Director, Legal - Product & Regulatory

This position is listed on behalf of a partner company, who manages all applications and next steps. Our partner is looking for a Director, Legal - Product & Regulatory based in Canada. This is a senior legal leadership role focused on supporting financial product development and regulatory strategy in a fast-moving fintech environment. You will partner closely with Product, Technology, Marketing, Risk, and Compliance teams to enable innovation while protecting customers and maintaining strong regulatory standards. The role offers the opportunity to help establish and operationalize a regulated banking organization and navigate complex financial services requirements. You will provide practical, business-oriented legal guidance while identifying and managing regulatory risks early in the product lifecycle. The position also involves building scalable legal processes, mentoring colleagues, and representing Legal in senior cross-functional discussions. This is a remote-first opportunity designed for an autonomous, commercially minded lawyer who enjoys building in an evolving environment.

Partner across technology and banking operations to provide practical regulatory advice that supports growth while protecting customers and maintaining compliance. Advise on the design and launch of new financial products and features, identifying regulatory risks early and helping teams develop compliant solutions. Support the establishment and operationalization of a regulated banking organization, including engagement with regulators such as OSFI, FCAC, and the Bank of Canada. Advise Marketing and Growth teams on campaigns and communications to ensure compliance with financial services and consumer protection requirements. Provide legal guidance to customer-facing teams on complaint handling, communications, fairness, and customer protection considerations. Develop scalable legal and regulatory processes, playbooks, and systems that can support long-term growth as a regulated financial institution. Contribute to legal knowledge management and improve the accessibility and consistency of legal guidance across the organization. Mentor other members of the Legal team and represent the legal function in cross-functional and leadership forums. Support complex legal and regulatory initiatives with a high degree of autonomy and practical business judgment. Requirements: 10+ years of post-call experience as a lawyer practicing in Canada, whether in-house or at a law firm, with substantial in-house experience. Direct experience advising on the launch of retail banking products and strong knowledge of financial services regulation, banking law, and consumer protection frameworks. Demonstrated ability to provide practical, commercially oriented legal advice to senior stakeholders while balancing business objectives with regulatory and customer risks. Proven experience leading complex legal or regulatory initiatives with minimal oversight. High-agency and entrepreneurial approach, with the ability to take ownership, solve problems independently, and move initiatives forward without relying on established processes. Strong commercial judgment and a pragmatic approach to risk, focused on helping the business achieve its goals while making informed and proportionate decisions. Curiosity about products and technology, with the ability to understand how financial products and technical systems operate and translate complex issues into actionable legal guidance. Builder mindset, with an interest in turning recurring legal challenges into scalable processes, playbooks, tools, and systems. Strong self-awareness, openness to feedback, and willingness to reconsider positions when evidence or new information warrants it. Ability to work effectively with ambiguity, changing priorities, incomplete information, and a fast pace. Strong collaboration and influencing skills, particularly when working across Product, Compliance, Risk, Technology, and other business functions without relying on formal authority. Genuine interest in technology and AI and their potential to improve legal work and business processes. Experience working at both a large bank and a smaller technology company or fintech, particularly through a bank charter or launch process, is an asset. Experience engaging directly with regulators, lobbying, or government relations is an asset. Familiarity with the Retail Payment Activities Act (RPAA) and Financial Consumer Protection Framework (FCPF) is an asset. Banking AML advisory experience and experience implementing privacy laws are assets. Experience mentoring or managing junior legal counsel is an asset. Fluency in French is an asset. Benefits: Remote-first position in Canada. Budgeted base compensation of CA$220,000–CA$260,000 per year, with compensation determined based on market data, technical skills, experience, and internal pay equity. Competitive compensation and equity. Generous vacation, wellness days, flex days, and holiday closure. Comprehensive health benefits. Parental top-up and leave policies. Annual wellness stipend and coworking support. Yearly all-hands retreat. Access to coaching and professional growth programs. Power-up budgets for books, home office setup, phone and internet expenses, AI tools, and professional development. Flexible, remote-first working environment with asynchronous collaboration and flexible hours. Opportunity to contribute to the development of financial products and the establishment of a regulated banking organization. Inclusive and accessible work environment focused on collaboration, diverse perspectives, and employee empowerment.

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