Legal and Compliance Program Manager
Milwaukee, WI
Updated: April 24
About the Role
The Legal and Compliance Program Manager serves as an advisor to Baird Trust, providing both legal counsel and compliance support for the trust company’s fiduciary, regulatory, and business objectives. This role goes beyond advisory compliance guidance to include the delivery of legal advice, drafting and negotiation of agreements, statutory and regulatory interpretation, and direct engagement with auditors and regulators in all aspects of an exam. Working closely with business leadership, Risk, and Legal colleagues across Baird, this role helps ensure the trust company operates in a compliant, well-governed, and risk-aware manner while supporting strategic business initiatives.
This role may require some travel and is expected to be in-office a minimum of 3 days per week in either our Louisville, KY or Milwaukee, WI office.
The Impact You’ll Make
Provide compliance and legal advice to the trust company and business partners on fiduciary, regulatory, and securities matters
Draft, review, and negotiate agreements, including trust-related contracts, vendor agreements, and regulatory documents; develop and maintain standard templates
Review and implement new and existing statutes, rules and regulations
Assist with audits and regulatory exams including both compiling responsive documentation and engaging in legal analysis, position-taking, and interpretation of applicable laws and regulations
Partner with business leadership to identify, assess, and mitigate compliance, legal and regulatory risk while enabling business objectives
Oversee and enhance the trust company’s compliance framework, policies, and procedures in alignment with legal requirements
Compliance monitoring including account reviews, marketing reviews and general oversight.
Collaborate with enterprise Legal, Risk, and Compliance teams to ensure consistent interpretation and application of regulatory standards
Support governance activities, including board and committee materials, regulatory filings, and internal reporting
Act as a trusted advisor to leadership on complex or high-risk issues affecting trust operations and strategy
What You'll Bring to Baird
Juris Doctor (J.D.) degree
Active license to practice law
At least 1 year of experience in legal, compliance, or regulatory roles within financial services, trust companies, banking, or fiduciary environments
Demonstrated experience providing legal advice and interfacing directly with regulators
Key Skills / Qualifications
Knowledge of trust, fiduciary, and financial services regulations strongly preferred
Proven ability to draft, review, and negotiate complex agreements
Strong statutory and regulatory interpretation skills with sound legal judgment
Experience leading regulatory responses and examinations from a legal perspective
Ability to communicate complex legal concepts clearly to non-legal stakeholders
Strong partnership mindset with the ability to balance risk management and business enablement
High level of professionalism, integrity, and discretion
#LI-TA1
Baird is committed to diversity and provides employment opportunities to all employees and applicants for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, pregnancy, citizenship, national origin, age, disability, military service, veteran status, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, genetic information, or any other status protected by law.
About the Role. The Legal and Compliance Program Manager serves as an advisor to Baird Trust, providing both legal counsel and compliance support for the trust company’s fiduciary, regulatory, and business objectives. This role goes beyond advisory compliance guidance to include the delivery of legal advice, drafting and negotiation of agreements, statutory and regulatory interpretation, and direct engagement with auditors and regulators in all aspects of an exam. Working closely with business leadership, Risk, and Legal colleagues across Baird, this role helps ensure the trust company operates in a compliant, well-governed, and risk-aware manner while supporting strategic business initiatives. This role may require some travel and is expected to be in-office a minimum of 3 days per week in either our Louisville, KY or Milwaukee, WI office. The Impact You’ll Make. Provide compliance and legal advice to the trust company and business partners on fiduciary, regulatory, and securities matters. Draft, review, and negotiate agreements, including trust-related contracts, vendor agreements, and regulatory documents; develop and maintain standard templates. Review and implement new and existing statutes, rules and regulations. Assist with audits and regulatory exams including both compiling responsive documentation and engaging in legal analysis, position-taking, and interpretation of applicable laws and regulations. Partner with business leadership to identify, assess, and mitigate compliance, legal and regulatory risk while enabling business objectives. Oversee and enhance the trust company’s compliance framework, policies, and procedures in alignment with legal requirements. Compliance monitoring including account reviews, marketing reviews and general oversight. Collaborate with enterprise Legal, Risk, and Compliance teams to ensure consistent interpretation and application of regulatory standards. Support governance activities, including board and committee materials, regulatory filings, and internal reporting. Act as a trusted advisor to leadership on complex or high-risk issues affecting trust operations and strategy. What You'll Bring to Baird. Juris Doctor (J. D.) degree. Active license to practice law. At least 1 year of experience in legal, compliance, or regulatory roles within financial services, trust companies, banking, or fiduciary environments. Demonstrated experience providing legal advice and interfacing directly with regulators. Key Skills / Qualifications. Knowledge of trust, fiduciary, and financial services regulations strongly preferred. Proven ability to draft, review, and negotiate complex agreements. Strong statutory and regulatory interpretation skills with sound legal judgment. Experience leading regulatory responses and examinations from a legal perspective. Ability to communicate complex legal concepts clearly to non-legal stakeholders. Strong partnership mindset with the ability to balance risk management and business enablement. High level of professionalism, integrity, and discretion#LI-TA 1
search terms: Program Manager+Legal
Local Job Bulletin is an independent Job Search Engine. Local Job Bulletin is not endorsed, sponsored or affiliated with the actual employer of the job. All trademarks, service marks, logos, domain names, and job descriptions are the property of their respective holder.
Local Job Bulletin is an independent Job Search Engine. Local Job Bulletin is not an agent or representative and is not endorsed, sponsored or affiliated with any employer. Local Job Bulletin uses proprietary technology to keep the availability and accuracy of its job listings and their details. All trademarks, service marks, logos, domain names, job descriptions and other company descriptions / details are the property of their respective holder. Local Job Bulletin does not have its users apply for a job on the LocalJobBulletin.com website. Additionally, Local Job Bulletin may provide a list of third-party job listings that may not be affiliated with any employer. Please make sure you understand and agree to the website's Terms & Conditions and Privacy Policies you are applying on as they may differ from ours and are not in our control.;