help build a more confident future for people around the world.

The wage range for applicants for this position is $150,700 to $200,900. This role is also eligible for annual short-term incentive compensation. MetLife offers a comprehensive benefits program, including healthcare benefits, life insurance, retirement benefits, parental leave, legal plan services and paid time off. All incentives and benefits are subject to the applicable plan terms.

We want to make it simple for all interested and qualified candidates to apply for employment opportunities with MetLife.  For further information about how to request a reasonable accommodation, please click on the Disability Accommodations link below.

MetLife is a proud Equal Employment Opportunity and Affirmative Action employer dedicated to attracting, retaining, and developing a diverse and inclusive workforce. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment at MetLife without regards to race, color, religion, sex (including pregnancy, childbirth, or related medical conditions), sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, age, disability, national origin, marital or domestic/civil partnership status, genetic information, citizenship status, uniformed service member or veteran status, or any other characteristic protected by law.

MetLife maintains a drug-free workplace.