Senior Benefits Attorney : District of Columbia, Virginia

Senior Benefits Attorney

Based in Herndon, VA

The Air Line Pilots Association, International (ALPA), the largest airline pilot union in the world and the largest non-governmental aviation safety organization in the world (representing over 55,000 pilots at 32 U.S. and Canadian airlines) seeks a Senior Benefits Attorney for our Herndon, Virginia, office.

Under minimal supervision, the Senior Benefits Attorney represents the Association’s interests in a wide range of complex employee benefits matters. S/he is responsible for providing comprehensive legal and tax advice with respect to pilot employee benefit plans negotiated by the Association, including defined benefit plans, profit sharing plans, target benefit plans, 401(k) plans, nonqualified deferred compensation plans, ESOPs and other stock bonus plans, cafeteria plans, flexible spending plans, and VEBAs, as well as insured and self-insured medical, disability, and life plans.

In general, the Senior Benefits Attorney drafts, reviews, and analyzes pilot retirement, healthcare, and welfare benefit plans and proposed amendments for compliance with the collective bargaining agreement and applicable law; reviews, analyzes, and drafts proposed legislation affecting pilots’ retirement, healthcare, and welfare benefits; drafts ALPA testimony on proposed employee benefits legislation; drafts, reviews, and makes recommendations on service agreements between ALPA and its insurers, brokers, and other plan service-providers; interprets retirement, healthcare, and welfare benefit plan language and related documentation in connection with benefit disputes; assists in negotiating pilot retirement, healthcare, and welfare benefits; drafts articles for newsletters; makes presentations to national committees and pilot groups; conducts legal research and drafts memoranda on employee benefits issues; reviews current collective bargaining agreements for negotiable improvements and makes appropriate recommendations; keeps abreast of legal, legislative, and administrative developments in employee benefits; and, responds to requests for assistance from Association officers, national committee members, and others. S/he also provides mentoring, training, and on-site assistance to less-experienced department staff.

At times, projects may be time-sensitive and of critical importance to the Association and Association issues, such as negotiations, grievances, and arbitrations. Working in conjunction with other departments and committees, s/he will be relied upon to make recommendations regarding negotiating strategy and to help guide Association policy as an expert witness in Association grievances and litigations and to provide guidance to others. Travel, at times on short notice, is required.

The ideal candidate will be equally comfortable interacting with people and making presentations as working with documents.

Local, national, and international travel: Up to 35 %.

Minorities, veterans, and people with disabilities are encouraged to apply.

Minimum Requirements:

• Juris Doctor (JD) or Master of Law (LLM) from an approved school of law required.
• Member in good standing of the Bar.
• Twelve (12) years of related experience in employee benefits practice required, fifteen (15) years strongly preferred.
• Comprehensive knowledge of ERISA, the Internal Revenue Code, and the legal requirements applicable to retirement, healthcare, and welfare benefits required.
• Current and in-depth knowledge of the design and operation of ERISA retirement, healthcare, and welfare benefits required.
• Demonstrated ability to organize and coordinate long-term projects.
• Excellent interpersonal and communication skills, oral and written, for effective interaction with internal staff, external contacts, and pilots.
• Demonstrated ability to use independent judgment to formulate decisions and/or solve problems, under time pressure and urgent conditions.
• Experience using online legal research, Westlaw or the equivalent, preferred.
• Software: Microsoft Word, Excel, PowerPoint, and Outlook required.

Physical Demands:
Note: The physical demands described herein are characteristic of those that must be met to successfully perform the essential functions of this position. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals to perform the essential physical activities of this position described below.

Constantly operates a computer/smartphone/tablet. Regularly required to maintain a stationary position, move about the office and the local metropolitan area, determine what others have said or written, and converse with others and exchange accurate information.

Regularly required to sit, stand, bend, reach, and move about the office and travel (locally, nationally, and, infrequently, internationally). Also includes occasional bending, stooping, squatting, and/or pushing and pulling or moving, e.g., to pack, unpack, and/or move cases.

Occasionally required to move, raise, reach, and/or retrieve binders, books, boxes, and files up to ten (10) pounds (lbs.). While on travel, could be responsible to move, raise, reach, and/or retrieve binders, boxes, cases, and/or files weighing as much as 50 lbs. (Assistance may not always be available.)

Please apply online at https://jobs-alpa.icims.com/jobs/1253/sr.-benefits-attorney/job

ALPA offers competitive salaries with excellent benefits, including:

• 26 days paid vacation and holidays per year;
• Generous sick and bereavement leave;
• Generous health care benefits – PPO, two HMO’s (where available) and a High Deductible Health Plan which includes coverage for medical, dental, and vision benefits for employee, spouse, and/or dependent children;
• Company-paid premiums for disability and life insurance;
• $2 for $1 matching 401(k) retirement savings plan; Roth 401k;
• Flexible Spending and Health Savings accounts; and
• Retiree health plan.

The Air Line Pilots Association is an Equal Opportunity Employer.
Relocation Not Provided

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Job Posting Courtesy of UnionJobs.com