Assistant Chief Counsel

Working Title: Assistant Chief Counsel

Salary: $14,513.00 - $17,742.00 per month. New to State candidates will be hired into the minimum salary of the classification or minimum of alternate range when applicable.

# of Positions: 1
Work Location: Sacramento County
Telework: Hybrid (up to two days of remote work and three days or more onsite per week)
Job Type: Permanent, Full Time

About the Department

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, CalPERS is a destination employer with an international reputation for leadership and innovation. The organization is committed to diversity, equity, and inclusion, offering competitive benefits, compensation, and opportunities for advancement.

Responsibilities

• Supervise Attorneys and Senior Attorneys providing a broad range of legal services in the Litigation Unit.
• Initiate and represent CalPERS in the most difficult and complex administrative and court proceedings.
• Make strategic decisions and substantive recommendations, and appear on behalf of CalPERS in complex and sensitive cases at administrative hearings, in court, and before other administrative bodies.
• Provide oral and written legal advice to executives, senior team leaders, and team members.
• Keep clients informed of the status of all cases and confer with and advise clients on all substantive matters.
• Supervise litigation in coordination with the Attorney General’s Office and outside counsel.
• Keep the General Counsel, Deputy General Counsel, and Associate General Counsel informed on the status of all significant cases.

Requirements

Applicants must submit a Statement of Qualifications (SOQ) addressing the following:

• Experience managing attorneys, including knowledge of and experience with human resource matters such as progressive discipline, civil service hiring, mentoring, motivating, and developing staff. Include leadership skills, strategic thinking, and experience managing a hybrid telework team.
• Experience representing clients in litigation matters before federal, state, and administrative tribunals, including cases involving class actions, corporations and corporate governance, pensions and trusts, health benefits, employment, open meetings, and public records. Describe experience overseeing contracted outside counsel and counsel at the Office of the Attorney General.
• Experience advising executive and senior leadership on legal risks, litigation strategy, problem definition, and conflict resolution of complex legal issues. Include experience presenting legal matters before a public board, particularly interactions with the CalPERS Board or its committees regarding litigation.

The SOQ must be typed, titled “Statement of Qualifications,” and not exceed two pages. Applications without an SOQ will not be considered.

Minimum Qualifications

All experience and education relating to the Minimum Qualifications listed on the Classification Specification must be included in your application. If using education to meet qualifications, include transcripts (foreign degrees require a U.S. equivalency evaluation from NACES).

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

Benefits

• Competitive benefit packages and compensation.
• Opportunities for advancement in a diverse and inclusive workforce.
• Eligibility for a hybrid work schedule (up to two days remote per week).
• Personal Leave Program 2025 (PLP 2025): A 4.62% pay reduction in exchange for 8 hours of PLP 2025 leave credits monthly (effective July 1, 2025).
• Eligibility for a Hire Above Minimum (HAM) salary under Government Code section 19836.

Additional Information

• This position is not eligible for visa sponsorship; applicants must be authorized to work in the U.S. without sponsorship.
• CalPERS does not participate in E-Verify for employment authorization.
• Anticipated in-person interviews beginning the week of September 28, 2026.