Working Title : General Counsel
Job Class: General Counsel 1
Agency: Public Employees Retire Assoc
Job ID: 87441
Location: St. Paul
Telework Eligible : Yes
Full/Part Time : Full-Time
Regular/Temporary: Unlimited
Who May Apply: Open to all qualified job seekers
Date Posted: 07/11/2025
Closing Date: 07/31/2025
Hiring Agency/Seniority Unit: Public Employees Retire Assoc / Pub Employ Retire Assoc-Managers
Division/Unit: Executive Staff
Work Shift/Work Hours: Day Shift
Days of Work: Monday - Friday
Travel Required : No
Salary Range: $50.25 - $71.95 / hourly; $104,922 - $150,232 / annually
Classified Status: Classified
Designated in Connect 700 Program for Applicants with Disabilities (https://mn.gov/mmb/careers/diverse-workforce/people-with-disabilities/connect700/) : Yes
The work you'll do is more than just a job.
At the State of Minnesota, employees play a critical role in developing policies, providing essential services, and working to improve the well-being and quality of life for all Minnesotans. The State of Minnesota is committed to equity and inclusion, and invests in employees by providing benefits, support resources, and training and development opportunities.
This position serves as General Counsel for Public Employees Retirement Association and is the chief legal advisor for the agency. Position provides legal advice and interpretation on state statutes and laws, federal laws, regulations and tax codes as they relate to the administration of the PERA defined benefit and defined contribution retirement plans, which hold over $46 billion in assets and serve approximately 495,000 members and 2,800 employers. Position exists to provide privileged legal advice and counsel, legal direction, and supervision of all of the agency's legal activities.
This position is telework (https://mn.gov/mmb-stat/policies/1422-telework.pdf) eligible and offers a hybrid work schedule which may include telework up to 50% of the scheduled workdays each month, based on agency and department needs and other dependencies. Scheduled in-office work days are at PERA's office building in St. Paul, Minnesota.
Candidates located outside the state of Minnesota and more than 50 miles from PERA's St. Paul office are not eligible to telework and would be required to report to the office full-time.
Minimum Qualifications
*Only applicants whose application and resume clearly demonstrate fulfillment of each minimum qualification listed below will be considered for this position. Ensure your resume contains descriptions of your work experience sufficient for comparison against the requirements stated below. Also indicate the beginning and ending month and year for each job held.
Three (3) years of managerial or advanced supervisory experience leading legal services or similar activities.
OR
Seven (7) years as a licensed attorney conducting legal research, writing, and analysis, that includes at least (2) years of leadership experience as a team lead or lead attorney
AND
All candidates must meet the following degree and licensure requirements:
J.D. Degree from an ABA accredited law school.
Must be licensed to practice law in the State of Minnesota and current with continuing legal education requirements.
In addition, experience of candidates must clearly demonstrate:
Knowledge of and experience with one or more of the following areas of law: tax, retirement, employment, procurement, data practices and conflicts of interest, ethics and administrative law.
Ability to provide legal advice to senior management or executives.
Ability to effectively collaborate with peers, superiors and staff and to work both within the agency and among other agencies and organizations to identify legal issues and resolve problems effectively and efficiently.
Strong communication and management skills.
Excellent legal analysis and writing skills.
Proven ability to work successfully with diverse populations and a strong commitment to a respectful, inclusive and diverse work environment
Preferred Qualifications
Experience handling issues related to state and federal laws as they relate to tax qualified governmental retirement plans
Experience in litigation practices and techniques, assessment of legal risk, knowledge of negotiation and settlement strategies and techniques, and legal considerations.
Experience working with the Minnesota Attorney General's Office and/or State government agencies.
Knowledge of the Minnesota Government Data Practices Act and ability to analyze data, determine classification of data, and provide protection of not public data.
Demonstrated project management and organizational skills.
Physical Requirements
Requires occasional lifting and carrying of articles such as file folders, ledgers, and small office equipment. Although a sedentary job is defined as one that involves sitting, a certain amount of movement is often necessary in carrying out job duties.
Additional Requirements
It is the policy of the Retirement Systems of MN that all employees submit to a background investigation prior to employment. The background check may consist of the following components:
SEMA4 Records Check (applies to current and past State employees only)
Criminal History Check
Employment Reference Check
Social Security and Address Verification
Education Verification
Driver's License Check
**PERA will not sponsor applicants for work visas. All applicants must be legally authorized to work in the US.
AN EQUAL OPPORTUNITY EMPLOYER
Minnesota State Colleges and Universities is an Equal Opportunity employer/educator committed to the principles of diversity. We prohibit discrimination against qualified individuals based on their race, sex, color, creed, religion, age, national origin, disability, protected veteran status, marital status, status with regard to public assistance, sexual orientation, gender identity, gender expression, or membership in a local commission as defined by law. As an affirmative action employer, we actively seek and encourage applications from women, minorities, persons with disabilities, and individuals with protected veteran status.
Reasonable accommodations will be made to all qualified applicants with disabilities. If you are an individual with a disability who needs assistance or cannot access the online job application system, please contact the job information line at 651-259-3637 or email careers@state.mn.us . Please indicate what assistance is needed.
