Product Counsel, ERISA & Operations

Human Interest is on a mission to ensure that people in all lines of work have access to retirement benefits. 

More than half of all working Americans are not saving enough for their future. Too often, it’s because they are employed by a company that doesn’t offer a retirement plan. Human Interest is changing that by making it affordable and accessible for small and medium-sized businesses to offer employees a path to financial independence through retirement savings.

We’re a high-growth fintech company changing the retirement industry. We are backed by a number of investors. This includes funding from Marshall Wace and Baillie Gifford, as well as top investors such as BlackRock, TPG (The Rise Fund), SoftBank, Glynn Capital, NewView Capital, USVP, Wing, Uncork, and more.

About the role

In this role, you will be the in-house ERISA expert for Human Interest, applying deep substantive expertise to the ERISA, IRC, and fiduciary obligations inherent in operating a 401(k) recordkeeping platform . The role sits at the intersection of ERISA, technology, and operations. You'll be part of a legal team helping a growth-stage company expand access to retirement plans for small and mid-market employers, making it easier for the businesses that need 401(k) plans to offer them.

You will have two primary internal clients: (1) the teams that work directly with plan sponsors and participants, and (2) the product team responsible for building our features and products.  You will bring legal rigor, practical judgment, and the ability to translate applicable regulatory frameworks into actionable guidance. You need to be comfortable applying your expertise in an environment where automated workflows and payroll integrations support the underlying ERISA requirements that govern recordkeeping. 

Human Interest's legal team uses AI tools to work efficiently and deliver high-quality legal work. This role will not be a good fit if you are not already familiar with and using AI tools in your daily work.

What you get to do every day

Your work spans two primary internal audiences: the teams that work directly with our customers, and the product team that builds the platform. Across both, you'll apply ERISA fiduciary, qualification, and disclosure expertise to live business questions.

• Serve as the Front-Line Legal Advisor to Customer-Facing Teams: Be the go-to ERISA resource for the internal teams that work directly with plan sponsors and participants — providing real-time, practical legal guidance on the ERISA, IRC, and fiduciary questions that surface as customers interact with the platform. This work spans the full customer lifecycle, from new plans coming onto the platform to ongoing administration and customer retention. Day to day, this includes:
• Advising on complex plan sponsor or participant questions that internal teams cannot resolve on their own
• Working through fact patterns where automation, plan terms, or customer expectations don't align, and determining the right ERISA-defensible course of action
• Helping internal teams navigate ERISA-driven constraints when responding to time-sensitive customer matters, including matters requiring EPCRS analysis, anti-cutback considerations under IRC §411(d)(6), or participant disclosure obligations
• Advising on when a new or updated fee disclosure is required under ERISA §408(b)(2), §404(a)(5), or related rules, and on the substantive content
• Reviewing participant-facing communications, SPDs, SMMs, and plan sponsor disclosures for ERISA compliance, including both the content of individual disclosures and the automated workflows that generate them  
• Translating technical ERISA conclusions into plain-language guidance that internal teams can confidently deliver to customers
• Serve as the ERISA SME for Product: Be the go-to ERISA resource for the product team as they design and build new features. This is on-call SME work — you'll be brought in for discrete ERISA questions as they come up in product development, rather than partnering across the full lifecycle of a feature. This includes:
• Translating ERISA and IRC requirements into clear guidance product managers and engineers can build against
• Pressure-testing how proposed automation handles edge cases
• Flagging when a feature would trigger different 3(16), 3(21), or 3(38) fiduciary duties — and helping the team decide the best path forward
• Synthesizing intelligence from customer matters — what they reveal about platform limitations, edge cases, and systemic gaps — and bringing that back to the product team to drive durable product improvements

Across both workstreams, you'll stay current on legislative, regulatory, and judicial developments affecting qualified retirement plans, and advise operations, customer support, and product teams on changes that affect how the platform operates or how the company counsels its customers. You'll also draft and maintain internal policies, procedures, legal guidance, and educational resources that help these teams apply ERISA requirements consistently.

What you bring to the role

• ERISA Expert: You bring deep, substantive expertise in ERISA — particularly the fiduciary duty, prohibited transaction, and qualified plan rules that govern 401(k) recordkeeping and fiduciary services. You are recognized as a technical authority on these issues, not a generalist who handles ERISA among other things. Your expertise is the foundation on which everything else in this role depends.
• Business-Minded Advisor: You have direct experience providing ERISA advice in operational and product contexts and demonstrate excellent judgment. You bring a strong sense of ownership to complex matters, including time-sensitive plan administration questions that require both technical rigor and practical resolution, and you're skilled at exercising sound judgment in nuanced situations.
• AI-Fluent: You actively use modern AI tools in your legal work — for research, drafting, summarization, and analysis — and you bring thoughtful judgment about where AI accelerates the work and where human expertise remains essential. You see AI as a way to do better, faster work, not as a replacement for substantive legal judgment.
• Cross-Functional Partner: You work collaboratively and strategically across teams, building cross-functional relationships with product managers, engineers, and operations leaders. You explain complex ERISA issues with clarity in writing and in meetings to a variety of audiences, and your written work — product guidance, decision documents, and legal analyses — holds up to regulator scrutiny.

