Staff Counsel

Who We Are: 

At PEMCO we’re all about people – our customers, our employees, and the community.  We’re a mutual insurance company owned by our Northwest policyholders.  We provide auto, home, renters, and boat coverage. Recently, Forbes named PEMCO as #1 in Auto Insurance in 2024 based on customer survey feedback. We are consistently recognized for our outstanding customer service, employee expertise, community partnerships, and social impact programs.

Our social impact programs motivate high achievement by youth in education; build stronger and greener communities; and increase safety at home, on the road, and at play. We’re committed to diversity, equity, inclusion, and belonging, and to fostering an inspiring and inclusive workplace. These efforts create and cultivate an environment that builds fairness and understanding, encourages collaboration and flexibility, and celebrates all the ways in which we’re different and the same – enabling all individuals to achieve their full potential.

Why We Need You:

PEMCO has a dynamic and challenging opportunity for a Staff Counsel to join our community. In this role, you will be responsible for providing legal support including but not limited to regulatory analysis, guidance, administration, and support for the development, implementation, and maintenance of corporate compliance policies and procedures. Additionally, the role involves optimizing critical insurance processes, litigation risk management, product changes, training content, legislative analysis, and written communication to align with PEMCO's service philosophy and corporate performance goals.

What You’ll Be Doing:

• Advise senior leadership on complex issues facing the organization and company risk management concerns.
• Document, coordinate, complete, and file government, regulatory, and compliance documents affecting the entire enterprise.
• Manage and respond to outside state regulatory audits and surveys including market conduct, insurance department financial exams, Washington Insurance Examining Bureau, Department of Licensing, and others.
• Collaborate, as assigned, with defense counsel, and coverage counsel to set strategy, reach informed decisions, and resolve issues.
• Research, recommend, and report on legal issues impacting corporate compliance policies and procedures, and communicate regulatory changes to business units.
• Review and edit legal briefs, training materials, customer mailings, proposed policy language changes, internal company communications, and similar documents for clarity, accuracy, compliance, and effective connection with the intended audience.
• Administer, maintain, and support compliance of enterprise-wide programs such as Privacy, Health Information, National Do Not Call Registry, Market Conduct Compliance, USA Patriot Act, and other privacy and compliance-related programs.
• Serve as primary point of contact with insurance regulatory agencies, as assigned.
• Support corporate ethics program as needed.
• Create and monitor enterprise compliance-related policies including conflict of interest, privacy, fraud, and other compliance policies.
• Provide recommendations in response to trends and patterns identified by performing department-level or individual quality/compliance reviews.
• Guide and coach Claims staff on complex issues as assigned.
• Develop, implement, and monitor compliance action plans as needed.
• Demonstrate behaviors consistent with PEMCO's policies, values, code of ethics and business conduct.
• Authentically support the PEMCO Brand and constantly are on the lookout for top talent to join us to achieve our Mission to Worry Less and Live More.
• Other duties as assigned.

What You'll Bring:

• JD degree from an accredited law school is required
• 10+ years of experience in insurance claim technical file handling roles with increasing levels of responsibility, or 5 years of experience as an attorney representing or advising property and casualty carriers in coverage matters and bad faith litigation is required
• 5 years of experience in corporate compliance and enterprise risk management is preferred
• Insurance industry designations or certifications preferred
• Admitted to a state bar (Washington or Oregon) is preferred
• Problem Solver: Ability to analyze, diagnose and resolve complex unstructured problems quickly, efficiently, and collaboratively is required
• Organizational Savvy: Interfaces cross-functionally with both technical depth and business savvy. Understands company goals and objectives; thinks critically about business challenges and resolutions. Demonstrates keen listening and observation skills is required
• MS Office: Skilled proficiency in MS Office is required
• Job specific: Thorough understanding of process and strategic decisions necessary for an insurance carrier to prevail in court or resolve matter effectively out of court is required
• Interpersonal Skills & Empathy: Builds relationships internally and externally and get results through influence rather than authority. Demonstrates authentic empathy, celebrates the joy and shows care for the challenges felt by others is required
• Confidentiality: A high degree of integrity and the ability to exercise discretion in confidential situations is required
• Compliance: Knowledge and understanding of relevant laws, rules, and regulations is required
• Communicator: The ability to communicate clearly and informatively, verbally and in writing, with colleagues, customers, and the community in both technical and non-technical professional language is required
• Business Environment: Has a thorough understanding of our industry, the relevant business landscape, and trends in insurance environments; ability to spot early indicators of change and apply strategies to adapt quickly is preferred is required
• Analytical and data-driven: Thinks analytically; a structured thinker who can put complex ideas into clear frameworks; uses data to conduct root cause analysis and develops high quality, consumable, and consistent metrics that drive strategic objectives and priorities is required

