Associate General Counsel

Associate General Counsel 

SFM – The Work Comp Experts

About SFM

Since 1983, our mission has been to be the workers’ compensation partner of choice for agents, employers and their workers. In that time, we’ve expanded to a little over 25,000 customers in the Midwest and grown our offerings to include vocational rehabilitation, loss prevention, medical services and more. Though much has changed through the years, our focus continues to be unrivaled customer service, safety, and providing better outcomes for employers and injured workers.  SFM is an employee centric organization, and we believe that your success is our success.  Our benefits are designed to help you navigate your professional and personal journey. Our core values are our guiding principles, and not simply words; SFM stresses the importance of taking care of the injured worker and our business customers.  

Work somewhere you love

SFM is unique in that we are small enough that your voice is heard, but has all the benefits and perks of a larger employer. We value your opinion, help you reach your goals, and make it easy for you to maintain work-life balance. Benefits include a flexible  work environment, health/dental insurance that includes supplemented dependent care coverage, generous PTO, student loan payback, a bonus program, 401k with match and much more!! Being able to work in a collaborative environment is key to being successful at SFM.  We believe that our exceptional and motivated employees are our greatest strength and we are committed to creating the best work environment to ensure your success. At SFM, the work you do truly makes a difference in people's lives. Apply today and discover why SFM employees choose to stay!!    

Our benefits include:

• Affordable Medical, Dental, Vision Insurance, HSA, FSA
• Flexible hybrid work environment
• Traditional and Roth 401(k) plans with company match
• Company contributions to help pay off student loans
• Monthly home internet allowance
• Free life insurance, STD & LTD
• Opportunities for annual gainshare bonus 
• Pet insurance
• Generous PTO
• 9 paid holidays 
• Paid parental leave
• Annual company-wide volunteer day
• Discounts on gym memberships, fitness apps and weight loss programs
• Adoption financial assistance

Visit our careers page to learn more about working at SFM.  

 The role

Work directly under and alongside the Chief Legal Officer to develop advanced legal expertise while taking ownership of complex transactional matters. This role offers significant professional growth through strategic collaboration on legal strategy and hands-on leadership of diverse corporate law initiatives. This position primarily focuses on transactional corporate law, including contract negotiation, M&A support, and commercial agreements, while providing broad legal counsel across the organization's diverse business needs.

Each day brings new challenges requiring agility and strategic thinking to support business leaders across our 34-state operation. You'll balance planned transactional projects with emerging legal issues that demand immediate attention and creative solutions.

What Makes This Role Unique:

• Growth-oriented partnership with the Chief Legal Officer on strategic legal initiatives
• Transactional leadership on complex commercial matters
• Dynamic problem-solving supporting business leaders across multiple states and business functions
• Broad exposure to insurance regulation, corporate governance, and emerging legal areas like AI compliance

What You'll Do

Legal Advisory and Transactional Leadership

• Provides proactive, pragmatic, service-focused legal advice serving as a trusted advisor to internal stakeholders on a wide variety of business law issues, including vendor relationships, employment law, litigation management and outside counsel oversight, collaboration with other company leaders on developing and maintaining internal guidance and policies.
• Drafts, reviews and negotiates a range of documents including service and vendor contracts, terms of use, data security and privacy policies, NDAs, and other corporate compliance materials.
• Provides legal support and strategic counsel on due diligence and integration processes relating to potential acquisitions and corporate transactions.

Public Policy and Regulatory Support

• Collaborates on public policy initiatives and advocacy efforts related to the Company’s multi-state workers’ compensation footprint.
• Advises on insurance legal and regulatory developments, particularly impacting workers’ compensation law and insurers, helping stakeholders stay current and in compliance with changing laws and regulations.
• Represents SFM in industry working groups, committees, and coalitions to provide leadership and mentorship on legal issues affecting workers’ compensation and the broader insurance legal landscape.

Corporate and Board Governance Support

• Coordinates with the Chief Legal Officer on board governance matters and best practices, assisting with corporate secretary functions.
• Provides strategic advice on entity management, corporate structure, and governance matters across SFM's affiliated entities, including formation, maintenance, and compliance with regulatory requirements for insurance and non-insurance entities.

What We'll Love About You

Education and Experience

• Juris Doctor Degree from an accredited law school; licensed to practice law in Minnesota.
• Eight or more years of legal advisory experience in complex commercial contracts and corporate transactions, including M&A matters; experience within insurance or similar regulated industries is a plus.

Knowledge and Skills 

• Strategic focus, with strong organizational skills and adaptability to manage diverse projects and evolving priorities. Thrives in a supportive team environment where varied challenges contribute to professional development and work-life balance is valued.
• Exceptional verbal and written communication skills.
• Self-starter with a passion for continuous learning and a service-focused approach to providing practical solutions.
• Proficient in leading projects and delegating tasks for successful outcomes.
• Well-versed in Microsoft Office Suite, Teams, contract management platforms, and legal technology systems, with openness to AI applications for enhanced transactional efficiency.
• Skilled negotiator with a talent for developing innovative solutions that balance legal risk with business objectives.
• Willingness to travel periodically and a valid driver’s license.
• Able to work in Bloomington office as needed.

 Physical Requirements: Regular attendance is required. Work takes place in a semi paperless environment within an office setting or home office, using standard office equipment such as computers, phones, and photocopiers, which requires being stationary for extended periods of time. While performing the duties of the job, the employee is regularly required to talk or hear, and maintain concentration and focus. The employee frequently is required to stand; walk; use hands and fingers, handle or feel; and reach with hands and arms and work with close vision. Occasional lifting (approximately 25 to 35 pounds). Ability to walk, climb stairs and climb ladders, work in high and precarious places,  bend stoop and crouch and wear personal protective equipment on policyholder sites as needed. Regularly exposed to different work environments which includes, but is not limited to dusty, noisy, cold, hot, agricultural environments and a variety of weather conditions

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The base pay posted is just one component of SFM’s total compensation package. The salary range listed represents the full compensation range for this position. Job title and starting pay will be based on the selected candidate’s relevant knowledge, skills, abilities and/or experience, and education, if applicable as well as internal equity with other employees in the same job classification.

The physical demands described here are representative of those that must be met by an employee to successfully perform the essential functions of this job.  Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.

 Join us!! 

 SFM Mutual Insurance Company and each of its parent companies, subsidiaries and/or affiliated companies are Equal Opportunity/Affirmative Action Employers. SFM provides equal employment opportunities to all employees and applicants for employment and prohibits discrimination and harassment of any type without regard to race, color, religion, age, sex, national origin, disability status, genetics, protected veteran status, status with regard to public assistance, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, or any other characteristic protected by federal, state or local laws.

 SFM Companies, EEO/AA Employers. SFM is a participant of E-Verify. Applicants have rights under Federal Employment Laws.