Qualifications

• Experience:
• 5–8 years of substantive ERISA experience focused on qualified retirement plans and fiduciary matters (including 401(k), 403(b), and IRA plans)
• Of those years, a minimum of two must be at a law firm practicing in this area
• Demonstrated experience with qualified plan operational compliance, including EPCRS and the correction principles that apply to qualified retirement plans
• Working knowledge of ERISA fiduciary duty and prohibited transaction rules as they apply to plan administration and service provider arrangements
• Experience advising non-legal business teams on ERISA issues in real time, including translating technical legal conclusions into actionable guidance
• Subject Matter Knowledge: Strong working knowledge of ERISA fiduciary duty and prohibited transaction rules and the IRC qualification rules applicable to 401(k) plans.
• Licensure: Admitted to the bar and in good standing, or otherwise authorized to practice law (e.g., registered in-house status) in any state.

Nice to Haves

• In-house experience at a recordkeeper, TPA, fintech, or trust company
• Direct experience with 3(16), 3(21), or 3(38) fiduciary operations at a recordkeeper or TPA
• Experience providing ERISA input on product, operational, or technology decisions — whether at a recordkeeper, TPA, fintech, plan sponsor, or in a law firm advising clients of that type

Why you will love working at Human Interest

Human Interest is tackling one of our country's biggest challenges - closing the retirement gap. You'll be instrumental in architecting and scaling solutions that bring financial security to employees at small and medium-sized businesses nationwide. We’ve made significant progress, but there is still growth ahead, offering you a unique opportunity to solve complex problems, drive innovation, and advance your career alongside a dedicated, mission-driven team. We value hard work and recognize that our team's contributions are key to our continued success.

Join Human Interest and make a lasting impact by shaping the future of retirement.

Our operating principles define how we work together as a team. They reflect Human Interest’s unique view on what’s important and what’s right. Documenting this core aspect of our culture helps employees make good decisions on their own. It also helps candidates considering career opportunities critically evaluate whether they will thrive at Human Interest. 

• Customer obsession: We're all about creating amazing experiences for our customers. We put their needs first and go the extra mile to make them smile.
• Long-Term Orientation: We're not just playing for today; we're building a legacy. We think big, plan strategically, and invest in our future.
• Autonomous and Accountable Teams: We trust our team members to take ownership and make smart decisions. We empower you to be your best self!
• An Escalating Bar for Talent and Performance: We're constantly raising the bar and challenging ourselves to be better. We believe in growth and continuous improvement.
• Fundamental Optimism: We see the glass as half full (and then we fill it up with more amazing ideas!). We believe in the power of positivity and the potential for greatness.

Compensation - At Human Interest, there are a number of factors that are used to determine the appropriate pay range for each position. We take into account the cost of labor for each position in various markets across the U.S. The base salary for this position spans $170,000 - $210,000 annually and represents the minimum in our lowest geographic region to a maximum in our highest geographic region. The salary we offer to a new employee within this range is based on their location within the U.S., their relevant job-related skills, and experience. At Human Interest, base salary is one component of the overall total rewards package. Depending on the position, additional compensation components such as bonuses, commissions, and equity may be offered. All of our employees are offered a robust suite of physical, financial, and mental wellness benefits. In compliance with applicable laws, we do not inquire about salary history, or about criminal history prior to a conditional offer of employment.

Benefits - 

• A great 401(k) plan: Our own! Our 401(k) includes a dollar-for-dollar employer match up to 4% of compensation (immediately vested) and $0 plan fees
• Top-of-the-line health plans, as well as dental and vision insurance
• Competitive time off and parental leave
• Addition Wealth:  Unlimited access to digital tools, financial professionals, and a knowledge center to help you understand your equity and support your financial wellness
• Lyra: Enhanced Mental Health Support for Employees and dependents  
• Carrot: Fertility healthcare and family forming benefits
• Candidly:  Student loan resource to help you and your family plan, borrow, and repay student debt
• Monthly work-from-home stipend; quarterly lifestyle stipend
• Engaging team-building experiences, ranging from virtual social events to team offsites, promoting collaboration and camaraderie.

We’re a great place to work (but don’t take our word for it) 

Here’s a list of our awards and accolades:

• Certified as a Great Place To Work® (2023-2025)
• Fortune Best Place to Work in the Bay Area (2024)
• Best Places to Work by Built In (2023-2024)
• America’s Best Startup Employers by Forbes (2020-2022, 2024) 
• A Top Company by Y Combinator (2020-2023)
• Inc. Fastest Growing Companies (2021)

Human Interest is an equal opportunity employer. All applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, gender, gender identity or expression, sexual orientation, national origin, genetics, disability, age, veteran or military status, pregnancy, or any other characteristics protected under federal, state, or local laws. Employment with Human Interest is at-will, meaning either you or the company may terminate employment at any time, with or without cause or notice, except as otherwise provided by law or written agreement.

We are committed to making every stage of our application process fully accessible to all individuals. If you need a reasonable accommodation at any point in the process, please let us know at applicantaccommodations@humaninterest.com.

Protect yourself against fraud and identity theft. Apply to our open positions directly via our careers page on Greenhouse. Human Interest will never ask applicants for their financial or banking information as part of our application process. All legitimate communication will come from a @humaninterest.com email address. If you have questions, please reach out to us directly at careers@humaninterest.com

Please note Human Interest does not accept unsolicited resumes from any source other than directly from candidates. We will not consider resumes from vendors, including and without limitation search firms, staffing agencies, fee-based referral services, and recruiting agencies. 

Pursuant to the San Francisco Fair Chance Ordinance, we will consider employment-qualified applicants with arrest and conviction records. We comply with CCPA guidelines.

See more: https://humaninterest.com/disclosures