Role purpose:
You are a strategic thinker with deep expertise in corporate law, governance and leadership, ready to lead and inspire a world-class legal team. As the General Counsel & Company Secretary, reporting directly to the CFO/COO, you will serve as a trusted advisor to the executive team and Board, ensuring legal, regulatory and governance excellence across all aspects of the company’s operations.
In this role, you’ll oversee the company’s global legal strategy while guiding a high-performing team, including the Directors of Legal (Commercial and Product & Privacy). You will be pivotal in managing corporate governance frameworks, supporting the Board and its committees and advising on critical business decisions, capital raisings, acquisitions, and complex contractual arrangements.
Your leadership will shape a forward-thinking, collaborative legal function that enables the business to thrive in a fast-paced SaaS environment. With a strong focus on privacy, regulatory compliance and commercial legal matters, you’ll also champion innovation in legal operations to build efficiency, resilience and scalability.
This is a rare opportunity to blend your passion for law, corporate governance and leadership in a globally impactful role. While based in Australia, you’ll work closely with teams across North America and EMEA to deliver practical, business-focused solutions. Experience in SaaS or HR tech, coupled with a proven track record of advising senior stakeholders, will set you apart in this critical leadership position.
Duties and responsibilities (Accountabilities):
- Lead and oversee the company’s legal strategy, ensuring alignment with business objectives and risk management priorities.
- Serve as Company Secretary, supporting the board and its committees with governance frameworks, compliance, and meeting statutory obligations.
- Provide strategic legal counsel to the executive leadership team on complex issues, including corporate transactions and capital raises, regulatory compliance, and commercial contracts.
- Manage and mentor the Directors of Legal (Commercial and Product & Privacy) to foster a high-performing, collaborative legal team and guide the broader legal functions to service excellence.
- Drive the development and implementation of scalable legal operations processes, leveraging technology to enhance efficiency and resilience.
- Oversee the company’s global privacy strategy, ensuring compliance with data protection regulations and supporting privacy-first product initiatives.
- Be the legal lead on strategic initiatives, such as mergers, acquisitions, partnerships and capital raises, ensuring risks are managed effectively.
- Partner with cross-functional teams (e.g., Technology, Security, HR) to address emerging legal and regulatory challenges in SaaS and HR tech.
- Monitor changes in corporate, privacy, and technology law, advising stakeholders on potential impacts and opportunities.
- Champion a culture of trust and resilience, balancing proactive risk mitigation with enabling innovation and business growth.
- Represent the company in external negotiations, regulatory matters, and key stakeholder engagements.
Qualifications, experience and knowledge required
- Extensive experience in corporate law, governance, and commercial legal matters, ideally in-house within SaaS or technology-driven industries.
- Proven track record in advising boards and executive teams on complex legal, compliance, and regulatory issues.
- Expertise in corporate governance, including supporting boards, committees, and shareholder matters.
- Strong knowledge of global data privacy laws and regulatory frameworks (e.g., GDPR, CCPA, and Australian Privacy Act), with experience implementing privacy strategies.
- Demonstrated ability to lead and mentor senior legal professionals, fostering a high-performing and collaborative team culture.
- Experience managing large-scale transactions, such as mergers, acquisitions, and strategic partnerships, from legal and risk perspectives.
- Proficiency in developing and scaling legal operations processes, including leveraging technology to enhance efficiency and compliance.
- Strong drafting skills, with the ability to create precise and accessible documentation, including contracts, policies, and governance materials.
- A proven ability to balance risk management with enabling business innovation and growth.
- Exceptional communication, judgment, and stakeholder management skills, with the ability to influence at the highest levels.
- Experience working in dynamic, fast-paced environments, with the adaptability to navigate ambiguity and change.
- Admission to practice law in Australia, with additional international qualifications (e.g., U.S. or U.K.) considered a plus.
- A deep understanding of the SaaS industry, with experience supporting HR or technology product-related legal matters as a significant advantage.
