Associate Director, Legal Operations and Privacy

Who we are is what we do.

Deel is the all-in-one payroll and HR platform for global teams. Our vision is to unlock global opportunity for every person, team, and business. Built for the way the world works today, Deel combines HRIS, payroll, compliance, benefits, performance, and equipment management into one seamless platform. With AI-powered tools and a fully owned payroll infrastructure, Deel supports every worker type in 100+ countries—helping businesses scale smarter, faster, and more compliantly.

Among the largest globally distributed companies in the world, our team of 5,000 spans more than 100 countries, speaks 74 languages, and brings a connected and dynamic culture that drives continuous learning and innovation for our customers.

Why should you be part of our success story?

As the fastest-growing Software as a Service (SaaS) company in history, Deel is transforming how global talent connects with world-class companies – breaking down borders that have traditionally limited both hiring and career opportunities. We're not just building software; we're creating the infrastructure for the future of work, enabling a more diverse and inclusive global economy. In 2024 alone, we paid $11.2 billion to workers in nearly 100 currencies and provided healthcare and benefits to workers in 109 countries—ensuring people get paid and protected, no matter where they are.

Our momentum is reflected in our achievements and customer satisfaction: CNBC Disruptor 50,  Forbes Cloud 100, Deloitte Fast 500, and repeated recognition on Y Combinator’s top companies list – all while maintaining a 4.83 average rating from 15,000 reviews across G2, Trustpilot, Captera, Apple and Google.

Your experience at Deel will be a career accelerator. At the forefront of the global work revolution, you'll tackle complex challenges that impact millions of people's working lives. With our momentum—backed by a $12 billion valuation and $800  million in Annual Recurring Revenue (ARR) in just over five years—you'll drive meaningful impact while building expertise that makes you a sought-after leader in the transformation of global work.

We are seeking a strategic and execution-driven Associate Director of Legal Operations & Privacy to lead and scale our global Legal Ops and Privacy programs. This is a critical leadership role that blends operational excellence, regulatory expertise, and cross-functional collaboration. You’ll work across teams and time zones to streamline legal workflows, implement innovative solutions, and ensure compliance with global privacy and regulatory standards. This position is ideal for a resilient systems thinker who thrives in fast-paced, high-growth environments.

Key Responsibilities

Legal Operations Leadership

• Lead and expand the legal operations function globally by establishing scalable, efficient workflows that support legal teams across multiple jurisdictions.

• Implement and optimize legal tech platforms (e.g., contract management, document automation, compliance tools, analytics) to enhance productivity and manage risk.

• Develop and maintain standardized legal policies and operational best practices suitable for a multinational regulatory landscape.

• Manage departmental budgeting, resource allocation, and vendor engagement to ensure high-value, cost-effective outcomes.

• Build and mentor a high-performing Legal Ops and Privacy team, fostering innovation, accountability, and continuous development.

• Use KPIs and data analytics to identify operational bottlenecks and drive continuous improvement in legal service delivery.

Cross-Functional Collaboration

• Drive legal initiatives in partnership with teams including Product, Sales, HR, Finance, and IT to align legal operations with broader business goals.

• Serve as a strategic advisor to senior legal and business leadership, translating enterprise priorities into legal action plans.

• Lead change management efforts to introduce new systems, processes, or policies with minimal disruption and maximum adoption.

• Ensure efficient collaboration between the legal team and other departments by organizing workflows and communication channels with key stakeholders across the organization.

Privacy & AI Compliance

• Develop, implement, and maintain global Privacy and AI compliance programs in alignment with GDPR, CCPA, and other regulatory frameworks.

• Conduct privacy audits, DPIAs, and risk assessments; lead remediation efforts to close compliance gaps.

• Respond to regulatory inquiries, investigations, and audits; maintain strong documentation and version control for compliance records.

• Deliver training and guidance on privacy and AI compliance to employees and leadership, ensuring company-wide awareness and adherence.

• Monitor emerging privacy regulations and advise leadership on strategic compliance responses.

