Sr Director, Legal Counsel

PayPal•San Jose, CA

1d•$244,000 - $398,750•Hybrid

About The Position

The Company PayPal has been revolutionizing commerce globally for more than 25 years. Creating innovative experiences that make moving money, selling, and shopping simple, personalized, and secure, PayPal empowers consumers and businesses in approximately 200 markets to join and thrive in the global economy. We operate a global, two-sided network at scale that connects hundreds of millions of merchants and consumers. We help merchants and consumers connect, transact, and complete payments, whether they are online or in person. PayPal is more than a connection to third-party payment networks. We provide proprietary payment solutions accepted by merchants that enable the completion of payments on our platform on behalf of our customers. We offer our customers the flexibility to use their accounts to purchase and receive payments for goods and services, as well as the ability to transfer and withdraw funds. We enable consumers to exchange funds more safely with merchants using a variety of funding sources, which may include a bank account, a PayPal or Venmo account balance, PayPal and Venmo branded credit products, a credit card, a debit card, certain cryptocurrencies, or other stored value products such as gift cards, and eligible credit card rewards. Our PayPal, Venmo, and Xoom products also make it safer and simpler for friends and family to transfer funds to each other. We offer merchants an end-to-end payments solution that provides authorization and settlement capabilities, as well as instant access to funds and payouts. We also help merchants connect with their customers, process exchanges and returns, and manage risk. We enable consumers to engage in cross-border shopping and merchants to extend their global reach while reducing the complexity and friction involved in enabling cross-border trade. Our beliefs are the foundation for how we conduct business every day. We live each day guided by our core values of Inclusion, Innovation, Collaboration, and Wellness. Together, our values ensure that we work together as one global team with our customers at the center of everything we do – and they push us to ensure we take care of ourselves, each other, and our communities. Job Summary: This job provides key inputs as an industry leader and expert. They develop and articulate a clear, compelling vision and strategy in alignment with PayPal-wide strategy and operations that inspires others. These jobs are focused on the long-term success strategy of the function. Job Description: Essential Responsibilities: Manage, mentor, and develop a team of attorneys and legal professionals across multiple jurisdictions. Act as a trusted advisor to senior executives, influencing business strategy and decision-making. Anticipate regulatory and legal risks, and proactively design strategies to manage them. Influence long-term success strategy of the function, driving innovation and continuous improvement in legal practices. Ensure compliance with relevant laws and regulations, leading the adoption of cutting-edge legal technologies and best practices. Manage legal risks and safeguard PayPal's legal interests, developing forward-looking risk management strategies. Collaborate with other legal and compliance teams, and other cross-functional groups to support initiatives globally. Provide key inputs as an industry leader and expert, staying ahead of legal trends and influencing industry standards. Minimum Qualifications: 12+ years relevant experience and a Juris doctorate degree OR Any equivalent combination of education and experience. Additional Responsibilities & Preferred Qualifications: Job Summary: Lead the Employment Law function across the Americas, setting strategy and direction in alignment with enterprise priorities. • Serve as the primary employment law advisor to senior executives and regional leadership teams. • Provide strategic, solution-oriented advice on high-impact workforce matters, including executive issues, enterprise reorganizations, reductions in force, workforce transformation, and cross-border initiatives. • Advise on workforce liabilities, executive agreements, restrictive covenants, litigation exposure, compliance gaps, and cultural or operational risks in region. • Anticipate legal, regulatory, financial, and reputational risks across the region and proactively shape mitigation strategies. • Set legal strategy for employment litigation and agency matters across the Americas. • Provide executive-level briefings that clearly articulate risk exposure, options, and recommended paths forward. Additional Responsibilities & Preferred Qualifications: • Extensive employment law expertise across U.S. and broader Americas jurisdictions. • Proven experience leading a regional employment law function in a complex, multinational organization. • Demonstrated ability to advise and influence senior executives on high-stakes, enterprise-level decisions. • Strong strategic thinking and the ability to connect legal risk to business impact. • Exceptional judgment in sensitive, high-visibility matters. • Experience managing complex litigation portfolios and regulatory agency matters. • Deep understanding of workforce governance, compliance frameworks, and investigation oversight. • Experience advising on the responsible and compliant use of artificial intelligence (AI) across the employment life cycle, including recruiting, hiring, performance management, investigations, workforce analytics, and separations. • Experience supporting enterprise-wide workforce initiatives, including strategic transformation efforts. • Knowledge of emerging AI and workplace technology risks, including bias, privacy, and regulatory compliance. • Experience leading employment aspects of M&A transactions, including due diligence, integration, workforce harmonization, and risk mitigation. • Proven ability to identify and assess employment-related liabilities in transactional contexts and advise on enterprise risk exposure. • Strong executive presence and communication skills, with the ability to deliver concise and commercially grounded advice. • Ability to lead and develop legal talent. • Experience operating in fast-moving, highly regulated, and matrixed environments. • High integrity, discretion, and commitment to ethical leadership.

