Sr Legal Counsel, U.S. Employment

PayPal; Washington (District of Columbia); On-site; USD 169,000 - 251,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Equity compensation

Annual performance bonus

Healthcare coverage for you and family

Job summary

PayPal is seeking an experienced Employment Lawyer to join the Americas team. The role focuses on providing strategic employment guidance, managing high-stakes issues, and reducing risk across the region.

Ideal candidates will have a J.D. and bar admission, 5–8 years of U.S. employment law experience, and the ability to work independently while collaborating with Legal, People, and Compliance partners.

Qualifications

• J.D. degree and active bar membership in at least one U.S. jurisdiction.
• 5-8 years of employment law experience across both private practice and in-house roles.
• Deep knowledge of U.S. employment law; Canada and/or Latin America preferred.

Responsibilities

• Provide strategic, clear, practical, and risk-balanced guidance on sensitive employee relations issues.
• Oversee employment litigation and agency matters and manage outside counsel.
• Develop and deliver trainings to leaders, HR partners, and investigations teams on employment law risk.
• Serve as the primary legal advisor to Employee Relations and investigations teams across the Americas.

Skills

US employment law

Legal risk assessment

Cross-functional collaboration

Communication skills

Independent work

Education

J.D. degree and bar admission

Job description

The CompanyPayPal 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 participates in complex problem resolution and leads complex projects of diverse scope requiring an understanding of current business trends. They determine methods and procedures for new or special assignments, and their initiatives often result in global process improvements.Job Description:Essential Responsibilities:Provide clear, pragmatic, and solution-oriented legal advice to enable business strategy while managing legal risk.Participate in complex problem resolution, providing expert legal advice on high-stakes issues and disputes.Ensure compliance with relevant laws and regulations.Partner with business counterparts across the enterprise to help drive the delivery of effective legal services.Manage legal risks and safeguard PayPal's legal interests, developing comprehensive risk management frameworks.Escalate complex issues to senior legal leadership where appropriate.Minimum Qualifications:8+ years relevant experience and a Juris doctorate degree OR Any equivalent combination of education and experience.Additional Responsibilities & Preferred Qualifications:We’re looking for a skilled, experienced employment lawyer to support our Americas Employment Law team. You’ll shape employment strategy across the United States, Canada, and Latin America. You’ll partner closely with senior leaders in Legal, People, Employee Relations, Compliance, and business teams to support PayPal's business objectives and enterprise strategy to drive organziational change and mitigate risk. This role reports to the Senior Director, Employment Law – Head of AmericasAdditional ResponsibilitiesServe as a trusted strategic advisor to People Organization and functional partners on complex, high-impact employment matters.Provide strategic, clear, practical, and risk-balanced guidance on sensitive employee relations issues, executive matters, reorganizations, reductions in force, workforce strategy, and organizational change.Anticipate legal and reputational risks and proactively recommend solutions aligned with business objectives and Company values.independently identify areas of opportunity to streamline processes and partner with functional stakeholders to proactively drive change management.Oversee employment litigation and agency matters and efficiently manage outside counsel.Develop and deliver training to leaders, HR partners, and investigations teams on employment law risk, compliance expectations, and best practices.Serve as the primary legal advisor to Employee Relations and investigations teams across the Americas.QualificationsJ.D. degree and active bar membership in at least one U.S. jurisdiction.5-8 years of employment law experience across both private practice and in-house roles.Deep knowledge of U.S. employment law. Experience with Canada and/or Latin America is strongly preferred.Demonstrated ability to work independently and effectively within a legal team and collaborate cross-functionally.Keen legal risk assessment skills and judgment to determine when escalation is necessary.Strong communication skills and the ability to advise HR partners and business clients on sensitive matters.Ability to prioritize and respond promptly to urgent legal issues as needed.Sound judgment. Practical thinking. Clear communication.Subsidiary:PayPalTravel Percent:0-The base pay for this role will depend on where you work and the relevant experience and expertise you bring. The expected range of pay for this role by location is:Primary Location | Pay Range:Chicago, Illinois: ($160,500.00 - $238,700.00 Annually)Additional Location(s) | Pay Range:San Jose, California: ($176,500.00 - $262,350.00 Annually)Washington DC, District of Columbia: ($169,000.00 - $250,800.00 Annually)Scottsdale, Arizona: ($152,500.00 - $226,600.00 Annually)Omaha, Nebraska: ($152,500.00 - $226,600.00 Annually)Additional compensation for this role may include an annual performance bonus, equity, or other incentive compensation, as applicable.PayPal does not charge candidates any fees for courses, applications, resume reviews, interviews, background checks, or onboarding. When making an application directly, we will never ask you to share passwords, one-time passcodes (OTP), or verification codes. Any such request is a red flag and likely part of a scam. All communication regarding your application will come from official PayPal email domains. If you suspect fraudulent activity, please report it immediately. To learn more about how to identify and avoid recruitment fraud please visit https://careers.pypl.com/contact-us.For the majority of employees, PayPal's balanced hybrid work model offers 3 days in the office for effective in-person collaboration and 2 days at your choice of either the PayPal office or your home workspace, ensuring that you equally have the benefits and conveniences of both locations.Our 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.Who We Are:Commitment to Diversity and InclusionPayPal provides equal employment opportunity (EEO) to all persons regardless of age, color, national origin, citizenship status, physical or mental disability, race, religion, creed, gender, sex, pregnancy, sexual orientation, gender identity and/or expression, genetic information, marital status, status with regard to public assistance, veteran status, or any other characteristic protected by federal, state, or local law. In addition, PayPal will provide reasonable accommodations for qualified individuals with disabilities. If you are unable to submit an application because of incompatible assistive technology or a disability, please contact us at [e-mail] at PayPal:Our employees are central to advancing our mission, and we strive to create an environment where everyone can do their best work with a sense of purpose and belonging. Belonging at PayPal means creating a workplace with a sense of acceptance and security where all employees feel included and valued. We are proud to have a diverse workforce reflective of the merchants, consumers, and communities that we serve, and we continue to take tangible actions to cultivate inclusivity and belonging at PayPal.Any general requests for consideration of your skills, please Join our Talent Community.We know the confidence gap and imposter syndrome can get in the way of meeting spectacular candidates. Please don’t hesitate to apply.