Principal Corporate Counsel: Employee Benefits & ERISA

Cisco
North Carolina
Workplace: HybridFull timeUSD 192,300 - 243,900 annuallyFunction: Legal, Risk & ComplianceExperience: 7+ yearsEducation: professionalSkills: ["Strategic thinking","Business acumen","Risk management","Independent work","Written and verbal communication"]

Serve as the primary legal architect for Cisco’s US benefits programs, building the strategic ERISA and Internal Revenue Code framework that enables world-class health, welfare, and retirement plans. Provide fiduciary counseling, support plan administration (filings, offerings, SPDs, documentation), lead benefits litigation strategy, and drive due diligence for M&A benefits integration. Partner across Global Benefits and Finance to anticipate and mitigate regulatory and operational risks.

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FursaFursa
Cisco
Cisco
3 days ago

Principal Corporate Counsel: Employee Benefits & ERISA

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Last checked: 12 hours agoStatus: Live

Job Summary

Serve as the primary legal architect for Cisco’s US benefits programs, building the strategic ERISA and Internal Revenue Code framework that enables world-class health, welfare, and retirement plans. Provide fiduciary counseling, support plan administration (filings, offerings, SPDs, documentation), lead benefits litigation strategy, and drive due diligence for M&A benefits integration. Partner across Global Benefits and Finance to anticipate and mitigate regulatory and operational risks.
Location: North Carolina
Workplace: Hybrid
Employment Type: Full time
Job Function: Legal, Risk & Compliance
Seniority: Sr. Manager level

Key Responsibilities

  • •Serve as the primary legal architect for Cisco’s US benefits programs, enabling strategic legal frameworks for health, welfare, and retirement offerings.
  • •Navigate ERISA and the Internal Revenue Code, providing expert fiduciary counseling and advising plan committees on governance standards.
  • •Advise on plan administration across filings, offerings, and plan documentation including SPDs, and manage benefits contracts (vendor agreements and marketing material).
  • •Lead legal strategy for benefits-related litigation and administrative claims, partnering with Global Benefits and Finance to identify and mitigate risks.
  • •Drive benefits due diligence and integration strategy for mergers, acquisitions, and divestitures, evaluating target plans and supporting transition for newly acquired talent.

Pay and Benefits

Salary: USD 192,300 - 243,900 annually
Equity and Bonus:Equity
Perks:Health InsuranceDentalVision401kPaid ParentalLife Insurance

Key Requirements

  • •Juris Doctorate (J.D.) degree from an accredited law school with a strong academic record.
  • •Active member in good standing of at least one U.S. State Bar.
  • •7+ years of relevant legal experience with a significant focus on ERISA and US Benefits law in a major law firm or large multinational corporate legal department.
  • •Demonstrated track record handling benefits litigation and navigating ERISA compliance issues with practical mentorship.
  • •Experience providing fiduciary counseling and administering employer-provided benefits, including filings and plan documentation.
Experience:7+ years
Education:Professional (JD, MD, etc.)
Skills:Strategic thinkingBusiness acumenRisk managementIndependent workWritten and verbal communication
Licenses:U.S. State Bar membership
Tech Stack:AI-powered legal tools

Company Brief

Cisco
Global technology company that designs, manufactures, and sells networking hardware, telecommunications equipment, and high-technology services and products for enterprises, service providers, and governments worldwide.
Industry: Networking Equipment
Company Size: Enterprise (1,001+ employees)
Revenue: USD 1B+
Growth: Public Company
Valuation: Public Company (Market Cap in USD)
Funding: IPO / Publicly Listed
Headquarters: San Jose, United States
Founded: 1984
Glassdoor
Glassdoor: 4.0
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