General Counsel

Description

Role: General Counsel serves as Blaze’s legal advisor and leader of the legal function, providing strategic counsel to the executive leadership, senior management, business units, and support centers. This role is responsible for overseeing all legal matters, mitigating legal and regulatory risk, supporting corporate governance, and ensuring legal strategies align with organizational objectives, risk appetite, and member-focused initiatives.

The General Counsel reports directly to the SVP/Chief Operating and Financial Officer, and partners closely with executive leadership to implement strategic initiatives, navigate complex legal and regulatory matters, and deliver practical, business-focused solutions that support growth while maintaining the highest standards of compliance, ethics, and member trust.

Major Duties and Responsibilities

Leadership & Strategic Advisory

• Serve as the primary legal advisor to the executive leadership and business units on legal, regulatory, governance, operational, and strategic matters.
• Partner with executive leadership to develop and implement legal strategies that support organizational objectives and risk management priorities.
• Provide practical, risk-based legal guidance to internal stakeholders across lending, retail banking, operations, human resources, finance, marketing, information technology, information security, facilities, enterprise risk management, and vendor management.
• Support executive leadership including governance matters, policy oversight, and strategic initiatives.
• Prepare and present reports to the executive leadership team regarding significant legal matters, emerging risks, and regulatory developments.
• Serve as a trusted advisor and escalation point for complex legal issues impacting the credit union.

Legal Department Leadership

• Lead and oversee the legal function, ensuring timely, effective, and business-focused legal support across the organization.
• Manage relationships with outside counsel and oversee the quality, cost, and strategic direction of external legal services.
• Establish processes, controls, and standards that promote legal excellence and operational efficiency.

Regulatory Oversight & Risk Management

• Maintain expertise in federal and Minnesota state laws, NCUA regulations, and NCUA guidance applicable to state-chartered, federally insured credit unions.
• Interpret and operationalize legal and regulatory requirements related to governance, consumer compliance, enterprise risk management, data privacy, employment, vendor management, payments, lending, deposit operations, information security, and business services.
• Partner with Enterprise Risk Management and Internal Audit to identify, assess, and mitigate legal and regulatory risks.
• Advise management on regulatory examinations, supervisory findings, enforcement actions, and remediation efforts.
• Monitor legislative and regulatory developments and recommend operational or policy changes as needed.
• Develop legal opinions, risk assessments, and escalation frameworks supporting material business decisions and initiatives.
• Serve as legal advisor and partner with Human Resources on employment law, employee relations, workplace investigations, and labor matters. 
• Serve as legal advisor and partner with Enterprise Risk Management on compliance, risk, bond claims, vendor contracts, information security governance and cyber security matters.

Litigation & Dispute Resolution

• Lead litigation strategy, dispute resolution efforts, and claims management to protect organizational interests and minimize legal exposure.
• Review all incoming legal documents with executive leadership, Team Members and necessary departments to ensure necessary actions are taken to reduce risk and exposure.
• Represent or coordinate representation of the credit union in litigation, arbitration, mediation, regulatory proceedings, subpoenas, and government inquiries.
• Negotiate settlements and oversee resolution of disputes in partnership with business leaders and external counsel.

Vendor, Contract & Operational Support

• Draft, negotiate, review, and approve complex contracts, vendor agreements, service level agreements, commercial leases, purchase agreements, disclosures, policies, and other legal documents.
• Advise business leaders on contractual, operational, and commercial matters to support organizational objectives and reduce risk.
• Support third-party risk management initiatives and contractual governance processes.

Mergers & Acquisitions

• Lead legal support for mergers, acquisitions, business combinations, purchase and assumption transactions, loan purchases, and participation agreements.
• Advise executive leadership regarding transaction structure, due diligence, regulatory approvals, and post-closing obligations.
• Coordinate with outside counsel, regulators, counterparties, and internal stakeholders to facilitate successful transaction execution.

Corporate Governance & Culture

• Oversee corporate governance practices and ensure compliance with applicable legal and regulatory requirements.
• Support executive leadership on governance framework, including bylaws, resolutions, policies, and governance documentation.
• Promote a culture of ethical conduct, accountability, compliance, and sound risk management throughout the organization.
• Foster strong partnerships across the organization and provide mentorship and legal expertise to leaders and team members.

External Engagement & Industry Leadership

• Monitor and evaluate legal, regulatory, and industry trends affecting financial institutions and recommend enhancements to policies, controls, and governance practices.
• Develop productive relationships with regulators, industry associations, and external business partners.
• Represent the credit union at industry events, conferences, and professional organizations as appropriate.

Other Duties

• Comply with applicable laws and regulations, including but not limited to, the Bank Secrecy Act, the Patriot Act, and the Office of Foreign Assets Control
• Exhibit Blaze’s Core Values: Better Lives, Thoughtfully Compassionate, Minnesota’s Best, and Give Back
• Regular and predictable attendance
• Perform other duties as assigned to support effective department operation

Requirements

Experience/Education/Certifications/Licenses

• Minimum of ten (10) years of progressively responsible legal experience, with significant focus on banking law, regulatory matters, litigation, and general corporate practice.
• Minimum bachelor’s degree from a four-year college or university (required).
• Juris Doctorate from an ABA Accredited Law School (required).
• Currently licensed to practice law in Minnesota.
• Proven track record handling highly complex, sensitive, and high-risk matters within a regulated financial institution or comparable environment.

Demonstrated Knowledge

• Deep expertise in banking regulation and supervision; Fintech and/or payments (preferred) and commercial contracts and complex negotiations
• Sound judgement with pragmatic, business-oriented approach
• Ability to simplify complex legal issues into clear, actionable guidance
• High level of integrity and discretion
• Collaborative leadership style with strong relationship-building skills
• Comfort operating in a fast-paced, evolving regulatory landscape as both a leader and an individual contributor
• Superior skill set in the use of the following software applications: Microsoft Teams, Excel, Word, PowerPoint, Access, and Outlook.
• Ability to adhere to internal and external policy and regulations 
• Ability to handle sensitive, confidential information 

Communication Skills

Ability to communicate complex legal, regulatory, and business matters clearly, concisely, and professionally to a wide range of audiences, including the executive leadership, Team Members, regulators, outside counsel, vendors, and other stakeholders. Demonstrates strong judgment in tailoring communication to the audience, simplifying complex issues into practical guidance, and building trusted relationships through clear written, verbal, and presentation skills.

Physical Requirements

Ability to sit and stand; answer calls; operate computer; interact with internal staff and public on the phone; travel to designated offices; lift up to 20 lbs.

Diversity creates a healthier atmosphere, and we encourage diverse applicant depth and breadth. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, age, national origin, protected veteran status, disability status, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, marital status, genetic information, or any other characteristic protected by law.  

We are committed to providing salary ranges for all open positions. Please note that the specific compensation for this role will be determined based on your experience, qualifications, location, and internal equity considerations.

The salary range for this position is: $175,722.50 - $292,954.17 annually. This range reflects the base salary for this position. We have other benefits associated with this position which include: low-cost medical (as low as $20 a paycheck), dental insurance, vision insurance, quarterly bonuses, generous vacation and sick time hours, paid leave options, up to 6% 401k contribution, and tuition reimbursement.