Sr. Managing Counsel - Executive Compensation & Benefits

Company Description

Visa is a world leader in payments and technology, with over 259 billion payments transactions flowing safely between consumers, merchants, financial institutions, and government entities in more than 200 countries and territories each year. Our mission is to connect the world through the most innovative, convenient, reliable, and secure payments network, enabling individuals, businesses, and economies to thrive while driven by a common purpose – to uplift everyone, everywhere by being the best way to pay and be paid.

Make an impact with a purpose-driven industry leader. Join us today and experience Life at Visa.

Job Description

The Senior Managing Counsel, Executive Compensation and Benefits, will serve as a strategic legal advisor to Visa’s executive leadership, Compensation Committee, and Total Rewards team. This role ensures legal compliance and governance across all compensation and benefits programs globally, with a focus on executive compensation, equity, retirement, and health and welfare plans. This role reports to our SVP, Chief Counsel, People, Corporate Responsibility & Communications. In addition, this role provides legal and governance support to Visa Foundation. 
 
Key responsibilities:   

• Prepare materials for Compensation Committee meetings; provide legal counsel on executive pay disclosures, shareholder engagement, and executive compensation governance trends. Draft and coordinate executive compensation disclosures in annual proxy statement. 

• Counsel senior executives on executive compensation matters including legislative, regulatory, and governance developments, including Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC), Internal Revenue Service (IRS), and stock exchange requirements.   

• Advise on shareholder advisory firm and investor policies in the area of executive compensation and participate in shareholder engagement relating to the Company's executive compensation practices. 

• Partner with senior leadership to shape and implement global compensation and benefits strategies that align with Visa’s business objectives and regulatory requirements, including design, implementation, and maintenance of global compensation and benefit programs.   

• Advise the Company on design, governance, and legal compliance issues relating to compensation and benefit plans, including retirement, non-qualified deferred compensation, severance, health and welfare, wellness, and global equity and employee stock purchase plans.  Draft and review legal documents concerning employee benefit plans, including plan amendments, summary plan descriptions, annual reports, participant communications, and vendor agreements.

Advise on compliance with ERISA, COBRA, HIPAA, 409A, and other applicable IRS/DOL and regulatory requirements, as well as executive hires and separations. 

Counsel, prepare materials for, and serve as recording secretary for the Company's retirement plan fiduciary committee.   

Support due diligence and integration efforts related to M&A and other corporate transactions.   

Support grants, impact investments, governance, and other legal needs of Visa Foundation.  

This is a hybrid position. Expectation of days in office will be confirmed by your Hiring Manager.

Qualifications

Qualifications:  

• JD or PhD (Doctorate)

• 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 company  

• Bar membership in good standing  

Preferred skills  

• Public company in-house experience  

 

Additional Information

Work Hours: Varies upon the needs of the department.

Travel Requirements: This position requires travel 5-10% of the time.

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.

Visa is an EEO Employer.  Qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, national origin, sexual orientation, gender identity, disability or protected veteran status.  Visa will also consider for employment qualified applicants with criminal histories in a manner consistent with EEOC guidelines and applicable local law.

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

U.S. APPLICANTS ONLY: The estimated salary range for a new hire into this position is $243,600 to $380,650 USD per year, which may include potential sales incentive payments (if applicable). Salary may vary depending on job-related factors which may include knowledge, skills, experience, and location. In addition, this position may be eligible for bonus and equity. Visa has a comprehensive benefits package for which this position may be eligible that includes Medical, Dental, Vision, 401 (k), FSA/HSA, Life Insurance, Paid Time Off, and Wellness Program.

Client-provided location(s): San Francisco, CA

Job ID: 07686765-a6db-466b-b3f4-2296edddd344

Employment Type: OTHER

Posted: 2025-08-20T23:58:07