Description:
The Largest Airline Pilot Union, the largest airline pilot union in the world and the largest non-governmental aviation safety organization in the world (representing over 77,000 pilots at 43 U.S. and Canadian airlines) seeks two experienced Sr. Benefits Attorney for our office in Tysons (McLean), Virginia. The Sr. Benefits Attorney builds and maintains relationships with pilot governing boards, councils, and committees, as well as with the airline benefits professionals and outside consultants and advisors; handles complex benefit issues; and, works in a fast-paced, collaborative culture, supporting pilot groups on issues that encompass the entire range of employee benefits matters, including defined benefit plans, defined contribution plans, nonqualified deferred compensation plans, health and welfare benefit plans, and employee fringe benefit plans.Responsibilities:
- provides legal support to pilot groups on benefit matters;
- assists in negotiating pilot retirement, healthcare, and welfare benefits;
- drafts language for collective bargaining agreements and other agreements with employers relating to benefits issues;
- drafts, reviews, and analyzes pilot retirement, healthcare, and welfare benefit plans for compliance with the collective bargaining agreement(s) and applicable law;
- reviews and analyzes proposed legislation affecting pilots' retirement, healthcare, and welfare benefits;
- drafts, reviews, and makes recommendations with respect to agreements between ALPA and its insurers, brokers, and other service providers;
- interprets retirement, healthcare, and welfare benefit plan language and related documentation in connection with benefit disputes and testifies as a subject matter expert (SME) in grievance arbitrations;
- conducts legal research and analysis and investigates issues relating to benefits matters;
- prepares articles summarizing case law and legislation relevant to pilot benefits;
- makes presentations to national committees, pilot groups, and other ALPA staff; and,
- keeps abreast of legal, legislative, and administrative developments in employee benefits.
Qualifications:
- Juris Doctor (JD) from an approved school of law required.
- Member in good standing of the Bar.
- Fifteen (15) years of legal experience in employee benefits practice required, twenty (20) or more strongly preferred.
- Comprehensive knowledge of ERISA and the benefits sections of the Internal Revenue Code and other federal statutes to the extent they relate to employee benefits, e.g., ADEA, ADA, USERRA. At management discretion, significant and in-depth, directly applicable, experience may be substituted for some of the above requirements.
- In-depth knowledge of the design and operation of retirement, healthcare, and welfare benefits.
- Superior legal and analytical skills, with the ability to select the most effective and practical solution to complex benefit issues.
- Ability to demonstrate confidence and executive presence in business transactions.
- Ability to work effectively as a member of a team.
- Ability to organize and coordinate long-term projects.
- Excellent communication and presentation skills.
- Ability to manage multiple tasks and use independent judgment to formulate decisions and/or solve problems, under time pressure and urgent conditions.
- Ability to work efficiently, meet demanding deadlines, and manage complex projects in an ever-changing environment.
- Must possess strong interpersonal skills and be comfortable advising senior management and key pilot groups.
- Software: Microsoft Word, Excel, PowerPoint, and Outlook required.
