Assistant Chief Counsel

Anticipated Interview Dates: We anticipate holding in-person interviews beginning the week of September 28, 2026.

The CalPERS Legal Office is currently seeking an Assistant Chief Counsel to oversee the Litigation Unit.

The Legal Office represents CalPERS in litigation and provides formal and informal legal advice regarding all legal issues at CalPERS, including the areas of benefit and membership entitlement, Board elections, health care, fiduciary matters, ethics, contracts, public records, labor and employment, open meetings, and investment related matters.

The duties of this position include but are not limited to: supervising Attorneys and Senior Attorneys providing a broad range of legal services in the Litigation Unit; initiating and representing CalPERS in the most difficult and complex administrative and court proceedings; making strategic decisions and substantive recommendations, and appearing on behalf of CalPERS in the most complex and sensitive cases at administrative hearings and in court, and before other administrative bodies; providing oral and written legal advice to executives, senior team leaders, and team members; keeping clients informed of the status of all cases and conferring with and advising clients on all substantive matters; supervising litigation in coordination with the Attorney General’s Office and outside counsel; and keeping the General Counsel, Deputy General Counsel, and Associate General Counsel informed on the status of all significant cases.


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.

Sponsorship
This position is not eligible for visa sponsorship. Applicants must be authorized to work in the United States without the need for visa sponsorship. CalPERS does not participate in E-Verify for employment authorization purposes.

Effective July 1, 2025, The California Department of Human Resources (CalHR) implemented the Personal Leave Program 2025 (PLP 2025). PLP 2025 directs that each employee shall receive a 4.62 percent reduction in pay in exchange for 8 hours PLP 2025 leave credits, monthly. The salary range(s) included in the job advertisement do not reflect the 4.62 percent reduction in pay.

This position is eligible for a Hire Above Minimum (HAM) salary. Government Code section 19836 authorizes the Department of Human Resources (CalHR) to allow an exception to provide a rate above the established minimum salary range for selected classifications, as determined by CalHR.

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You will find additional information about the job in the Duty Statement.

Salary

• $14,513 - $17,742/month

Qualifications

Minimum Requirements
You will find the Minimum Requirements in the Class Specification.

• ATTORNEY, ASSISTANT CHIEF COUNSEL

Desirable Qualifications

In addition to evaluating each candidate's relative ability, as demonstrated by quality and breadth of experience, the following factors will provide the basis for competitively evaluating each candidate:

• Previous supervisory experience; ability to work as a team leader; ability to manage staff attorneys and outside counsel.
• Ability to work independently and use excellent judgment on assigned work.
• Extensive experience managing complex litigation, conducting advanced legal analysis and advising clients on complex and sensitive legal issues.
• Knowledge of the PERL, PEPRA, PEMHCA, State contracting and procurement rules and procedures, and State government employment laws, policies and procedures.
• Proven ability to provide strategic legal advice and clear recommendations to senior leadership.
• Strong analytical, research, and writing skills, with a track record of preparing persuasive legal arguments and compelling oral presentations.
• Commitment to public service and a passion for sustaining and protecting retirement and health benefits for California’s public employees.

Other Information

Additional Documents

• Job Application Package Checklist
• Duty Statement

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, Lake Tahoe, 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.

Special Requirements

Statement of Qualifications
Please provide a Statement of Qualifications (SOQ) for the hiring manager’s review. Applications received without an SOQ or those that do not respond to the specific questions below will not be considered.

The SOQ must be typed, titled “Statement of Qualifications,” and each response must be numbered and list all relevant experience, education, and training, including places of employment, dates, and duties performed.

The SOQ must not exceed two pages in length and must address the following:

1. Outline your experience managing attorneys, including your knowledge of and experience with human resource matters, including but not limited to progressive discipline, civil service hiring, mentoring, motivating, and developing staff, and your leadership skills and demonstrated ability to think strategically and function effectively as a member of a management team. Please include experience you have managing a team working in a hybrid telework environment.
2. Describe your experience and identify the number of years that you have represented clients in litigation matters before federal, state, and administrative tribunals. Please also describe any experience you may have working on cases involving class actions, corporations and corporate governance, pensions and trusts, health benefits, employment, open meetings, and public records. Please also describe your experience overseeing contracted outside counsel and counsel at the Office of the Attorney General.
3. Describe your experience advising executive and senior leadership on legal risks facing an organization, litigation strategy and oversight, problem definition, and conflict resolution of complex legal issues. Please include your experience presenting legal matters before a public board, including any experience interacting with the CalPERS Board or its committees regarding litigation or potential litigation involving any program administered by CalPERS.

