Product Counsel, ERISA & Operations

About the Role In this role, you will be the in-house ERISA expert for Human Interest, applying deep substantive expertise to the ERISA, IRC, and fiduciary obligations inherent in operating a 401(k) recordkeeping platform. The role sits at the intersection of ERISA, technology, and operations. You’ll be part of a legal team helping a growth-stage company expand access to retirement plans for small and mid-market employers, making it easier for businesses that need 401(k) plans to offer them. What You Get to Do Every Day Your work spans two primary internal audiences: the teams that work directly with our customers, and the product team that builds the platform. Across both, you’ll apply ERISA fiduciary, qualification, and disclosure expertise to live business questions. Serve as the Front-Line Legal Advisor to Customer-Facing Teams: Be the go-to ERISA resource for the internal teams that work directly with plan sponsors and participants — providing real-time, practical legal guidance on the ERISA, IRC, and fiduciary questions that surface as customers interact with the platform. This work spans the full customer lifecycle, from new plans coming onto the platform to ongoing administration and customer retention. Day to day, this includes: Advising on complex plan sponsor or participant questions that internal teams cannot resolve on their own Working through fact patterns where automation, plan terms, or customer expectations don’t align, and determining the right ERISA-defensible course of action Helping internal teams navigate ERISA-driven constraints when responding to time-sensitive customer matters, including matters requiring EPCRS analysis, anti-cutback considerations under IRC §411(d)(6), or participant disclosure obligations Advising on when a new or updated fee disclosure is required under ERISA §408(b)(2), §404(a)(5), or related rules, and on the substantive content Reviewing participant-facing communications, SPDs, SMMs, and plan sponsor disclosures for ERISA compliance, including both the content of individual disclosures and the automated workflows that generate them Translating technical ERISA conclusions into plain-language guidance that internal teams can confidently deliver to customers Serve as the ERISA SME for Product: Be the go-to ERISA resource for the product team as they design and build new features. This is on-call SME work — you’ll be brought in for discrete ERISA questions as they come up in product development, rather than partnering across the full lifecycle of a feature. This includes: Translating ERISA and IRC requirements into clear guidance product managers and engineers can build against Pressure-testing how proposed automation handles edge cases Flagging when a feature would trigger different 3(16), 3(21), or 3(38) fiduciary duties — and helping the team decide the best path forward Synthesizing intelligence from customer matters — what they reveal about platform limitations, edge cases, and systemic gaps — and bringing that back to the product team to drive durable product improvements What You Bring to the Role ERISA Expert: You bring deep, substantive expertise in ERISA — particularly the fiduciary duty, prohibited transaction, and qualified plan rules that govern 401(k) recordkeeping and fiduciary services. You are recognized as a technical authority on these issues, not a generalist who handles ERISA among other things. Your expertise is the foundation on which everything else in this role depends. Business-Minded Advisor: You have direct experience providing ERISA advice in operational and product contexts and demonstrate excellent judgment. You bring a strong sense of ownership to complex matters, including time-sensitive plan administration questions that require both technical rigor and practical resolution, and you’re skilled at exercising sound judgment in nuanced situations. AI-Fluent: You actively use modern AI tools in your legal work — for research, drafting, summarization, and analysis — and you bring thoughtful judgment about where AI accelerates the work and where human expertise remains essential. You see AI as a way to do better, faster work, not as a replacement for substantive legal judgment. Cross-Functional Partner: You work collaboratively and strategically across teams, building cross-functional relationships with product managers, engineers, and operations leaders. You explain complex ERISA issues with clarity in writing and in meetings to a variety of audiences, and your written work — product guidance, decision documents, and legal analyses — holds up to regulator scrutiny. Qualifications Experience: 5-8 years of substantive ERISA experience focused on qualified retirement plans and fiduciary matters (including 401(k), 403(b), and IRA plans) Of those years, a minimum of two must be at a law firm practicing in this area Demonstrated experience with qualified plan operational compliance, including EPCRS and the correction principles that apply to qualified retirement plans Working knowledge of ERISA fiduciary duty and prohibited transaction rules as they apply to plan administration and service provider arrangements Experience advising non-legal business teams on ERISA issues in real time, including translating technical legal conclusions into actionable guidance Subject Matter Knowledge: Strong working knowledge of ERISA fiduciary duty and prohibited transaction rules and the IRC qualification rules applicable to 401(k) plans. Licensure: Admitted to the bar and in good standing, or otherwise authorized to practice law (e.g., registered in-house status) in any state. Nice to Haves In-house experience at a recordkeeper, TPA, fintech, or trust company Direct experience with 3(16), 3(21), or 3(38) fiduciary operations at a recordkeeper or TPA Experience providing ERISA input on product, operational, or technology decisions — whether at a recordkeeper, TPA, fintech, plan sponsor, or in a law firm advising clients of that type Compensation Base salary for this position spans $170,000 - $210,000 annually and represents the minimum in our lowest geographic region to a maximum in our highest geographic region. The salary we offer to a new employee within this range is based on their location within the U.S., their relevant job-related skills, and experience. The base salary is one component of the overall total rewards package. Depending on the position, additional compensation components such as bonuses, commissions, and equity may be offered. All employees are offered a robust suite of physical, financial, and mental wellness benefits. In compliance with applicable laws, we do not inquire about salary history, or about criminal history prior to a conditional offer of employment. Benefits A great 401(k) plan: Our own! Our 401(k) includes a dollar-for-dollar employer match up to 4% of compensation (immediately vested) and $0 plan fees Top-of-the-line health plans, as well as dental and vision insurance Competitive time off and parental leave Additional Wealth: Unlimited access to digital tools, financial professionals, and a knowledge center to help you understand your equity and support your financial wellness Lyra: Enhanced Mental Health Support for Employees and dependents Carrot: Fertility healthcare and family forming benefits Candidly: Student loan resource to help you and your family plan, borrow, and repay student debt Monthly work-from-home stipend; quarterly lifestyle stipend Engaging team-building experiences, ranging from virtual social events to team offsites, promoting collaboration and camaraderie. Human Interest is an equal opportunity employer. All applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, gender, gender identity or expression, sexual orientation, national origin, genetics, disability, age, veteran or military status, pregnancy, or any other characteristics protected under federal, state, or local laws. Employment with Human Interest is at-will, meaning either you or the company may terminate employment at any time, with or without cause or notice, except as otherwise provided by law or written agreement. #J-18808-Ljbffr Human Interest