Director, Legal Counsel

Director, Legal Counsel

Pay Pal has been revolutionizing commerce globally for more than 25 years. Creating innovative experiences that make moving money, selling, and shopping simple, personalized, and secure, Pay Pal 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. Pay Pal 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 also offer merchants an end‑to‑end payments solution that provides authorization and settlement capabilities, instant access to funds and payouts, and risk management.

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 Description Summary

We’re seeking a highly motivated lawyer with extensive experience in payments, merchant services, or financial technology. They are responsible for providing best‑in‑class support for some of Pay Pal’s most innovative merchant products and services. They use industry‑leading knowledge and expertise as a trusted advisor to influence strategy and executive‑level decision‑making. They’ll move comfortably between strategy and execution, set goals, and deliver results that meet customer needs and contribute to Pay Pal’s success.

Essential Responsibilities

• Establish overall business or technical strategy, aligning legal initiatives with corporate goals and objectives.

• Influence decision‑making at the executive level, providing strategic legal advice on key business decisions and transactions.

• Provide strategic legal advice and support, particularly in high‑demand areas such as mergers and acquisitions, intellectual property, and regulatory compliance.

• Ensure compliance with relevant laws and regulations, overseeing the implementation of advanced legal technologies and compliance programs.

• Manage legal risks and safeguard Pay Pal’s legal interests, developing and executing risk‑management strategies.

• Represent Pay Pal in litigation and other legal proceedings, managing high‑profile cases and collaborating with senior leadership.

Expected Qualifications

• 10+ years relevant experience and a Juris Doctorate degree OR any equivalent combination of education and experience.

Preferred Qualifications

• Hands‑on demonstrated experience with payments, merchant services, or financial technology companies.

• Deep payments industry knowledge (e.g., processors, acquirers, networks, wallets, checkout, risk controls, settlement, disputes, etc.).

• Familiarity with, and strong interest in, the payment industry including mobile and alternative payments and emerging payments technologies.

• Demonstrated experience navigating and advising on payment card network and Nacha rules.

• Experience providing timely, solution‑oriented advice to business partners on a wide variety of initiatives and issues, including payments, payment network, money transmission, privacy and data protection, and AI.

• Experience with agentic commerce or adjacent AI technologies (agents, orchestration/automation, model/API integrations).

• Ability to transform complex legal concepts into practical advice for senior business leaders, and thoughtfully balance risk with business goals and priorities.

• Demonstrated experience mentoring teammates and exercising influence across functions.

• Ability to thrive in a fast‑paced international environment and tolerate change and ambiguity.

• Comfortable with gray areas and interpreting and applying the law in unsettled contexts.

• Excellent communication, writing, and interpersonal skills; ability to effectively influence and communicate with senior leadership, cross‑functional stakeholders, and external partners.

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