As the world’s leader in digital payments technology, Visa’s mission is to connect the world through the most creative, reliable and secure payment network - enabling individuals, businesses, and economies to thrive. Our advanced global processing network, VisaNet, provides secure and reliable payments around the world, and is capable of handling more than 65,000 transaction messages a second. The company’s dedication to innovation drives the rapid growth of connected commerce on any device, and fuels the dream of a cashless future for everyone, everywhere. As the world moves from analog to digital, Visa is applying our brand, products, people, network and scale to reshape the future of commerce.

At Visa, your individuality fits right in. Working here gives you an opportunity to impact the world, invest in your career growth, and be part of an inclusive and diverse workplace. We are a global team of disruptors, trailblazers, innovators and risk-takers who are helping drive economic growth in even the most remote parts of the world, creatively moving the industry forward, and doing meaningful work that brings financial literacy and digital commerce to millions of unbanked and underserved consumers.

You’re an Individual. We’re the team for you. Together, let’s transform the way the world pays.

Description:

The Senior Counsel, Executive Compensation and Benefits will provide specialized legal support and expertise in the areas of compensation, including executive compensation, equity/stock, tax, market data and market trends, as well as more general benefits-related compliance issues. This position will report to our VP, Employment & Social Impact. In addition, this position will work very closely with the SVP, Total Rewards and SVPs in Strategy supporting the work of the Visa Foundation and Social Impact team.

Key priorities listed below:

• Advise the Company on legal compliance issues arising out of the design, implementation, compliance and governance of tax qualified and ERISA welfare plans, pension and 401(k) retirement plans and non-qualified retirement plans, executive compensation plans, deferred compensation plans, severance plans, fringe benefit plans and broad-based international equity plans, employee stock purchase plans, and health and welfare plans

• Partner with and support the SVP, Total Rewards in designing, modifying, implementing and maintaining Visa's Global Compensation programs

• Draft and review legal documents concerning employee benefit plans including summary plan descriptions, annual reports, participant communications and vendor agreements

• Analyze health, welfare and wellness plan matters to ensure compliance with ERISA, the Affordable Care Act, COBRA, and HIPAA

• Provide guidance on IRC 409A and 162m issues, as well as executive hires and separations

• Counsel and prepare materials for and serve as recording secretary for the Company's Pension Benefits Committee for its retirement and pension plans

• Advise and work with various senior level business partners, including Human Resources, Finance and Tax, concerning employee benefit plan matters

• Negotiate and review agreements with third party administrators and vendors providing services to the Company's health, welfare and retirement plans

• Counsel senior executives and members of the Board of Directors including the Compensation Committee on executive compensation matters including: legislative, regulatory and governance developments and initiatives regarding executive compensation, including Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC), Department of Labor, and stock exchange requirements

• Advise on ISS/Glass Lewis and investor policies in the area of executive compensation and participate in shareholder engagement relating to the Company's executive compensation practices

• Work with Legal, Human Resources and Investor Relations to ensure compliance with benefits-related laws and proper reporting to external agencies for mandatory reporting purposes to ensure regulatory compliance, for example 8-K, 10-K, S-8, etc. as required

• Conduct annual legal risk assessment of the Company's compensation programs, including annual bonus plans, long-term incentive plans and sales incentive plans to ensure that the construct of these plans complies with Visa's Code of Business Conduct and Ethics.

• Work with Legal and HR teams to support preparation of meeting materials, including Compensation Committee meetings

• Partner with Total Rewards team on various on-going projects as well as during annual enrollment and the annual compensation cycle, in particular with regard to the Executive Committee and long term incentive awards, to ensure legal compliance

• Partner with Total Rewards team to prepare compensation recommendations for Executive Committee positions, analyze, and update the salary range structure for executive level positions, as necessary.

• Support the legal needs of the Visa Foundation

• Provide legal advice and support to the Social Impact team

Basic Qualifications:

• 10 years of work experience with an Advanced degree (e.g. Masters/MBA/JD/MD); or a minimum of 5 years of work experience with a PhD

Preferred Qualifications:

• Doctorate Degree/JD

• A minimum of ten (10) years of professional experience

• Deep subject matter expertise in Employee Benefits and Executive Compensation 

• Experience providing advice to publicly held companies

• Experience advising the compensation committee at a publicly held entity

• Bar membership in good standing

• Public company in-house experience

   

Work Hours:

• Varies upon the needs of the department

Travel Requirements:

• Up to 10% percent travel

Mental/Physical Requirements:

• This position will be performed in an office setting.  The position will require the incumbent to sit and stand at a desk, communicate in person and by telephone, frequently operate standard office equipment, such as telephones and computers, reach with hands and arms, and bend or lift up to 25 pounds.

Visa will consider for employment qualified applicants with criminal histories in a manner consistent with the requirements of Article 49 of the San Francisco Police Code.

All your information will be kept confidential according to EEO guidelines.