Sr. Director, Legal Counsel

Green Dot•Los Angeles, CA

2d•Hybrid

About The Position

The Sr. Director, Legal Counsel is a senior legal leader supporting Green Dot Network (GDN) and Banking-as-a-Service (BaaS). The role provides strategic legal guidance on commercial, regulatory, operational, and product matters, supporting business growth while managing legal and regulatory risk. It advises executives and business partners on complex matters involving payments, embedded banking, partner bank programs, fintech partnerships, money movement, and consumer financial services. The position develops legal strategies aligned with business objectives, negotiates significant commercial agreements, oversees outside counsel, and partners with Compliance, Risk, Product, Operations, Finance, and business leaders on enterprise initiatives. At the Sr. Director level, the role translates business strategy into functional plans, influences policy and strategy, partners with executive leadership, and serves as an influential leader across the organization. This is a structured hybrid position requiring at least three days per week in the office, with flexibility to work remotely on the remaining days. The approved locations are Los Angeles, California (West LA office) or San Francisco (SoMa office). On-site expectations may change to meet business needs, with advance communication. Applicants must be authorized to work in the United States without current or future sponsorship.

Requirements

Juris Doctor (J.D.) from an accredited law school.
Active membership in good standing with at least one U.S. state bar.
12 or more years of progressive legal experience, including significant in-house or financial services experience.
Extensive experience negotiating and drafting complex commercial agreements.
Demonstrated experience supporting banking, fintech, payments, prepaid, deposit, or BaaS businesses.
Strong understanding of financial services regulatory frameworks and risk management principles.
Experience advising senior executives on strategic and high-risk matters.
Proven ability to influence decisions across multiple business functions.
Exceptional commercial contracting and negotiation skills.
Strong business acumen and ability to balance legal risk with business objectives.
Ability to simplify complex legal concepts into practical business guidance.
Strong executive presence and communication skills.
Strategic problem-solving skills and sound judgment.
Ability to influence senior leaders and drive enterprise-wide outcomes.
Ability to manage competing priorities in a fast-paced environment.
Strong relationship-building and stakeholder management skills.
Ability to work in the United States without current or future sponsorship.
Ability to meet the location requirement: Los Angeles, CA (West LA office) or San Francisco (SoMa office).

Nice To Haves

Experience supporting Banking-as-a-Service, embedded finance, partner bank, or fintech partnership models.
Experience with payment networks, ACH, card processing, money movement, or digital banking products.
Prior experience at a regulated financial institution, fintech company, partner bank, payment company, or major law firm.
Experience managing attorneys or legal teams.
Familiarity with consumer financial services laws and regulations.

Responsibilities

Serve as lead legal advisor to the Green Dot Network and Banking-as-a-Service organizations.
Partner with executive leaders to identify legal and regulatory risks related to strategic initiatives and growth opportunities.
Translate business strategy into practical legal guidance and risk-based recommendations.
Influence legal, operational, and business policies affecting enterprise objectives.
Develop legal frameworks for product innovation, partner onboarding, and business expansion.
Structure, draft, review, and negotiate complex commercial agreements, including BaaS and embedded finance, program management, partner and sponsor bank, payment network, fintech partnership, distribution and referral, and vendor and technology agreements.
Lead negotiations with significant financial, operational, and regulatory implications.
Develop standardized contracting approaches that improve efficiency while maintaining risk controls.
Advise on laws and regulations affecting banking, prepaid products, payments, deposit products, money movement services, and fintech offerings.
Provide legal guidance throughout product development and the product lifecycle.
Support examinations, audits, inquiries, and regulatory interactions as needed.
Work with Compliance and Risk teams to assess emerging regulatory developments and their business impacts.
Partner with Product, Compliance, Enterprise Risk, Operations, Finance, Information Security, and Business Development.
Facilitate resolution of high-impact legal issues across business functions and provide legal support for strategic projects, partnerships, and enterprise initiatives.
Build relationships with internal stakeholders and external partners.
Manage outside counsel and legal vendors, including budgets, scope, and performance.
Ensure legal budgets and schedules meet corporate requirements.
Improve legal processes, templates, governance structures, and risk management practices.
Develop training and educational materials for business stakeholders.
Support litigation management and dispute resolution as needed.
Lead, mentor, and develop attorneys, legal professionals, and cross-functional project teams.
Foster collaboration, accountability, business partnership, and sound risk management.
Contribute to succession planning and capability building within the Legal function.
Translate business segment strategy into functional legal plans and guide execution.
Represent the organization and negotiate on significant matters with executives, senior management, and major partners.
Influence policymaking and strategy through communication and persuasion, and provide cohesive direction toward company goals.