Managing Counsel, Product (Payroll experience required)

This position is listed on behalf of a partner company, who manages all applications and next steps.

Our partner is looking for a Managing Counsel, Product (Payroll experience required) based in Germany.

This is an individual-contributor legal leadership role supporting the development of complex HR technology products across global markets.

You’ll act as a strategic legal partner to Product, Payroll, Engineering, Privacy, Security, and Commercial teams.

The role has a particular focus on payroll, AI/ML, data protection, employment law, and emerging technology regulation.

You’ll translate complex legal requirements across 90+ jurisdictions into practical guidance and actionable product requirements.

The position combines deep legal expertise with commercial judgment, product thinking, and a strong interest in technology and AI.

You’ll work in a highly distributed, asynchronous environment alongside an experienced international legal team.

The opportunity is well suited to a pragmatic lawyer who enjoys solving complex problems and enabling innovation while managing regulatory risk.

Accountabilities

• Provide end-to-end product legal counsel for payroll and AI-enabled products, including launch-readiness assessments, AI impact assessments, model cards, governance frameworks, and risk controls.
• Partner closely with Product, Engineering, Payroll, Privacy, Security, and Commercial Legal teams to identify and address legal considerations throughout the product lifecycle.
• Advise on product terms and conditions and AI-specific contractual provisions, including data and metadata use, training, output and intellectual property ownership, acceptable use, and transparency requirements.
• Monitor emerging AI, technology, employment, data protection, and payroll regulations across multiple jurisdictions and translate developments into clear, actionable requirements for product, design, and engineering teams.
• Support compliance with frameworks such as the EU AI Act, UK AI regulatory approaches, US federal and state developments, Canadian AI legislation, GDPR, and CCPA.
• Partner with Privacy and Security teams on DPIAs, TIAs, incident response, vendor assessments, and diligence relating to AI/LLM providers.
• Manage external counsel on complex, multi-jurisdictional matters, ensuring advice is practical, commercially focused, and aligned with business objectives.
• Deliver targeted legal enablement through training sessions, office hours, and practical guidance for internal stakeholders.
• Identify pragmatic solutions to complex legal and regulatory challenges rather than simply escalating issues.
• Contribute to the development of legal and governance frameworks that enable the responsible launch and scaling of technology products.

Requirements

• Qualified lawyer with substantial experience advising on technology products, preferably across multiple jurisdictions or legal systems.
• Proven product counsel experience within technology, with strong expertise in HR technology, payroll, PEO, EOR, HRIS, or related employment technology platforms.
• Demonstrated ability to advise on complex products at scale and work across multiple jurisdictions.
• Deep knowledge of AI/ML legal and regulatory frameworks, including the EU AI Act, UK AI regulatory developments, US federal and state approaches, and Canadian AI legislation.
• Strong understanding of the intersection between AI regulation, data protection, employment law, and payroll compliance.
• Significant experience with payroll compliance is required, ideally across multiple jurisdictions.
• In-house legal experience is preferred, particularly within a technology company or fast-growing environment.
• Experience working in a startup or similarly fast-paced organization is an advantage.
• Strong analytical, organizational, and problem-solving abilities, with a practical and commercially minded approach to legal advice.
• Excellent written and verbal English communication skills, with the ability to translate complex legal concepts into clear guidance for technical and non-technical stakeholders.
• Strong interest in technology, HR technology, AI, and emerging digital products.
• Comfortable using modern collaboration and productivity tools such as Slack, Notion, Google Drive, Claude, or equivalent technologies.
• Experience working remotely and asynchronously is an advantage.

Benefits

• Annual salary range of

USD $66,300–$186,400 , with actual compensation determined by location, experience, skills, training, business needs, and market conditions.

• Globally distributed, work-from-anywhere environment.
• Flexible working hours within an asynchronous operating model.
• Flexible paid time off.

16 weeks of paid parental leave .

• Budget for coworking spaces, learning, wellness, and related professional or personal development activities.
• Mental health support services.
• Stock options.
• Home office budget and IT equipment.
• Compensation philosophy focused on pay equity, competitive local market rates, and fair compensation across global locations.
• Opportunities for professional growth, internal mobility, and exposure to complex international HR-tech and AI legal matters.
• Inclusive, globally distributed working environment with employee resource groups and support for workplace accommodations.

How Jobgether works

We use an

AI-powered matching process to ensure your application is reviewed quickly, objectively, and fairly against the role's core requirements.

Our system identifies the top-fitting candidates, and this shortlist is then shared directly with the hiring company.

The final decision and next steps (interviews, assessments) are managed by their internal team.

We appreciate your interest and wish you the best!

Why Apply Through Jobgether?

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By submitting your application, you acknowledge that Jobgether will process your personal data to evaluate your candidacy and share relevant information with the hiring employer.

This processing is based on legitimate interest and pre-contractual measures under applicable data protection laws (including GDPR).

You may exercise your rights (access, rectification, erasure, objection) at any time.

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We may use artificial intelligence (AI) tools to support parts of the hiring process, such as reviewing applications, analyzing resumes, or assessing responses and identifying potential inconsistencies or verification signals in application materials based on available information.

These tools assist our recruitment team but do not replace human judgment.

Final hiring decisions are ultimately made by humans.

If you would like more information about how your data is processed, please contact us.