Chief Legal Officer

PRM Consulting Group is conducting an executive search for a Chief Legal Officer (Executive I) on Behalf on the Police and Firemen's Retirement System of New Jersey (PFRSNJ).

Interested candidates may email resume and inquiries in confidence to: PRM Consulting ***email_hidden***

Police and Firemen’s Retirement System of New Jersey (PFRSNJ)

The Police and Firemen’s Retirement System of New Jersey (PFRSNJ) is seeking a seasoned legal executive to serve as its next Chief Legal Officer (CLO) — the senior legal authority and principal advisor to the Board of Trustees and Executive Director.

This is a rare opportunity to lead the full legal enterprise of a major public retirement system serving New Jersey’s police officers and firefighters — safeguarding fiduciary integrity, strengthening governance, and shaping the legal framework that supports retirement security across the State.

The position offers a comprehensive State of New Jersey benefits package.

The RoleReporting directly to the Executive Director, the CLO serves as:Chief legal advisor to the Board of TrusteesLead authority on pension benefits law and fiduciary governanceStrategic legal architect for legislative, regulatory, and policy initiativesDirector of all litigation and appellate advocacyOversight authority for Board Counsel, Ethics Officer, and outside counsel

This position carries executive-level responsibility for legal interpretation, risk management, ethics compliance, procurement integrity, and public accountability — consistent with Chapter 55 governance requirements.

Core Areas of LeadershipPension & Labor Law ExpertiseServe as the legal authority on pension statutes, disability and service credit determinations, forfeiture matters, benefit appeals, and union-related retirement issues — maintaining fiduciary independence while navigating complex labor dynamics.Legislative & Regulatory StrategyDraft and negotiate legislation and amendments affecting public retirement systems (including Title 43), lead regulatory development under the Administrative Procedure Act, and provide technical guidance to legislative and executive stakeholders.Litigation & Appellate AdvocacyDirect and oversee administrative, trial-level, and appellate litigation — including high-profile and precedential retirement system cases — in coordination with the Office of the Attorney General and outside counsel.Governance & Ethics OversightAdvise the Board of Trustees and its committees on fiduciary duties, governance authority, ethics compliance, OPRA matters, and statutory independence. Supervise Board Counsel and the Ethics Officer to ensure consistent, legally sound decision-making.Executive Legal OperationsLead internal legal staff and manage outside counsel engagement, strategy, performance, and cost controls. Establish risk management, compliance, and document retention frameworks that protect the System’s integrity.

Required QualificationsJuris Doctor (J.D.) from an accredited law schoolAdmission to practice law in the State of New JerseyMinimum 12 years of progressively responsible legal experience, including:Public pension or retirement system lawPublic labor relations and union-related mattersLegislative and regulatory draftingComplex litigation and appellate advocacy

Preferred ExperienceAdvising or representing a public pension fund or governmental entityHigh-profile public retirement system litigationSupervising legal professionals or ethics functionsDrafting legislation, regulations, and formal legal opinions affecting public retirement systems

Why This Role MattersThis is more than a chief counsel position. It is a leadership role at the intersection of fiduciary stewardship, public accountability, and constitutional governance.

The Chief Legal Officer ensures that the retirement promises made to New Jersey’s police officers and firefighters are administered with integrity, independence, and legal precision. If you are a strategic legal leader with deep public sector experience and a commitment to principled governance, we invite you to apply.

Foreign Degrees:Degrees and/or transcripts issued by a college or university outside of the United States must be evaluated for accreditation by a reputable evaluation service at your expense and must be included in your application submission by the closing date.

Residency:In accordance with the New Jersey First Act, P.L. 2011, c.70, requires all employees to reside in the State of New Jersey, unless otherwise exempted under the law. If you do not live in New Jersey, you have one year from the date of appointment to relocate and maintain residence in New Jersey. For more information, visit:

Work Authorization:Selected candidates must be authorized to work within the United States in accordance with United States Citizenship and Immigration Services and the Department of Homeland Security regulations.The State of New Jersey does not permit nor provide sponsorships. Individuals on student visas such as F1, J1, CPT, OPT, CPT, and H1B visas are not eligible for employment.

Executive I | Reports to the Executive Director | Senior Advisor to the Board of TrusteesPFRSNJ is an equal opportunity employer. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, disability, status as a protected veteran, or any other status protected by applicable federal law. This posting is an announcement of a vacant position under recruitment. It is not intended to replace the official job description. Job descriptions are available upon confirmation of an interview.