Senior Principal Counsel - Fair Lending

Discover. A brighter future.

With us, you’ll do meaningful work from Day 1. Our collaborative culture is built on three core behaviors: We Play to Win, We Get Better Every Day & We Succeed Together. And we mean it — we want you to grow and make a difference at one of the world's leading digital banking and payments companies. We value what makes you unique so that you have an opportunity to shine.

Come build your future, while being the reason millions of people find a brighter financial future with Discover.

Job Description:

Under the direction of a Director, this role involves handling moderately complex legal matters, including providing advice, direction and support to internal business clients, including risk, compliance, risk and operations, governance, government relations, and/or provides legal advice, as applicable to role, on new initiatives, business processes, contract review and analysis, training, corrective actions, compliance with laws, regulations, policies and procedures, litigation risk and issues raised in governance committees. Typically, the role is that of an individual contributor, but in some circumstances, it may functionally lead work group(s) or small teams to deliver desired work output in a direct or indirect manner. The role provides coaching as necessary to increase the effectiveness of others. Actively manages and escalates risk and customer-impacting issues within the day-to-day role to management.

This role will involve providing legal support to Discover’s Fair and Responsible Banking and Unfair, Deceptive or Abusive Acts or Practices (UDAAP) programs, and as needed, on the Fair Credit Reporting Act (FCRA). This includes providing sound advice to internal business clients, such as operation, risk, compliance, governance, and government relations.

Responsibilities:

• Advise on consumer protection laws and regulations including ECOA/Regulation B, FHA, UDAP/UDAAP, FCRA and applicable equivalent state laws and regulations. This role will include review and analysis of strategies used in marketing, credit underwriting and pricing, fraud, and other areas, and will include review of variables used in and outcomes associated with complex machine learning models and alternative data.

• Exercises prudent discretion and decision-making capabilities to provide advice, direction and support to internal business clients, including risk, compliance, governance, government relations, and/or legal advice, as applicable to role, on new initiatives, business processes, contract review and analysis, training, corrective actions, compliance with laws, regulations, policies and procedures, litigation risk and issues raised in governance committees.

• Identifies, assesses, communicates information to business clients related to emerging regulatory topics and best practices, and provides oversight and strategic guidance on new or proposed legal and regulatory requirements, emerging legal and regulatory risks and trends. Communicates effectively with clients, customers, leadership, committees, regulators and counterparties as applicable.

• Manages resources, if assigned, including overhead, outside counsel and other budgets to achieve Law’s financial goals. Develops and supports others by communicating, fostering respect, providing coaching and feedback, recognizing achievements, and effectively managing employee concerns.

• Continuously improves and adheres to required standards and processes to promote a risk aware culture and ensure efficient and effective risk management.

• Provides advice, counseling, and training on moderately complex legal topics which may include one or more of the following coverage areas: Regulatory, Consumer Finance Advisory, Transactional, Anti-Trust, Privacy/Security, Technology, Employment/Benefits, Litigation, Collections, Public Company, Payments, and Intellectual Property.

• Supports issues management, new initiatives, consumer complaints, servicing and collections, and supervisory examinations.

Minimum Qualifications

At a minimum, here’s what we need from you:

• J.D. degree in Law

• 3+ years legal experience supporting consumer financial services products and services, or job related.

• Active law license in good standing

Preferred Qualifications

If we had our say, we’d also look for:

• 5+ years legal experience supporting consumer financial services products and services, or job related.

• 3+ years advising on ECOA/Regulation B, FHA, UDAP/UDAAP and familiarity with FCRA.

• Excellent interpersonal skills and the ability to build and foster relationships at all levels within an organization.

• Experience analyzing complex model