Shopify’s Employment Legal Team focuses on the issues that affect Shopify as a global, remote-first employer. Our core goal is to ensure that Shopify remains a trusted employer that can strike a balance between compliance with legal requirements and maintaining our amazing, mission-driven work environment.
With thousands of employees spread across the globe, there is never a dull moment on this team. Shopify marches to the beat of its own drum, and we’re faced with nuanced and exciting issues you couldn’t dream up if you tried. Working with other members of our Legal team and providing support to leadership and our global Talent team, you’ll apply your knowledge and experience to new scenarios while skillfully providing business-oriented advice in an efficient, succinct, and easy-to-understand way. No legal memos or law school lectures here!
We’re looking for an experienced employment lawyer with a “put me in, coach” attitude. You must be able to juggle competing priorities, directly manage high pressure situations, and be equally adept at playing a lead role on some projects and a supporting role on others. You’ll need to be energized by working in a fast-paced environment and tackling complex problems without clear answers. You need to be enough of a generalist to issue spot and triage a broad range of employment risks globally, with the ability to go deep and learn quickly when needed. This role reports to the Director, Associate General Counsel, Employment.
Responsibilities
Providing expert advice on all aspects of employment law including workplace investigations, human rights and accommodations, employee compensation, employee mobility, employment standards and performance management/terminations.
Developing cross-functional resources that educate our stakeholders and scale the employment legal team
Championing and driving project work
Identifying opportunities for new or improved systems and playbooks and leading change
Drafting internal policies/communications and key employment documents
Leading pre-litigation employment matters and partnering with outside counsel on litigation
Maintaining subject matter expertise in new and evolving areas of global employment law
Qualifications
A J.D. or LL.B and a license to practice law in any U.S. state
Significant employment law experience, ideally having started out at a law firm, followed by in-house experience
Experience working on high urgency, high priority matters with executive level stakeholders that are sensitive in nature. Discretion is a must
Proven ability to create strategy and vision, as well as manage the execution of the work
Exceptional business judgment, analytical thinking, problem-solving and relationship-building skills
Ability to be a self-starter who thrives without regular oversight
Comfort navigating and making decisions at speed in the midst of ambiguity and frequent change
Experience managing external legal counsel
Bonus Experience
Experience working in tech and/or start-up environments. Bonus points if they were remote!
Experience with employment law in multiple jurisdictions