Minimum Qualifications
All experience and education relating to the Minimum Qualifications (MQs) listed on the Classification Specification should be included in your application package to clearly demonstrate how you meet the MQs for this position. If you are using education to meet MQs, please include your transcripts with your application package. If you have a degree from outside of the United States, you must submit an evaluation of this degree to determine the US equivalency. If you need an evaluation, you can visit the National Association of Credential Evaluation Services (NACES) website to find organizations that provide these services. The Classification Specification is located on this Job Posting under "Minimum Requirements."

Please Note: You may need to pass an examination to establish list eligibility prior to a final offer of employment. To find and take an exam, visit CalHR’s CalCareers website.

Career Services & Outreach

Need help with your state application, resume, Statement of Qualifications, or interview preparation? The CalPERS Career Services & Outreach (CSO) team provides comprehensive support throughout the CalPERS hiring process. Our services include one-on-one online consultations for application assistance, Statement of Qualification review, and interview preparation. To schedule an appointment and receive personalized guidance from our team, please use the following booking link: CalPERS Career Services Consultations.

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: 9/12/2026

Who May Apply

Individuals who are currently in the classification, eligible for lateral transfer, eligible for reinstatement, have list or LEAP eligibility, are in the process of obtaining list eligibility, or have SROA and/or Surplus eligibility (please attach your letter, if available). SROA and Surplus candidates are given priority; therefore, individuals with other eligibility may be considered in the event no SROA or Surplus candidates apply. Individuals who are eligible for a Training and Development assignment may also be considered for this position(s).

Applications will be screened and only the most qualified applicants will be selected to move forward in the selection process.Applicants must meet the Minimum Qualifications stated in the Classification Specification(s).

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-529730/SY
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, SSU JC-529730/SY
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.
• Statement of Qualifications - In addition to completing your online job application, you must provide a Statement of Qualifications (SOQ) for the hiring manager’s review. Please see the Special Requirements section for instructions and questions for the SOQ. Applications received without an SOQ will not be considered. We ask that you not use Artificial Intelligence assistance when composing your written response. Written responses are an attempt to assess and gain an understanding of your personal writing and communication skills and abilities.

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.

Contact Information

The Hiring Unit Contact is available to answer questions regarding the position or application process.

Hiring Unit Contact:
CalPERS HRSD, Selection Services
(916) 795-2444
Recruitment@calpers.ca.gov

Please direct requests for Reasonable Accommodations to the interview scheduler at the time the interview is being scheduled. You may direct any additional questions regarding Reasonable Accommodations or Equal Employment Opportunity for this position(s) to the Department's EEO Office.

EEO Contact:
CalPERS EEO
(916) 795-3675
EEO@calpers.ca.gov

California Relay Service: 1-800-735-2929 (TTY), 1-800-735-2922 (Voice) TTY is a Telecommunications Device for the Deaf, and is reachable only from phones equipped with a TTY Device.

Additional Information

Live Scan
Candidates not currently employed at CalPERS are required to submit to a criminal history review process utilizing Live Scan fingerprinting.

CalPERS Disclosure Requirements
If employed, you may be subject to rules imposed by Personal Trading Regulations and Conflict of Interest Code that apply to CalPERS team members, which require disclosure of certain investment information and use of a designated trading platform for securities transactions, as well as filing a Statement of Economic Interest (Form 700)

Please do not include any confidential information on any documents in your application package. Confidential information that should be excluded or removed from these documents include, but is not limited to, your social security number, date of birth, marital status, personal photos, a copy of your driver’s license, equal employment opportunity data, examination scores, and LEAP status.

Equal Opportunity Employer

The State of California is an equal opportunity employer to all, regardless of age, ancestry, color, disability (mental and physical), exercising the right to family care and medical leave, gender, gender expression, gender identity, genetic information, marital status, medical condition, military or veteran status, national origin, political affiliation, race, religious creed, sex (includes pregnancy, childbirth, breastfeeding and related medical conditions), and sexual orientation.

It is an objective of the State of California to achieve a drug-free work place. Any applicant for state employment will be expected to behave in accordance with this objective because the use of illegal drugs is inconsistent with the law of the State, the rules governing Civil Service, and the special trust placed in public servants.

California Relay Service: 1-800-735-2929 (TTY), 1-800-735-2922 (Voice) TTY is a Telecommunications Device for the Deaf, and is reachable only from phones equipped with a TTY Device. Benefits

CalPERS team members are eligible for a number of benefits. Health benefits and leave programs are available for most team members. Benefit eligibility may depend on length of service and collective bargaining agreements.

Some added benefits CalPERS offers include:

• Alternate Work Schedules
• Flexible Work Hours
• Onsite childcare facility
• Onsite fitness center
• Onsite café and nearby restaurants
• Free onsite parking available Mondays and Fridays, subject to change
• Free offsite parking available with shuttle service Tuesdays, Wednesdays and Thursdays

Benefit information can be found on the CalHR website and the CalPERS website.