Associate General Counsel - MSRB

About the Office of the Massachusetts State Treasurer and Receiver General (“Treasury”)

Our mission is to manage and safeguard the State's public deposits and investments through sound business practices for the exclusive benefits of our citizens, and perform these duties with integrity, excellence, and leadership. Additionally, we strive to provide economic opportunity, stability, and security for every Massachusetts resident.

We are committed to excellence in recruiting, hiring, and retaining diverse and qualified individuals. We value a culture of diversity and professionalism in the workplace and strongly believe that our workforce should reflect our community. 

https://www.surveymonkey.com/r/FM68GFV

Purpose of the Job:

The Massachusetts State Retirement Board (“MSRB”) is a department within the Office of the State Treasurer which administers a defined benefit retirement plan, the Massachusetts State Employees Retirement System (“MSERS”), for eligible employees of the Commonwealth and certain independent entities. Established in 1911, the MSRB supports more than 93,000 active members and more than 73,000 retirees and beneficiaries. The MSRB annually issues more than $3b in benefits. The MSRB Legal Unit is responsible for providing legal counsel in a high-volume work setting to the Board and staff on all matters related to the proper administration of the MSERS, as governed by G.L. c. 32.

Essential Functions and Responsibilities:

• Represent the MSRB in judicial and administrative forums on a variety of legal matters, including member appeals from MSRB decisions and Board-initiated matters before appointed Hearing Officers. These appeals include Board denials of applications for disability retirement, group classification, and service purchases, as well as disputes concerning retirement eligibility, beneficiary designations, survivor benefits, and benefit calculations.

• Advise Executive Director and staff regarding the interpretation and implementation of G.L. c. 32, related administrative regulations, and administrative or judicial decisions.

• Develop an expertise regarding G.L. c. 32 and administrative regulations. Develop a working familiarity with the statutes, regulations, and case law affecting public employees, including G.L. c. 66 (Public Records), G.L. c. 30A, §§ 18-25 (Open Meetings), and G.L. c. 268A (Conduct of Public Officials).

• Participate in the preparation for and present matters during monthly MSRB Board meetings, including accidental and ordinary disability retirement applications, group classification applications, beneficiary determinations, and forfeiture matters.

• Review proposed worker’s compensation lump sum agreements, domestic relations orders, and employment settlement agreements from Commonwealth agencies which may impact the calculation of retirement benefits.

• Participate in enforcement and adjudicatory efforts in connection with post-retirement earnings limits and disability retirees’ excess earnings cases pursuant to G.L. c. 32, § 91A and benefit forfeitures due to criminal convictions pursuant to G.L. c. 32, § 15.

• Monitor and analyze judicial and administrative decisions that may affect the Board, its policies, or administration of the system. Advise staff and the MSRB on judicial and administrative law decisions on a timely basis.

• Occasional travel to hearing locations, primarily before the Division of Administrative Law Appeals in Malden, MA.

Other Duties and Responsibilities:

• As necessary, provide legal counsel to the MSRB Board members on matters relevant to their duties and obligations as fiduciaries of the MSERS, including the Open Meeting and Public Records Laws.

• Colla