What We Value:

In fostering a culture where everyone thrives, PEMCO embodies a set of core traits that guide our collective efforts. These traits include:

• Make Agile Decisions: Define desired outcomes. Use a consistent, inclusive approach. Drive decisions with a sense of urgency. Pivot decisions quickly as supported by data
• Build Trust: Listen to understand and use direct and open communication. Engage in healthy debate with mutual respect. Find solutions and move forward together
• Own Results: Commit to desired outcomes. Define and achieve success metrics. Anticipate and mitigate risks, and always have a plan B. Take accountability for and learn from outcomes. 
• Empower Execution: Take action to drive desired outcomes. Act with initiative, mastery, and purpose
• Explore Fearlessly: Make swift, iterative progress through testing and learning, create a safe place to fail fast and learn from mistakes, and continuously improve
• Value People: Appreciate and care about unique experiences and perspectives Respect the dignity of others and have empathy for people Authentically and meaningfully support and recognize people in real time

These traits form the bedrock of our commitment to caring deeply for each other, our customers, and our community. As you become a part of PEMCO, your contribution will further enrich our success story, where the power of these shared values propels us forward.

Compensation:

The pay range for this role is shown below. Compensation decisions are determined based on an individual’s qualifications, job-related knowledge, skills, and experience.

• Greater Seattle area target pay range: $147,387-$180,139.  The full pay range is $122.823-$204,704.
• Outside greater Seattle area target pay range: $130,072-$158,976.  The full pay range is $108,394-$180,655.

Greater Seattle Area is defined as working within approximately 100 miles of Seattle.

Outside Greater Seattle is defined as working approximately 100 miles or more from Seattle.

Benefits:

Regular part-time PEMCO employees working at least 24 hours per week and regular full-time PEMCO employees are eligible to elect coverage under medical, dental, and vision plans for themselves and their eligible family members with generous employer premium cost shares. In addition, as a benefits-eligible employee, you are:

• covered by employer-paid basic life and accidental death & dismemberment insurance policies as well as long- and short-term disability benefit coverages.
• eligible to participate in PEMCO’s 401(k) plan which includes a generous employer match (2 for 1 on the first 6% employee pre-tax and/or Roth deferral, up to federal maximums). 

PEMCO provides the following paid leave programs for benefits-eligible employees in their first year of PEMCO employment:

• Vacation accrues at a rate of 10 days for new hires, and increases based on a schedule to a maximum annual accrual of 25 days based on tenure
• Granted four (4) personal days immediately upon hire
• Paid holidays for the eight (8) holidays observed by PEMCO throughout the calendar year.
• Granted up to ten (10) days of sick leave immediately upon hire (pro-rated based on hire date and full-time/part-time status), which is approximately 28 hours more per year than the Washington state-required accrual
• In addition, PEMCO provides paid time off for bereavement, jury duty and employee volunteering in the community.

Other miscellaneous benefit programs offered by PEMCO include:

• Flexible Spending Accounts
• Education Assistance Program after one year of service
• Scholarship program for children of PEMCO employees after one year of service
• Employee Assistance Program
• Well-being program
• Discretionary taxable gifts and gift cards
• And other Perks & Benefits including discounts on computer software and hardware, cell phone plans, and rental cars

Other compensation depending on role, contributions, and performance may include:

• Discretionary bonuses
• Tiered sales commissions and/or incentives (from 5-25% of employee’s monthly sales)
• Employee referral bonuses
• Shift differential pay

Equal Employment Opportunity:

At PEMCO, we celebrate and support our differences. We know employing a team rich in diverse thoughts, experiences, and opinions allows our employees, our products, and our community to flourish. PEMCO is honored to be an equal opportunity workplace. We are dedicated to equal employment opportunities regardless of race, color, ancestry, religion, sex, national orientation, age, citizenship, marital status, disability, gender identity, sexual orientation, or veteran status.

Applicants have rights under Federal Employment Laws:

• Family and Medical Leave Act (FMLA) 
• Equal Employment Opportunity (EEO) 
• Employee Polygraph Protection Act (EPPA)