SVP, Deputy General Counsel

Job Description

How will this role impact First Command?

The SVP, Deputy General Counsel serves as a senior legal executive and trusted advisor to executive leadership, with primary responsibility for legal oversight of the legal team. This role provides strategic, business-oriented legal counsel across all business operations departments and plays a critical leadership role in enterprise risk management, regulatory engagement, and governance.

Acting with a high degree of autonomy, the Deputy General Counsel leads and develops the Company's Legal Team, manages complex and high-risk legal matters, and partners closely with the Chief Legal Officer in shaping legal strategy, organizational priorities, and long-term business planning. The role also provides legal oversight and support for matters involving the Company's broker-dealer, registered investment adviser, bank and insurance operations, as applicable.

What will the employee do in this role?

Executive Leadership & Strategic Advisory

• Serve as a principal legal advisor to executive leadership and senior management on complex, high-risk legal and regulatory matters affecting all of the Company's affiliated entities.
• Provide proactive, solutions-oriented legal counsel aligned with business strategy, risk appetite, and regulatory expectations.
• Partner with the Chief Legal Officer in enterprise strategy, governance, and risk management planning, including participation in senior leadership forums and key committees.
• Support board and committee matters as assigned, including preparation of legal analyses, materials, and executive-level recommendations.

Regulatory & Banking Law Oversight

• Lead legal strategy and execution for regulatory matters, including examinations, inquiries, supervisory issues, and enforcement actions involving federal and state regulators.
• Oversee interpretation and application of federal and state laws and regulations, ensuring alignment between legal requirements, operational practices, and business objectives.
• Monitor emerging regulatory developments and assess potential impact to the Company; advise leadership on required changes and strategic implications.
• Maintain productive relationships with regulators, external counsel, and industry peers.

Legal Risk Management & Complex Matters

• Provide end-to-end legal oversight of significant litigation, regulatory proceedings, and material disputes, including development of defense strategy, supervision of in-house and outside counsel, and executive-level reporting.
• Lead early dispute resolution and risk mitigation efforts to minimize legal exposure and business disruption.
• Issue and oversee legal opinions, escalation frameworks, and risk assessments for material transactions and initiatives.

Commercial, Contractual & Operational Support

• Negotiate, draft, and approve complex and high-impact contracts, disclosures, policies, and procedures supporting banking operations and strategic initiatives.
• Advise on legal aspects of product development, vendor relationships, information security, privacy, employment matters, independent contractor classification, and matters involving military members and Department of Defense regulations.
• Ensure legal frameworks support scalable growth while maintaining compliance and sound risk controls.

People Leadership & Organizational Development

• Provide day-to-day leadership, direction, and mentorship to the Legal Team, including Associate General Counsel, Assistant General Counsel, legal specialists, analysts, and support staff.
• Establish clear priorities, performance expectations, and development plans for direct and indirect reports.
• Build a high-performing, business-oriented legal function focused on accountability, collaboration, and continuous improvement.
• Partner with the Chief Legal Officer on legal department structure, talent planning, succession, and resourcing decisions.

External Engagement & Industry Leadership

• Represent the Company in industry associations, working groups, and regulatory forums, providing insight into legal and regulatory trends impacting the Company.
• Benchmark practices against peer institutions and recommend enhancements to policies, controls, and governance structures.

What roles will this employee lead?

• Directly and indirectly lead Legal Team personnel, including assigning work, coordinating resources, setting priorities, and ensuring timely and high-quality legal support.
• Foster a culture of ethical conduct, sound judgment, and risk awareness across the organization.

What skills & qualifications do you need?

Education

• Bachelor's degree from a four-year college or university (required)
• Juris Doctorate from an ABA Accredited Law School (required)

Work Experience

• 15+ years of progressively responsible legal experience, with significant focus on securities, insurance and banking laws and regulations, regulatory examination and enforcement matters, litigation, and general corporate practice.
• 7+ years of demonstrated experience leading and developing teams of attorneys and legal professionals.
• Proven track record handling highly complex, sensitive, and high-risk matters within a regulated financial institution or comparable environment.

Certifications

• Active license and good standing with the State Bar of Texas (preferred) or any U.S. state bar (required)

Required Knowledge, Skills and Abilities

• Exceptional written and verbal communication skills, including the ability to translate complex legal issues into clear business guidance.
• Advanced legal research, analytical, and judgment capabilities.
• Strong executive presence with the ability to influence, advise, and challenge senior leaders constructively.
• Demonstrated leadership, mentoring, and people-management skills.
• Ability to operate effectively in a fast-paced, highly regulated environment with minimal supervision.
• Strong interpersonal skills and the ability to adapt communication style to diverse internal and external stakeholders

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