Director – HR Legal (compensation And Benefits)

Director – HR Legal (Compensation and Benefits)

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Job Overview

The Director – HR Legal (Compensation and Benefits) is a senior legal advisor within Citi's Employment Legal team responsible for providing strategic guidance on U.S. health and welfare plans, tax-qualified retirement plans, executive compensation programs, ERISA fiduciary rules, and broader compensation and benefits matters across Citi. The role supports HR, business leaders, and control partners by delivering expert legal advice in a complex, highly regulated environment.

The position is part of a collaborative team of highly experienced lawyers providing enterprise-wide legal support on ERISA, executive compensation and benefits issues. The candidate should have specific experience in health and welfare issues, and a broad interest in compensation in a global environment, including equity compensation, benefits and employment issues, and the fiduciary responsibility rules of ERISA. The candidate should be comfortable with regular direct interaction with human resources teams, compliance, risk and finance executives and tax practitioners.

This role has authority to negotiate and make independent decisions on issues / activities that have critical impact or influence on the company. This role is not a manager.

Key Responsibilities

• Advise on all legal aspects of Citi's U.S. health and welfare plans, tax‑qualified retirement plans, incentive and executive compensation programs, and other employee benefit arrangements.
• Interpret and apply ERISA (including fiduciary rules), the tax code, and related regulations to Citi's compensation, benefits, and pension‑asset‑related business activities.
• Support and advise HR teams on plan design, administration, plan governance, disclosures and compliance with employment‑adjacent laws.
• Partner with business units—including institutional broker/dealer, wealth management, and corporate banking—on transactions and activities involving pension assets.
• Advise on legal developments, regulatory examinations, and the impact of emerging rules on compensation and benefits programs.
• Collaborate closely with Risk, Compliance, Internal Audit, and Employment Law teams to ensure coordinated management of legal, regulatory, and reputational risk.
• Manage complex issues by providing strategic recommendations, negotiating with stakeholders, and engaging with external counsel where appropriate.
• Participate in M&A-related benefits and compensation workstreams, including due diligence and integration matters.
• Appropriately assess risk when business decisions are made, demonstrating particular consideration for the firm's reputation and safeguarding Citigroup, its clients and assets, by driving compliance with applicable laws, rules and regulations, adhering to Policy, applying sound ethical judgment regarding personal behavior, conduct and business practices, and escalating, managing and reporting control issues with transparency, as well as effectively supervise the activity of others and create accountability with those who fail to maintain these standards

Qualifications

• 7-10+ years of relevant experience in compensation, benefits, and ERISA matters, with in‑house financial services experience preferred.
• Deep knowledge of laws and regulations governing health and welfare benefits, executive compensation, retirement plans, and ERISA fiduciary requirements.
• Strong leadership, analytical, advisory, communication, and relationship‑management skills, with proven ability to handle complex assignments in a fast‑paced environment.
• Experience working with regulators and managing regulatory interactions is a plus.

Education

• Juris Doctor (JD) or equivalent law degree and bar admission in good standing.