General Counsel

Summary

The General Counsel serves as the chief legal advisor to the credit union and provides enterprise‑level legal leadership to executive management and the Board of Directors of a $9 billion, highly regulated financial institution operating across multiple jurisdictions. This role is accountable for overseeing all legal affairs of a complex credit union and its subsidiaries, with a particular focus on consumer and mortgage lending, regulatory compliance, litigation management, corporate governance, strategic transactions, and enterprise risk exposure.

The General Counsel plays a critical role in protecting the financial, reputational, and operational integrity of the organization, balancing legal risk with business strategy, regulatory expectations, and long‑term growth objectives while supporting the credit union’s mission and member‑focused culture.

Duties & Responsibilities

Legal Strategy, Executive Counsel & Governance

• Serve as the primary legal advisor to the executive leadership team and Board of Directors, providing guidance on matters with enterprise‑wide impact and elevated regulatory exposure.
• Provide practical, business‑oriented legal advice on strategic initiatives, enterprise risk, and operational matters in a large, complex financial institution environment.
• Support corporate governance functions for a multi‑billion‑dollar credit union, including board and committee governance, resolutions, policies, and executive materials.
• Advise directors and officers regarding fiduciary duties, governance standards, and supervisory expectations applicable to large federally insured credit unions.
• Identify legal and non‑legal risks that could materially impact the credit union’s operations, capital, reputation, or growth trajectory.

Consumer Lending, Mortgage Lending & Regulatory Support

• Provide legal guidance across a diverse and high‑volume consumer and mortgage lending portfolio, including indirect lending, servicing, secondary‑market activity, and loss mitigation.
• Interpret and advise on complex federal and state regulatory frameworks governing large credit unions, including TILA, RESPA, ECOA, FCRA, UDAAP, HMDA, FDCPA, and NCUA regulations.
• Collaborate with Compliance, Risk, Audit, and Operations to support regulatory readiness, examinations, and enforcement risk mitigation.
• Monitor legislative and regulatory developments that may materially affect the credit union’s strategic initiatives, products, and subsidiaries.

Litigation, Investigations & External Counsel

• Provide executive oversight of all litigation, investigations, consumer complaints, and contested matters, including those posing heightened financial or reputational risk.
• Manage relationships with external legal counsel, ensuring effective strategy, cost control, and alignment with organizational priorities.
• Coordinate responses to regulatory examinations, subpoenas, and enforcement actions involving federal and state agencies.

Contracting, Vendor Management & Corporate Assets

• Oversee negotiation and execution of complex contracts, vendor agreements, mergers, leases, and strategic partnerships supporting enterprise operations.
• Provide legal oversight for third‑party relationships, technology initiatives, data usage, and vendor risk considerations at scale.
• Advise on legal aspects of corporate facilities, properties, and long‑term infrastructure planning.

Mergers, Acquisitions, Insurance & Continuity

• Lead all legal aspects of mergers, acquisitions, and strategic transactions involving significant financial, operational, or regulatory implications.
• Provide oversight of corporate insurance programs to ensure appropriate coverage for a large, diversified risk profile.
• Support enterprise business‑continuity planning from a legal‑risk perspective.

Leadership & Organizational Culture

• Lead, develop, and mentor the legal team, ensuring capabilities are aligned with the complexity and scale of a $9B financial institution.
• Promote strong ethical standards, transparency, and a culture of accountability consistent with Board and regulatory expectations.
• Collaborate across business units to ensure legal solutions support operational efficiency and superior member service.

Requirements

Education and Experience Requirements:

• Juris Doctor (JD) degree from an accredited law school.
• Licensed and in member in good standing of the Kansas and Missouri state bars
• 10–15+ years of progressively responsible legal experience, with at least 5 years in senior management in a large, complex financial institution.
• Prior in‑house counsel experience supporting a credit union organization strongly preferred.
• Demonstrated experience advising executive leadership teams and Boards of Directors.
• Senior leadership experience in a highly regulated environment required.

Required Knowledge, Skills & Abilities:

• Deep expertise in consumer and mortgage lending laws, financial institution regulation, and enterprise legal risk management frameworks, with strong knowledge of corporate law concepts and practices.
• Demonstrated ability to manage legal and regulatory risk within large, complex, and highly regulated organizations, including oversight of litigation, examinations, and outside counsel and vendors.
• Excellent legal, analytical, and business judgment, with the ability to deliver practical, solutions‑oriented advice in a fast‑paced environment.
• Exceptional drafting, negotiation, communication, and interpersonal skills, with the executive presence and credibility to advise the Board of Directors, C‑suite, and senior leadership.
• Proven strategic leadership skills, including the ability to lead, develop, and motivate legal and cross‑functional teams.
• Strong project and matter management capabilities, with the ability to manage multiple high‑impact, complex issues simultaneously while maintaining attention to detail, regulatory discipline, and business alignment.
• Ability to collaborate effectively across all levels of the organization, resolve conflict constructively, and operate flexibly as a trusted business partner.
• High level of integrity, discretion, professionalism, and sound judgment.