Description:
**If you are a current FIB employee, please apply through the Career Worklet in the Employee Portal.This position may be located in Billings MT; Boise, ID; Bend, OR; Denver, CO; Omaha, NE or Sioux Falls, SD
What's Important to You
We know your career is just one aspect of a meaningful, complex, and demanding life. That's why we designed our compensation and benefits package to provide employees and their families with as much choice as possible.
Generous Paid Time Off (PTO) in addition to paid federal holidays.
- Student debt employer repayment program.
- 401(k) retirement plan with a 6% match.
- The health and happiness of the places we call home matter to us. Learn a little more about what we do for the communities we serve and why we want YOU to be a part of it.
- We encourage you to apply. Reach for what you want and tell us why your work ethic and willingness to learn make you a natural fit for #TeamFirstInterstate.
Summary:
The General Counsel serves as the chief legal officer for the bank, providing strategic legal guidance on all legal-related matters. This executive-level role ensures the institution operates in full compliance with federal and state banking laws while supporting safe, sound, and ethical banking practices. The General Counsel is a key advisor to executive management, the Holding Company's and Bank's Boards of Directors and board committees. Additionally, this position serves as Corporate Secretary to the Holding Company's and Bank's Boards of Directors.
Essential Duties and Responsibilities:
- Serves as the primary legal advisor on all federal, state, and local legal issues facing the Company and/or its affiliates and subsidiaries.
- Serves as the Corporate Secretary to both the Holding company and Bank Boards of Directors.
- Advises the Company, directors, and senior leaders on governance best practices.
- Oversees all legal advice to the Holding Company and Bank.
- Manages Company-wide litigation consistent with the Company's risk appetite.
- Manages all outside counsel relationships.
- Monitors legal costs to maintain control of spending while achieving positive outcomes.
- Develops proactive initiatives to enhance Company legal and regulatory compliance.
- Oversees the Company's government relations function.
- Oversees preparation of board books, resolutions, and minutes.
- Monitors and interprets changes in applicable federal, state, and local law.
- Oversees internal investigations involving legal and/or ethical matters.
- Partners with Compliance, Risk, and Internal Audit to maintain a strong compliance framework.
- Partners with Risk in responding to regulatory exams, findings, and enforcement actions.
- Serves as the Company's Insider Trading Officer and Ethics Officer.
- Reinforces a culture of compliance, risk awareness, and accountability.
Management Responsibilities:
- Leads a team of dedicated legal professionals.
- Performs personnel actions including performance evaluations, disciplinary actions, and interviewing candidates for employment.
Qualifications:
To perform this job successfully, an individual must be able to perform each essential duty satisfactorily. The requirements listed below are representative of the knowledge, skill, and/or ability required. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.
Knowledge, Skills and Abilities:
- Proven track record of providing strategic legal advice at a senior level.
- Strong negotiation, communication, and interpersonal skills.
- Specialized knowledge of laws impacting the banking industry.
- Strong business acumen and strategic thinking.
- Excellent judgment, integrity, and discretion.
- Ability to manage multiple priorities and high‑risk issues.
- Proven leadership and stakeholder‑management skills.
Education and/or Experience:
- JD from an accredited law school required
- 10+ years prior in-house or law firm legal practice experience advising financial institutions required
- 10+ years experience advising financial institutions on federal and state regulatory matters preferred
Licenses and Certifications:
- Bar Admission Active license to practice law in at least one U.S. jurisdiction upon hire required and
- Bar Admission Active license to practice law in state where individual's office will be located within 180 Days required