Senior Counsel

Zendesk•Madison, WI

1d•$259,000 - $389,000•Hybrid

About The Position

Join us at Zendesk, where we're on a mission to power exceptional service for every person on the planet. We're accelerating that ambition by building products rooted in AI, automation, and intelligent customer experiences, because behind every interaction lies an opportunity to make a human connection. Outstanding candidates will be considered outside of office locations for a fully remote role. We’re seeking a proactive and entrepreneurial Senior Product Counsel to support our global AI products. In this role, you will enable growth and mitigate risk for a technology platform that is leading in the AI transformation space. You'll dive deep into cutting-edge technology, navigate fast-moving global regulatory obligations, and spearhead customer trust initiatives. Reporting into our Director of Product, Privacy, and IP, you partner with our top-tier product managers, engineers, and security professionals, and become a trusted leader at the company. Our legal team is practical and business-minded, and it is crucial that our work not only mitigates risk but enables growth and drives customer adoption. At Zendesk, we value innovation and collaboration. Join us and shape the future of AI!

Requirements

7+ years of legal experience, with at least 3+ years in-house, preferably at a global technology company
Licensed to practice law in your jurisdiction
Strong understanding of the global regulatory environment, ideally with experience applying the EU AI Act, GDPR, CCPA, and HIPAA.
A track record of building trust with product and engineering teams by combining legal expertise, data-driven analysis, and practical problem-solving.
The ability to see the big picture and prioritize impactful, practical ways to support company goals.
Decisive and action-oriented. Single-owner mentality, excelling in project execution and moving complex initiatives to completion even amidst uncertainty.
Ability to prioritize and manage multiple projects in a fast-paced environment while effectively adjusting strategies in response to shifting priorities, legal developments, and evolving risk tolerance.
Proven ability to prioritize and manage multiple projects in a fast-paced environment, adjusting strategies as company goals, legal landscapes, and risk tolerances evolve.
Strong communication and relationship-building skills, with the ability to work cross-functionally when necessary. Adept at collaborating and respecting subject-matter experts, without relying on other teams to make product legal decisions.
Interest in continuously learning and growing; no task is too big or small.

Nice To Haves

Experience advising AI and/or software product development teams
Experience and interest in using AI technology to optimize processes and solve problems

Responsibilities

Provide Strategic Guidance: Balance legal expertise with creative problem-solving to deliver risk-calibrated advice to our business leaders. Make decisions quickly and efficiently to advance company goals, without getting sidetracked by low risk issues or bureaucracy.
Shape AI Strategy & Compliance: Navigate complex issues around building and selling AI software, such as: how to price and sell it; how to comply with an evolving global patchwork of AI safety laws (including building and executing actionable compliance plans); how to comply with longstanding global privacy laws (while collaborating with stellar privacy colleagues); and how to meet customer needs).
Empower Sales & Marketing: Support AI trust and customer enablement initiatives. Collaborate with Commercial Legal to leverage compliance as a tool to accelerate customer deals.
Engage with Regulators and Industry Groups: Act as a key liaison with relevant AI regulatory authorities when needed, and collaborate with industry groups to develop regulatory engagement goals and strategy.
Foster Internal Innovation: Champion AI adoption within the legal department. Apply technology creatively to improve legal review processes, efficiently identify risks, and enable rapid innovation.
Educate & Communicate: Translate complex legal requirements—for both AI development and internal usage—into clear, actionable insights for company leadership and stakeholders.
Mentor & Lead: Guide junior colleagues, fostering overall team growth and development.