Product Counsel Lawyer

Safe Software Inc; Surrey; Hybrid; CAD 100,000 - 130,000; Full time

Job summary

Safe Software is seeking a Product Counsel Lawyer to provide legal guidance for product development, ensuring compliance with global legal standards. This role involves advising on AI governance, data privacy, and regulatory compliance while collaborating with various teams to integrate legal strategies into product design. Join a dynamic legal team in a supportive environment that values diversity and innovation.

Benefits

Flexible Working Hours

Health & Wellness Benefits

Learning & Career Development

Parental Leave Top-Up Program

Profit Sharing

Paid Volunteer Time

Qualifications

• 6+ years of experience in-house or at a law firm, with 3+ years advising product development teams.
• Proficient in software licensing and data privacy laws.
• Strong knowledge of AI governance and regulatory compliance.

Responsibilities

• Provide legal guidance throughout the product development lifecycle.
• Ensure compliance with applicable laws and manage open-source licensing.
• Act as legal advisor for data security and privacy matters.

Skills

Legal Guidance

Compliance

Risk Management

Contract Negotiation

Data Privacy

Software Licensing

AI Governance

Communication

Analytical Skills

Education

LL.B. or JD degree from an accredited law school

Undergraduate degree in computer science, engineering, or cybersecurity

Job description

Safe Software Head Office
Surrey, BC V3T0M1, CAN

• Location: This opportunity has the ability to be remotely based within Canada (except for QC), or onsite/hybrid/remote in the Vancouver, BC Lower Mainland.
  
• Please note that employment is contingent upon the successful completion of reference checks and background checks, including a Canadian criminal background check.

Application Instructions:

• Please upload your application files in PDF format only.

Product Counsel Lawyer

Safe Software is looking for a Product Counsel Lawyer to join our Legal team. As a Product Counsel Lawyer, you will provide comprehensive legal guidance during all stages of product development, ensure full compliance with global legal standards, and support the company’s business strategy through effective legal risk management.

The Product Counsel Lawyer plays a critical role in supporting the legal aspects of product development and management for Safe Software’s FME Platform, which includes both on-premise and SaaS-based products. This role reports to the Chief Legal Officer.

About The Team

As a part of the Legal team, you’ll join a collaborative group of in-house legal counsel and a contracts administrator who support Safe Software’s business operations with practical, business-focused legal guidance. The team works closely with departments across the organization to ensure legal compliance, manage risk, and enable strategic growth.

What You’ll Be Doing

As a Product Counsel Lawyer, you will:

• Legal Advisor for Product Development Teams:
  • Offer legal guidance throughout the product development lifecycle for both SaaS and on-premise software solutions.
  • Ensure compliance with applicable laws, accessibility standards, export restrictions, and intellectual property rights.
  • Manage open-source licensing compliance.
• AI Governance:
  • Work closely with software development teams to create AI governance policy and principles throughout the product lifecycle.
  • Offer legal guidance to embed security-by-design practices into emerging AI solutions, ensuring rigorous threat mitigation and compliance with global privacy regulations.
  • Establish an accountability framework that reinforces human oversight, maintaining the highest standards of responsible AI deployment within the organization.
• Privacy:
  • Provide proactive legal advice on privacy matters affecting the software platforms.
  • Develop and maintain data protection strategies compliant with international privacy laws such as GDPR and PIPEDA.
  • Conduct privacy assessments of product features.
• Data Security:
  • Act as legal advisor to the security team for compliance initiatives such as ISO27001, SOC2, and FedRAMP.
  • Support the security team in responding to customer security questions.
  • Provide legal guidance and act as an external liaison to regulatory agencies and advisors in the event of product security vulnerabilities.
• Risk Management and Regulatory Compliance:
  • Identify and mitigate regulatory risks associated with product development and commercialization.
  • Monitor regulatory developments, particularly those affecting software products like AI and export restrictions, and provide strategic advice.
  • Act as the primary liaison with regulatory authorities related to product compliance issues.
• Collaboration and Cross-Functional Support:
  • Work closely with product management, development, security, and marketing teams to integrate legal guidance into product design and roadmap planning.
  • Collaborate on legal matters related to product marketing and communications.
• Contract Management:
  • Draft and negotiate technology and software licensing agreements and provide guidance on their interpretation and enforcement to support licensing transactions.
• Training and Policy Development:
  • Lead internal training sessions on legal best practices for development, security, and product marketing teams.
  • Develop and maintain legal policies and procedures to support product operations.

