Lead Commercial Counsel

Rippling gives businesses one place to run HR, IT, and Finance. It brings together all of the workforce systems that are normally scattered across a company, like payroll, expenses, benefits, and computers. For the first time ever, you can manage and automate every part of the employee lifecycle in a single system.

Take onboarding, for example. With Rippling, you can hire a new employee anywhere in the world and set up their payroll, corporate card, computer, benefits, and even third-party apps like Slack and Microsoft 365—all within 90 seconds.

Based in San Francisco, CA, Rippling has raised $1.4B+ from the world’s top investors—including Kleiner Perkins, Founders Fund, Sequoia, Greenoaks, and Bedrock—and was named one of America's best startup employers by Forbes.

We prioritize candidate safety. Please be aware that all official communication will only be sent from @ Rippling.com addresses.

About the Role

We are looking for an exceptional and highly-motivated, business-minded attorney to join Rippling as Lead Commercial Counsel on the Legal & Compliance Team. In this role, you will partner closely with our Sales, Business Development, and other GTM Teams, as well as Client Services, Product, Procurement, Finance, Accounting, and Security, and will report to our Associate General Counsel, Commercial. You are a sharp self-starter eager to take an ownership role in scaling the commercial legal function to be best-in-class on a global scale, while simultaneously counseling on numerous complex strategic initiatives and getting deals done. We love fresh perspectives and welcome your innovative thoughts on achieving that intersection of highest efficiency and protection in Rippling’s commercial endeavors.

What you will do:

• Serve as the primary legal advisor on a variety of commercial matters, including financial and corporate transactions, strategic alliances, customer negotiations, and vendor relationships.
• Partner with our Sales, Business Development, Procurement, Client Services and other GTM teams to develop, refine and manage Rippling’s commercial counseling and contracting function.
• Develop rich enablement tools (e.g., internal and external collateral, playbooks, training), meticulously draft and refine contract templates, and establish best-in-class contracting practices.
• Navigate complex global regulatory frameworks to create scalable and innovative solutions for supporting our products and services.
• Collaborate cross functionally with our internal teams (Privacy, Finance, Security, Product and Engineering) on development and documentation of new features and services.
• Drive the compliance culture at Rippling and embed integrity and compliance in all of our operations as our company grows.
• Advise and assist with Rippling’s general legal needs as they arise.

What you will need:

• 6+ years of combined legal experience at a law firm, in-house, or other relevant roles, including 3+ years in-house commercial legal experience at a software or other technology company.
• Extensive knowledge of SaaS licensing, data integrations and other technology transactions; strategic alliances; procurement processes and vendor negotiations; channel, reseller and referral sales, marketplaces and other distribution models; and AI, privacy and cybersecurity issues.
• Entrepreneurial mindset, solution-oriented ethos (bias to finding the path to “yes”, but confidence in knowing when to say “no”), and ready to roll up your sleeves.
• Passion for efficient processes.
• Strong project management, organizational and analytical and problem-solving skills.
• Excellent drafting and written and verbal communication skills with the ability to break down complex legal jargon into easy-to-understand and actionable advice.
• Ability to manage a high volume of matters and shifting priorities with efficiency, precision, and a sense of urgency.
• Sense of humor.
• Law degree (e.g., JD or equivalent).

Nice to Have:

• Experience negotiating strategic alliances with global technology platform providers and channel sales agreements for SaaS products.
• Experience with corporate financing and strategic transactions, intercompany services and other corporate matters; on a global scale a heavy plus.
• Experience with navigating complex regulatory regimes (e.g., benefits, financial services, privacy, etc.). This role will receive a competitive salary + benefits + equity. The salary for US-based employees will be aligned with one of the ranges below based on location; see which tier applies to your location here .

A variety of factors are considered when determining someone’s compensation–including a candidate’s professional background, experience, and location. Final offer amounts may vary from the amounts listed below.