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Position Details
Job Code #:
JC-478312
Position #(s):
275-110-7500-XXX
Working Title:
Associate General Counsel, Employment & Litigation
Classification:
C. E. A.
$13,080.00 - $19,390.00 C
This is an incentive eligible position. The incumbent will be eligible for an annual incentive award of up to 15% of salary.
# of Positions:
1
Work Location:
Sacramento County
Telework:
Hybrid
Job Type:
Career Executive Assignment - Non Tenured, Full Time
Department Information
The California Public Employees’ Retirement System (CalPERS) is the nation’s largest public pension fund, providing retirement and health benefits to public employees, retirees, and their families. Headquartered in downtown Sacramento, we are a destination employer with an international reputation for leadership and innovation. At CalPERS, we’re committed to people – the people we serve, our team members, and the larger community around us. CalPERS is situated near the Napa Valley, San Francisco, LakeTahoe, and other desirable destinations, and we offer competitive benefit packages, compensation, and opportunities for advancement.
If you are interested in becoming part of a diverse and inclusive workforce where talent, experience, and expertise are valued, CalPERS invites you to apply for this employment opportunity. To find out more about our Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion efforts, visit our website !
To take a look at CalPERS as a destination employer, view this YouTube video .
Job Description And Duties
This recruitment requires a Statement of Qualifications (SOQ). Responses to the identified qualification factors are required for this CEA recruitment. Please see the instructions for the SOQ under the Special Requirements section of this job posting.
Anticipated Interview Dates: We anticipate holding the interviews beginning the week of June 9, 2025. We look forward to meeting with you!
The Legal Office is currently seeking a CEA-Associate General Counsel to oversee the Employment and Litigation Section and provide executive-level leadership in the development, implementation, and management of policies related to employment law compliance and litigation strategy, and drive our CalPERS mission.
Duties Include, But Are Not Limited To:
- Providing oversight and counsel on CalPERS’ litigation and employment law matters, and providing direction to ensure compliance with statutory requirements and organizational policies.
- Overseeing complex and sensitive legal matters, including high-stakes litigation and regulatory compliance issues; making strategic decisions and providing substantive recommendations to executive leadership; and representing CalPERS in administrative hearings, court proceedings, and before state and federal agencies.
- Assisting the General Counsel and Deputy General Counsel with other high-priority matters, providing leadership and support on cross-functional initiatives to advance CalPERS’ strategic goals.
Telework Information: This position is eligible for a hybrid work schedule, with up to two days of remote work and three days or more onsite, per week.
How did you hear about this position? Tell us in this brief survey .
You will find additional information about the job in the
Duty Statement .
Special Requirements
STATEMENT OF QUALIFICATIONS (SOQ)
An SOQ is required and serves as the examination for this CEA recruitment and must be included with your application.
You must provide responses including specific examples and indicate relevant career details for EACH of the qualification factors outlined below. It must not exceed three pages in length, must have 11-point Arial font, and each response must be numbered and answered, listing all relevant experience, education, and training, including places of employment, dates, and duties performed. Failure to follow this format and the Application Instructions may result in disqualification.
In addition to evaluating each candidate's relative ability, as demonstrated by quality and breadth of experience, the following SOQ factors will provide the basis for competitively evaluating each candidate and must address the following:
- Describe your experience advising on and overseeing legal issues related to employment law and procedures, including but not limited to progressive discipline, civil service hiring, immigration, the Fair Employment and Housing Act, and whistleblower cases. Please include your experience in the development, implementation, and management of employment policies.
- Describe your experience in HR and EEO investigations (e.g., internal policy violations and/or misconduct, EEO violations, and fraud), employment litigation, including at the State Personnel Board (SPB), and conflict resolution.
- Describe your experience managing attorneys and attorney managers, including knowledge of and experience with HR practices, including but not limited to progressive discipline, civil service hiring, mentoring, developing staff, and building and maintaining employee engagement; and your leadership skills and demonstrated ability to think strategically and function effectively as a member of a management team. Please include your experience managing a team working remotely.
- Describe your experience and identify the number of years that you have represented clients in litigation matters before federal, state, and administrative tribunals. Also describe experience you have working on complex cases, including any cases involving class actions, corporations and corporate governance, pensions and trusts, fiduciary duty, conflicts of interest, health benefits, open meetings, and public records. Please include experience you have overseeing contracted outside counsel and counsel at the Office of the Attorney General.
- Describe your experience with and approximate number of cases that you have reviewed, analyzed, prepared, and presented to a trier of fact relating to municipal bankruptcy, and cases related to CalPERS-administered benefits under the Public Employees’ Retirement Law (PERL), the Public Employees’ Medical and Hospital Care Act (PEMHCA), and the CalPERS Long Term Care (LTC) Program. If you have not worked on cases involving CalPERS-administered benefits, please describe any similar experience you may have with other retirement systems’ laws (e.g., CERL, etc.).
- Outline your experience advising executive and senior leadership on policy development and implementation, legal risks facing an organization, mitigation strategies, problem definition, drafting legislation and regulations, resolution of complex legal issues, and litigation strategy. Please also describe your ability to effectively present before a wide range of audiences, including a board or committee, senior leadership, and outside groups.
Note: Resumes, letters, and other materials will not be evaluated or considered as responses to the Statement of Qualifications.
Applications received without the SOQ or with a SOQ not properly formatted will not be considered.
Application Instructions
Completed applications and all required documents must be received or postmarked by the Final Filing Date in order to be considered. Dates printed on Mobile Bar Codes, such as the Quick Response (QR) Codes available at the USPS, are not considered Postmark dates for the purpose of determining timely filing of an application.
Final Filing Date: 5/30/2025
Who May Apply
Individuals who are eligible to be appointed to this Career Executive Assignment (CEA) by the State of California.
How To Apply
Complete Application Packages (including Your Examination/Employment Application (STD 678) And Applicable Or Required Documents) Must Be Submitted To Apply For This Job Posting. Application Packages May Be Submitted Electronically Through Your CalCareer Account At Www.CalCareers.ca.gov. When Submitting Your Application In Hard Copy, a Completed Copy Of The Application Package Listing Must Be Included. If You Choose To Not Apply Electronically, a Hard Copy Application Package May Be Submitted Through An Alternative Method Listed Below:
Address for Mailing Application Packages
You may submit your application and any applicable or required documents to:
Public Employees Retirement System
Postal
Attn: JC-478312/AC
Human Resources Division, Recruitment
P. O. Box 942718
Sacramento , CA 94229-2718
Address for Drop-Off Application Packages
You may drop off your application and any applicable or required documents at:
Public Employees Retirement System
Drop-Off
HRSD, EIR JC-478312/AC
400 Q Street, Lincoln Plaza North
1st floor drop box by security desk
Sacramento , CA 95811
08:00 AM - 05:00 PM
Required Application Package Documents
The Following Items Are Required To Be Submitted With Your Application. Applicants Who Do Not Submit The Required Items Timely May Not Be Considered For This Job:
- Current version of the State Examination/Employment Application STD Form 678 (when not applying electronically), or the Electronic State Employment Application through your Applicant Account at www.CalCareers.ca.gov. All Experience and Education relating to the Minimum Qualifications listed on the Classification Specification should be included to demonstrate how you meet the Minimum Qualifications for the position.
- Resume is optional. It may be included, but is not required.
Applicants requiring reasonable accommodations for the hiring interview process must request the necessary accommodations if scheduled for a hiring interview. The request should be made at the time of contact to schedule the interview. Questions regarding reasonable accommodations may be directed to the EEO contact listed on this job posting.
