MetLife

In Government & Legal Affairs, you'll be an engaged and trusted partner - empowered to deliver innovative solutions, influence public policy, and achieve results that enable MetLife’s growth and protect its global interests. Applying a commercial and contemporary mindset, you'll advocate for what’s possible, overcome challenges, and embrace different perspectives. If you also pride yourself on acting with accountability, transparency, and respect, apply to join our Government & Legal Affairs team today.

We are seeking an Anti-Financial Crimes (AFC) attorney to serve as a trusted legal advisor on anti-bribery and corruption (ABC), anti-money laundering (AML) and economic and trade sanctions (sanctions) laws and regulations. This role entails working closely and collaboratively with Compliance and Business Management on strategic initiatives and emerging matters, as well as helping ensure compliance across our global business operations.  In addition, this role requires an ability to partner with peers to ensure discipline and consistency around Corporate Ethics and Compliance’s global coverage model. This position carries significant responsibility given the highly sensitive nature of AFC matters and requires the ability to operate with confidence, independence, and sound judgment in complex and high‑stakes situations.

The successful candidate will be expected to engage directly and independently with senior executives, including members of executive leadership, and to manage matters that require discretion, strategic thinking, and mature judgment. This role is suited for an attorney who is fully prepared to own complex AFC legal issues end-to-end, provide clear and decisive counsel, and influence outcomes at the highest levels of the organization.

• Serve as a senior legal advisor on U.S. and international economic and trade sanctions including risk exposure, regulatory interactions and sanctions-related investigations and transactions as well as AML requirements, FCPA, and global anticorruption laws, including emerging regulatory developments
• Independently advise on the interpretation, implementation, and escalation of complex and sensitive AFC matters, including engagement with senior management
• Act as a primary legal point of contact with the Office of Foreign Assets Control (OFAC) and other relevant regulators, as appropriate
• Provide ongoing strategic legal advice to the Global Head of AFC Compliance and other executive stakeholders on high risk, high impact matters.
• Review, challenge, and advise on AFC policies, procedures, and enterprise‑wide risk assessments with a focus on global consistency and regulatory expectations.
• Partner closely with Compliance and other Legal colleagues to drive disciplined execution of MetLife’s global compliance model
• Serve as the AFC legal subject matter expert on M&A activity, strategic transactions, and complex third party relationships
• Provide counsel to MetLife’s Government Affairs team on proposed gifts and entertainment requests
• Lead research, drafting, and development of executive level communications, guidance, and training related to AFC risks and obligations
• Manage outside counsel, including setting legal strategy, overseeing deliverables, and reviewing and approving invoices

• Hold a Juris Doctor degree from an accredited law school and be admitted to the New York State (or other appropriate) bar
• Have at least 5-7 years of experience in the area of sanctions and at least one of the following relevant subject matters-- AML or ABC--at a major law firm, government agency, and/or in-house legal department
• Demonstrated experience operating as a senior, independent legal advisor on complex, sensitive regulatory matters involving significant judgment and risk
• Proven ability to engage directly and confidently with senior and executive leadership on high risk or confidential regulatory matters
• Strong experience advising within highly regulated industries, ideally in complex, global environments
• Exceptional oral and written communication skills, with the ability to distill complex legal and regulatory issues into clear, actionable guidance for leadership
• Strong record of discretion, sound judgment, and the ability to manage matters autonomously without over‑reliance on supervision
• Demonstrated executive presence, influence, and credibility, including the ability to lead discussions, challenge assumptions, and drive outcomes with senior leaders

• Prior experience in the insurance or financial services industry, including exposure to global regulatory frameworks
• Prior experience with government-facing litigation, government and/or internal investigations, and regulatory enforcement actions
• Demonstrated leadership and influence skills, including the ability to challenge constructively, persuade stakeholders, and drive alignment across functions
• Advanced drafting, negotiation, and analytical skills suited for executive level review and decision making

The expected salary range for this position is $159,900 - $213,200. This role may also be eligible for annual short-term incentive compensation and stock-based long-term incentives. All incentives and benefits are subject to the applicable plan terms.