Principal Vice President, Legal and Compliance

Job Description

Job Description

Description:

NOTICE: JOB APPLICANTS LIMITED TO DC, MD, OR VA RESIDENTS. POSITION IS HYBRID. Please note that we are exclusively considering applicants residing in the District of Columbia, Maryland, or Virginia for all open positions.  

  Be part of Lafayette Federal Credit Union, recognized by USA Today as a Top Workplace for three consecutive years (2024–2026)  

As we continue to grow, we are on the lookout for exceptional talent to join our dynamic team. At Lafayette Federal Credit Union, we pride ourselves on our commitment to excellence and our reputation as an employer of choice. We believe that the dedication and skills of our team members are crucial to achieving our mission of becoming the premier financial partner for our community. Your potential contributions are invaluable, and we are excited to welcome new team members who share our passion for innovation and high performance.

About us:

Our Difference: What makes Lafayette Federal cutting-edge ? Lafayette Federal Credit Union is not only a great place to bank, but also a great place to work! In addition to our Top Workplaces recognition by USA Today, we've also earned numerous accolades including:

• Newsweek’s America’s Best Banks list
• A 5-star rating from Bauer Financial
• Recognition by S&P Global's Top Performing Credit Unions

Our Culture: Lafayette Federal is about inclusion, diversity, high performance, and new opportunities. Teamwork and our sense of community also make Lafayette Federal a great place to work. Each person is valued for his or her unique set of skills. We share a common devotion to the people we serve, participating in charity events throughout each year and giving back to the community. 

Our Opportunities: Professional development, training, and certification is a priority for our employees. We want you to reach your career goals and provide support that leads to opportunities of advancement within the industry. 

About the role:

We are currently seeking a Principal Vice President, Legal and Compliance who serves as the credit union’s in-house legal advisor, providing practical and timely legal  counsel across the organization’s ordinary course activities—including corporate governance, contracts/vendor relationships, lending, operations, and employment-related matters—at the request of executive and senior  management. Ensures legal advice and document support align with applicable laws and regulations (including NCUA requirements and applicable federal, state, and local consumer protection laws) and with the credit union’s charter, bylaws, and policies.

The primary focus of this role is providing ongoing legal counsel and support for governance and business initiatives, including coordinating and managing outside counsel and specialized consultants (including external auditors) as needed. On an as-requested basis, the role also assists and advises the Compliance and Internal Audit functions on regulatory interpretation, risk identification, and issue remediation; however, day-to-day program ownership and execution remain with the responsible business, compliance, audit, and management stakeholders.

• Serve as In-House Counsel, providing legal advice related to the credit union’s ordinary course activities, including (by way of example) lending, operations, vendor and member-facing contracts, governance, employment-related matters, and regulatory issues. Review, draft, and negotiate contracts, policies, and agreements affecting the credit union. Provide legal and regulatory guidance to executive leadership regarding legal risk. Coordinate and manage relationships with outside counsel on litigation, disputes/claims, complex regulatory matters, and specialized legal services as needed, including monitoring legal spend and supporting efficient case/docket management. Monitor legal and regulatory developments affecting credit unions and advise leadership accordingly.
• Provide legal guidance on credit union governance, including Board and Supervisory Committee responsibilities. Additional duties include drafting and coordinating ongoing documentation and updating board and committee minutes, credit union policies, employee handbook.  
• Assist in preparation and review of Board materials, resolutions, bylaws, and governance policies. Ensure governance practices align with NCUA expectations and best practices. 
• Advise leadership on fiduciary responsibilities and regulatory expectations.
• On an as-available and as-requested basis, assist and advise the credit union’s Compliance and Internal Audit functions by providing regulatory interpretation, issue-spotting, and risk guidance across business units. Support compliance monitoring/testing and audit activities by reviewing findings, advising on legal/regulatory implications, and assisting with remediation planning as requested. Provide guidance to compliance and audit staff and help leadership maintain examination readiness. 
• As directed by executive management and/or the SVP of Risk Management, assist and advise regarding position-relevant mandated training requirements (e.g., BSA/AML/OFAC, cybersecurity, diversity and anti-harassment, fair lending) by supporting content review and regulatory interpretation when needed. This support does not include overall program ownership or execution responsibility, which remains with management and the designated compliance/audit owners.  

Qualifications:

• Juris Doctor (JD) is required from an accredited law school.
• Active license to practice law and in good standing with a state bar (MD, DC, and/or VA preferred). 
• 3–10 years of relevant legal experience advising a federally regulated financial institution (or comparable experience gained through a law firm, government/regulatory agency, or trade association). This is a legal position.
• Working  familiarity with credit union or banking regulatory frameworks (including NCUA expectations) or the ability to quickly learn and apply them in practice.
• Experience supporting regulatory examinations, compliance, risk, or audit functions is a plus, but the credit union will consider candidates with other directly relevant legal backgrounds.
• Working knowledge of how internal controls, audit practices, and risk management are applied within federally regulated financial institutions (or comparable regulated environments), and the ability to translate those concepts into practical legal guidance.
• Excellent legal research, writing, contract negotiation and case/docket management skills.
• Strong interpersonal skills. Ability to communicate complex legal and regulatory requirements to leadership and staff.
• Strong analytical, organizational, and problem-solving abilities.
• High level of integrity, discretion, and professional judgment. 

  Top benefits or perks: Joining Lafayette Federal comes with perks to support you in your personal and professional journey. We provide employees with a generous benefits package including:

• Employer paid (99.9%) health insurance premium for single and family coverage (HMO Plan) 
• Fully funded deductible (HMO Plan)
• 401k employer matching contribution 
• Income protection with life insurance, short and long-term disability
• Paid time off, holiday leave & birthday leave
• Educational assistance
• Commuter benefits program and more ! 

Pay: $160,000- $220,000 annually depending on experience and qualifications.

*Lafayette Federal Credit Union is an Equal Opportunity and E-Verify Employer

*EOE/AA/DISABILITY/VETERAN