Qualifications, Skills, and Competencies

Safers come from a variety of backgrounds with diverse skills and knowledge. That being said, those who are most successful in this role have experience with the following:

Required skills:

• Education: LL.B. or JD degree from an accredited law school. An undergraduate degree or certification in a technical field such as computer science, engineering, or cybersecurity would be an asset.
• Certifications/Training: Practicing membership in at least one Canadian province. IAPP certification, or similar privacy certification is a bonus.
• Experience: 6+ years of experience either in-house and/or at a law firm, with at least 3+ years experience advising product development teams, preferably in the software, technology, or SaaS industry.
• Proficient in software licensing, data privacy laws, and regulatory compliance. Prior practice or qualification in the USA or Europe is a bonus.
• Strong knowledge of software licensing, data privacy laws, AI governance and regulatory compliance relevant to software products.
• Experienced in negotiating and drafting complex software and technology agreements.
• An understanding of software development concepts and cybersecurity.
• Excellent verbal and written communication skills, capable of addressing diverse audiences including technical, business, and legal stakeholders.
• Strong analytical and problem-solving abilities.

Bonus Points

• Familiarity with software development processes or the product lifecycle is an asset.

What You Can Expect

When you choose a career with Safe Software, you’re also choosing…

• Meaningful Work: Make a profound impact across our business, workplace and data integration product.
• A Supportive Environment: Feel empowered to share your ideas and implement them with high autonomy and team support.
• Social Responsibility: Become part of a team that finds meaningful ways to give back . Take paid time off to volunteer for one of our Safe-organized opportunities that align with our core community initiatives.
• Learning & Career Development: We believe in your continuous learning and growth. Take advantage of an annual learning budget and training programs paid for by Safe.
• Flexible Working Hours: Flexible and remote-friendly work arrangements to fit your lifestyle. Work when you want, and how you want to.
• Work-Life Balance: There's no place for burnout at Safe. Maintain a healthy balance of your personal and work life without splitting yourself in two. Enjoy 3 weeks of vacation to recharge, plus an additional paid 6 seasonal days off per year.
• Health & Wellness: Extended health, dental, health or lifestyle spending, and counseling benefits from day 1. That’s right, no waiting period.
• Family is important: We are dedicated to supporting our employees through parenthood and offer a Parental Leave Top-Up Program for new parents through childbirth or adoption.
• Shared Success: Share in Safe’s success with our bi-annual profit sharing and RRSP/TFSA matching program.
• An Accessible Commute: Regardless of your commute method, we’re located close to public transit, and provide complimentary parking and bike storage for our team!

About Safe Software

Safe Software transforms organizations with FME, the only All-Data Any-AI Enterprise Integration Platform connecting all your data, anywhere, at any velocity. With over 30 years of expertise and 25,000+ enterprise customers across 125+ countries, we simplify your data journey, wherever it leads.

Founded in 1993, Safe is headquartered in Surrey, BC with over 200 team members and counting. We’re always looking for talented individuals with diverse backgrounds who are determined to learn and grow. Are you ready to join the team?

Our Commitment to Diversity and Inclusion

Safe Software is an equal opportunity employer and we truly believe that innovation and strength begin with diversity and inclusion. We welcome all candidates regardless of race, gender identity or expression, sexual orientation, age, ability, disability, national or ethnic origin, political belief, religion, or family status. Should you require accommodations during the recruitment process, please contact [e-mail] .