Lead Legal

National Payments Corporation of India; Mumbai; On-site; INR 3,500,000 - 6,000,000; Full time

Job summary

National Payments Corporation of India (NPCI) invites a seasoned Product Counsel to own legal strategy for product and technology initiatives from ideation to launch and scale.

The role requires navigating payments regulations, driving early risk consideration in product lifecycles, and negotiating complex deals with stakeholders across product, technology, and business teams to accelerate closures.

Qualifications

• LL.B (five year) degree required.
• 8–12 years of PQE required.
• Analytical and research skills with ability to identify and mitigate legal risk in fast-paced environments; strong judgment and contract drafting/negotiation.

Responsibilities

• Identify legal and regulatory risks in product design and user journeys.
• Provide actionable, scalable legal guidance across product and technology lifecycles.
• Negotiate high-value technology and commercial contracts to balance risk and speed to closure.
• Collaborate with product, compliance, and business teams to embed regulatory requirements in product architecture.
• Lead negotiations on complex transactions, ensuring alignment with internal policies and business goals.

Skills

Legal analysis

Regulatory compliance

Contract negotiation

Cross-functional collaboration

Education

LL.B (five year)

Job description

National Payments Corporation of India (NPCI) | Full Time

The National Payments Corporation of India (NPCI) is a pivotal institution in India's digital payments ecosystem, established by the Reserve Bank of India (RBI) and the Indian Banks’ Association (IBA). It operates under the Payment and Settlement Systems Act, 2007, and is incorporated as a “Not for Profit” company under Section 25 of the Companies Act 1956 (now Section 8 of the Companies Act 2013). NPCI is dedicated to building world‑class digital payment infrastructure through innovative and efficient retail payment platforms. As an Equal Opportunity Employer, NPCI is committed to fostering an inclusive workplace culture, with zero tolerance for discrimination based on race, ethnicity, disability, gender identity, or sexual orientation, including support for the LGBTQ+ community.

Our Culture

TheNPCIWAY –OurGuidingPrinciples

At NPCI, we foster a culture of Inclusion, Innovation, and a High‑Performance Workplace .

The NPCIWAY isnotjustaframework - it’sasharedcommitmentbyevery individual to align with our evolving business needs, dynamic market conditions, and workforce expectations.

FiveTenetsoftheNPCIWAY

• ForwardThinkingMind-Set
• CustomerFirst
• LeadWith Purpose
• PassiontoDeliver
• AllSucceedTogether

Employee Perks and Benefits

Insurance&Wellness:

• ComprehensiveCoverage :Medical,accidental,andlifeinsurance.
• Employee Assistance Program : Onsite medical center, financial/legal counselling, mental wellness.
• AnnualWellnessBouquet :Holisticwellbeingsupport

Family &Childcare:

• ParentalLeave :Inclusivematernityandpaternityleave.
  
• Nanny at home Support: Assistance for Working Parents
  

Mobility&Lifestyle:

• MobilityBenefits :Relocation,transfers,andtravelsupport.
  
• HomeLoanInterestSupport :Upto50%reimbursement*
  
• MobileReimbursement :Newhandsetevery2years.
  
• CarLease,SalaryAdvance,SubsidizedMeals.
• Reward&RecognitionProgram.
• TechnologyInnovation: PatentsandIPRightspolicy.

RetirementPlanning:

• ProvidentFund(PF) and Gratuity Contributions .

Why Join Us

At NPCI, you’ll be part of a purpose-driven organization shaping the future of digital payments in India and beyond. NPCI offers a unique opportunity to work on cutting‑edge projects that directly impact millions. We foster a culture of innovation, inclusion, and high performance, where every individual is empowered to lead with purpose and deliver with passion. With a strong focus on employee wellbeing, continuous learning, and collaborative success, NPCI is more than just a workplace - it’s a platform to grow, contribute, and make a meaningful difference.

Role Overview : Act as the Product counsel, single-threaded legal owner for product and technology initiatives across the lifecycle—from ideation to launch and scale. The purpose is to have a candidate that is pragmatic, execution-focused legal solutions, enabling innovation while ensuring strong regulatory and contractual risk management. Also to have a hands‑on legal professional to operate as an individual contributor supporting product, technology, and business teams. The position requires challenging the status quo, accelerating transaction closures through effective negotiation, and partnering with stakeholders to solve complex business problems at NPCI and its subsidiary.

• Identify legal and regulatory risks in product design, user journeys, and deliver clear, build‑able legal solutions.
• Integrate legal considerations early in the product lifecycle to prevent downstream risk.
• Provide independent advice on payments regulations and fin‑tech frameworks, including evolving regulatory expectations.
• Embed compliance frameworks within product architecture, ensuring scalable and defensible data practices.
• Assess and mitigate risks arising from data monetization, sharing, and analytics models.
• Ensure strong alignment between legal risk management and overall business strategy.
• Develop stakeholder specific legal approaches by tailoring advice and recommendations based on the context, maturity, and risk appetite of different business, product, and technology teams.
• Collaborate cross‑functionally to resolve complex issues involving regulatory interpretation, operational constraints, and commercial objectives.
• Identify material versus non‑material risks and display skill of smart negotiation.
• Provide clear, actionable summaries (not verbose legal notes).
• Align contract terms with regulatory obligations, internal policies, and business goals.
• Lead and manage negotiations on complex, high‑value, and technology‑driven transactions with a focus on achieving optimal risk outcomes while enabling faster closures.

Requirements

• LL. B (five year course)
  
• 8-12 years of PQE
  
• Analytical & research skills, Legal risk identification,mitigation, and governance in fast‑paced environments, Sound judgment anddecision‑making in complex, ambiguous matters, commercially sound contractdrafting, structuring, and negotiation.