Compliance & Risk Management

• Ensure privacy and compliance with internal policies and external legal/regulatory frameworks, including employment law, AI governance, and EOR practices.

• Oversee global compliance metrics and incident reporting, identifying trends and proactively managing legal risks.

• Support commercial, corporate, and employment legal needs with an agile yet risk-aware approach.

Innovation & Benchmarking

• Continuously monitor industry best practices in Legal Ops, Privacy, AI, and regulatory compliance to ensure the company remains ahead of the curve.

• Champion agility and resilience by introducing scalable, tech-enabled legal solutions in response to organizational growth and change.

• Evaluate the effectiveness of current practices, offering improvements and implementing innovative operational strategies.

Qualifications

• 10+ years of progressive experience in Operations, Consulting, or related roles, with proven success in high-impact, fast-moving environments.

• Extensive global project management experience, having led large-scale, cross-border initiatives that foster alignment and business impact across cultures and time zones.

• Master’s degree in Engineering, Sciences, Business, Law, Finance, or Accounting, reflecting a strong analytical and strategic foundation.

• Deep knowledge of global regulatory frameworks, including GDPR, FCPA, SEC, and others, with a record of managing multinational compliance programs.

• Practical expertise in privacy program development and managing regulatory compliance across complex jurisdictions.

• Strong financial literacy, data analysis, and problem-solving skills, enabling sound decision-making and process optimization.

• Experience successfully launching new legal or business initiatives, with a focus on innovation and execution in high-growth environments.

• Proven ability to collaborate across functions such as Product, Sales, HR, Finance, and IT, managing multiple stakeholders and priorities effectively.

• A systems thinker comfortable navigating ambiguity, capable of building clarity and efficiency into evolving processes.

• Resilient and adaptable, with the grit to manage change and overcome challenges in a startup or scale-up setting.

• Exceptional communication skills and cultural fluency, enabling influence across diverse global teams and leadership levels.

• Experienced people manager who leads with accountability, clarity, and a commitment to developing high-performing teams.

• Highly organized and detail-oriented, able to work independently while managing multi-regional legal and operational tasks.

• Experience engaging with regulatory authorities and managing payment service licenses in various jurisdictions is preferred.

• Relevant certifications such as ACAMS, CIPP, CIPM, or equivalent are a strong plus.

Total Rewards

Our workforce deserves fair and competitive pay that meets them where they are. With scalable benefits, rewards, and perks, our total rewards programs reflect our commitment to inclusivity and access for all. 

Some things you’ll enjoy

• Stock grant opportunities dependent on your role, employment status and location

• Additional perks and benefits based on your employment status and country

• The flexibility of remote work, including optional WeWork access

At Deel, we’re an equal-opportunity employer that values diversity and positively encourage applications from suitably qualified and eligible candidates regardless of  race, religion, sex, national origin, gender, sexual orientation, age, marital status, veteran status, disability status, pregnancy or maternity or other applicable legally protected characteristics.

Unless otherwise agreed, we will communicate with job applicants using Deel-specific emails, which include @deel.com and other acquired company emails like @payspace.com and @paygroup.com. You can view the most up-to-date job listings at Deel by visitingour careers page.

Deel is an equal-opportunity employer and is committed to cultivating a diverse and inclusive workplace that reflects different abilities, backgrounds, beliefs, experiences, identities and perspectives.

Deel will provide accommodation on request throughout the recruitment, selection and assessment process for applicants with disabilities. If you require accommodation, please inform our Talent Acquisition Team at recruiting@deel.com of the nature of the accommodation that you may require, to ensure your equal participation.

We use Covey as part of our hiring and/or promotional processes. As part of the evaluation process, we provide Covey with job requirements and candidate-submitted applications. Certain features of the platform may qualify it as an Automated Employment Decision Tool (AEDT) under applicable regulations. For positions in New York City, our use of Covey complies with NYC Local Law 144.

We began using Covey Scout for Inbound on March 30, 2025.

For more information about our data protection practices, please visit our Privacy Policy. You can review the independent bias audit report covering our use of Covey here: https://getcovey.com/nyc-local-law-144