Director of Legal

This position is listed on behalf of a partner company, who manages all applications and next steps. Our partner is looking for a Director of Legal based in Canada.

Join a pioneering research-driven organization at the intersection of artificial intelligence, technology, and scientific discovery.
As the first in-house legal leader, you will have the opportunity to build and shape the legal function from the ground up.
This high-impact role will support global operations, cross-border initiatives, and innovative projects involving AI, data, and research.
You will partner directly with executive leadership and multidisciplinary teams to provide strategic legal guidance.
The position requires a balance of strong legal expertise, business judgment, and comfort navigating emerging regulatory landscapes.
You will help establish scalable legal frameworks that enable ambitious research and responsible innovation worldwide.

Accountabilities:

As the Director of Legal, you will serve as the primary legal advisor for global operations, building the organization’s legal foundation while supporting strategic initiatives across AI, research, technology, and partnerships. Your responsibilities will include:

• Developing and managing AI governance frameworks, including responsible AI policies, model documentation standards, and compliance approaches across jurisdictions.
• Advising on intellectual property strategy, including patents, trade secrets, open-source licensing, and ownership considerations for AI-generated research outputs.
• Maintaining and updating privacy policies, terms of use, and other legal documentation to reflect regulatory changes and product evolution.
• Supporting corporate governance activities across Canadian, US, and future international entities, including board matters, resolutions, and regulatory obligations.
• Managing commercial agreements, including vendor contracts, NDAs, licensing agreements, and strategic partnerships.
• Advising on export controls, sanctions compliance, and cross-border transfers of data and AI models.
• Structuring and negotiating data acquisition, licensing, and usage agreements with research institutions, publishers, academic partners, and other data providers.
• Supporting research collaborations through agreements with universities, nonprofits, and scientific organizations.
• Developing legal frameworks for fellowships, internships, academic partnerships, researcher programs, and talent initiatives.
• Advising on employment-related legal matters, intellectual property ownership, publication rights, confidentiality, and conflicts of interest.
• Supporting fundraising activities, charitable compliance, donor agreements, grant requirements, and nonprofit regulatory obligations.
• Identifying legal and regulatory risks proactively and providing practical recommendations to leadership.
• Building scalable legal processes that support international growth while maintaining operational agility.
• Acting as a strategic partner on emerging legal questions related to AI, data, nonprofit operations, and scientific research.

Requirements:

The ideal candidate is an experienced legal professional who can independently build processes, advise leadership, and operate effectively in a fast-moving environment. Required qualifications and skills include:

• Juris Doctor (JD) or equivalent legal degree, with active bar membership in a Canadian jurisdiction.
• 8+ years of relevant legal experience, ideally combining law firm training with in-house legal experience.
• Strong background in commercial contracts, technology agreements, data licensing, or related legal areas.
• Experience advising on emerging AI regulations, technology governance, or responsible AI practices.
• Knowledge of Canadian and US employment law fundamentals.
• Experience working with technology companies, nonprofits, research institutions, universities, or international organizations is highly valued.
• Ability to manage cross-border legal matters and coordinate with external counsel across jurisdictions.
• Experience building legal functions, processes, or frameworks from the ground up.
• Strong judgment and ability to prioritize, make decisions, and operate independently in ambiguous situations.
• Excellent communication skills with the ability to explain complex legal concepts to researchers, engineers, executives, and non-legal stakeholders.
• Strong interest in artificial intelligence, physics, scientific research, or emerging technologies.

Benefits:

The role offers the opportunity to work in a mission-driven, innovative environment with benefits including:

• Remote-first work environment with flexibility across locations.
• Opportunity to build and lead a legal function from the beginning.
• Direct partnership with executive leadership on high-impact strategic initiatives.
• Exposure to cutting-edge AI, scientific research, and emerging technology challenges.
• Collaborative environment with researchers, engineers, builders, and thought leaders.
• Opportunity to influence legal frameworks supporting global innovation and scientific progress.
• Professional growth through ownership of complex, international legal matters.
• Inclusive culture that values curiosity, independent thinking, and diverse perspectives.

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?    Data Privacy Notice: 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.     #LI-CL1