General Counsel, Public Employees� Retirement System
California State Personnel Board Specification
Schematic Code: OE12
Class Code: 4067
Established: 10/01/2009
Revised: --
Title Changed: --
Definition
Under the policy direction of the Board of Administration and the administrative direction of the Chief Executive Officer, to manage the Public Employees� Retirement System (CalPERS) Legal Office, Office of Audits, and investigative and enterprise compliance programs; to serve as the chief legal advisor and representative for the Board of Administration; and to do other related work.
Typical Tasks
Manages the Legal Office, including planning and directing work, providing legal policy direction, supervising and evaluating staff, providing for internal staff development and training and succession planning, and participates in the recruitment and selection of staff; provides and/or oversees legal representation for litigation and hearings involving or related to CalPERS, and in transactions involving the investment of CalPERS assets; serves as the chief legal advisor to the CalPERS Board of Administration (Board) and all Board sub-committees, providing legal advice on a wide variety of matters including, but not limited to, interpretation of law, fiduciary law, litigation strategy and impacts, development and application of ethical standards, corporate governance, investment matters, and internal Board governance and delegation; provides legal and parliamentary support for the Board and all Board sub-committees, and advises them on open meeting, public records, conflict of interest, and other laws governing their proceedings; oversees the selection, management, and evaluation of external legal resources; provides legal analysis and recommendations on legislative and regulatory proposals, as well as constitutional initiatives; advises Board staff on the legal aspects of investment transactions, agreements, vehicles, and contracts; as a member of the CalPERS executive staff, participates in broad policy development, strategic planning, and program implementation; represents CalPERS in dealings with a wide variety of parties, including attorneys representing litigants, other public pension funds, investment industry regulators, investment trade organizations, corporate entities, and insurance industry representatives; oversees the Investigations Unit, providing general direction on its priorities, policies, and operations; oversees the Enterprise Compliance Unit, providing general direction on its priorities, policies, and operations and giving direction on system compliance issues; provides management-level direction to the Office of Audit Services, coordinates with external auditors, and facilitates resolution of unresolved audit findings; and leads and/or serves on various internal management committees and task forces.
Minimum Qualifications
Membership in the State Bar of California. (Applicants must have active membership in the State Bar before they will be eligible for appointment.) and Either I One year of experience in the California state service performing legal duties* relating to investments, employee benefits, retirement systems, or a closely related field at a level of responsibility equivalent to or greater than a Staff Counsel III (Specialist) or Staff Counsel III (Supervisory).
Or II
Broad and extensive experience (more than five years) in the practice of law* relating to investments, employee benefits, retirement systems, or a closely related field, including at least one year in a supervisory or managerial capacity. (Experience in the California state service applied toward this requirement must include at least one year performing legal duties* related field at a level of responsibility equivalent to or greater than a Staff Counsel III (Specialist) or Staff Counsel III (Supervisory).
Knowledge and Abilities
Knowledge of: Contract law; laws governing the conduct of public bodies, including open meeting, public records, and conflict of interest laws; supervision, management, and employee relations; the manager�s and supervisor�s responsibility for promoting equal opportunity in hiring and employee development and promotion, and for maintaining a work environment that is free of discrimination and harassment, and the processes available for meeting these objectives; general laws affecting public pension systems, including trust, fiduciary, and tax laws; legal principles and their application to difficult, complex, and novel legal problems; laws, regulatory provisions and systems, and court decisions affecting various types of investments and their markets, including global equities, fixed income assets, real estate, and private equity; legal research methods; State and Federal constitutional provisions affecting CalPERS programs and assets; general laws governing health, disability, and long-term care benefit programs; principles of public administration and policy formulation; laws affecting the structure and operation of corporations and partnerships; use of common computer software, including word processing, electronic communication, and web access; and litigation processes and strategies.
Ability to: Work effectively under high pressure and sensitive conditions; work with, provide expert consultation to, and gain and maintain the confidence of the CalPERS Board and management staff; present statements of fact, law, and argument clearly, logically, and effectively in written and oral form; plan, organize, and direct the work of the CalPERS legal, audit services, corporate compliance, IT security, enterprise risk management, and investigative programs; analyze situations accurately and take effective courses of action; effectively lead and motivate staff while maintaining a work environment that is free of discrimination and harassment; work effectively with a broad variety of external contacts, including corporate and government executives, members of the legal profession and investment community, and members and staff of legislative and regulatory bodies; delegate effectively, maintain accountability, and effectively coordinate a complex and rapidly evolving workflow; draft legal opinions, pleadings, rulings, regulations, and legislation; review and evaluate a large volume of legal work and correspondence; oversee and evaluate the work of external legal consultants; analyze legal provisions, precedents, and principles and apply them to difficult legal and administrative problems; and perform and direct legal research.
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Experience in the �practice of law� or �performing legal duties� is defined as only that legal experience acquired after admission to The Bar.