Requirements

12+ years relevant experience and a Juris doctorate degree OR Any equivalent combination of education and experience.
Extensive employment law expertise across U.S. and broader Americas jurisdictions.
Proven experience leading a regional employment law function in a complex, multinational organization.
Demonstrated ability to advise and influence senior executives on high-stakes, enterprise-level decisions.
Strong strategic thinking and the ability to connect legal risk to business impact.
Exceptional judgment in sensitive, high-visibility matters.
Experience managing complex litigation portfolios and regulatory agency matters.
Deep understanding of workforce governance, compliance frameworks, and investigation oversight.
Experience advising on the responsible and compliant use of artificial intelligence (AI) across the employment life cycle, including recruiting, hiring, performance management, investigations, workforce analytics, and separations.
Experience supporting enterprise-wide workforce initiatives, including strategic transformation efforts.
Knowledge of emerging AI and workplace technology risks, including bias, privacy, and regulatory compliance.
Experience leading employment aspects of M&A transactions, including due diligence, integration, workforce harmonization, and risk mitigation.
Proven ability to identify and assess employment-related liabilities in transactional contexts and advise on enterprise risk exposure.
Strong executive presence and communication skills, with the ability to deliver concise and commercially grounded advice.
Ability to lead and develop legal talent.
Experience operating in fast-moving, highly regulated, and matrixed environments.
High integrity, discretion, and commitment to ethical leadership.

Responsibilities

Manage, mentor, and develop a team of attorneys and legal professionals across multiple jurisdictions.
Act as a trusted advisor to senior executives, influencing business strategy and decision-making.
Anticipate regulatory and legal risks, and proactively design strategies to manage them.
Influence long-term success strategy of the function, driving innovation and continuous improvement in legal practices.
Ensure compliance with relevant laws and regulations, leading the adoption of cutting-edge legal technologies and best practices.
Manage legal risks and safeguard PayPal's legal interests, developing forward-looking risk management strategies.
Collaborate with other legal and compliance teams, and other cross-functional groups to support initiatives globally.
Provide key inputs as an industry leader and expert, staying ahead of legal trends and influencing industry standards.
Lead the Employment Law function across the Americas, setting strategy and direction in alignment with enterprise priorities.
Serve as the primary employment law advisor to senior executives and regional leadership teams.
Provide strategic, solution-oriented advice on high-impact workforce matters, including executive issues, enterprise reorganizations, reductions in force, workforce transformation, and cross-border initiatives.
Advise on workforce liabilities, executive agreements, restrictive covenants, litigation exposure, compliance gaps, and cultural or operational risks in region.
Anticipate legal, regulatory, financial, and reputational risks across the region and proactively shape mitigation strategies.
Set legal strategy for employment litigation and agency matters across the Americas.
Provide executive-level briefings that clearly articulate risk exposure, options, and recommended paths forward.

Benefits

At PayPal, we’re committed to building an equitable and inclusive global economy. And we can’t do this without our most important asset-you. That’s why we offer comprehensive, choice-based programs, to support all aspects of personal wellbeing—physical, emotional, and financial—delivering meaningful value where it matters most. We strive to create a flexible, balanced work culture with a holistic approach to benefits, including generous paid time off, healthcare coverage for you and your family, and resources to create financial security and support your mental health.

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