Director, Legal & Compliance

Overview

An established B2B insights organization is seeking an experienced and strategic Director of Legal & Compliance to lead and scale its Legal and Compliance functions. This senior leadership role reports directly to the CFO and involves building the strategic roadmap for both departments, managing day-to-day legal operations, overseeing compliance programs, and driving cross-functional initiatives to support continued growth.

Responsibilities

Leadership & Strategy

• Develop and execute a strategic roadmap for Legal and Compliance teams aligned with business objectives and CFO priorities.
• Manage and mentor a team of 3–4 professionals (2+ in Compliance, 1–2 in Legal), including goal-setting and performance management.
• Advise CFO and senior leadership on legal, regulatory, and compliance risks and opportunities.
• Promote a culture of compliance, integrity, and continuous improvement across the organization.

Legal Operations & Contract Management

• Maintain and improve legal procedures for client onboarding and contract lifecycle management, including MSAs, NDAs, DPAs, SOWs, order forms, and amendments.
• Own and optimize the contract lifecycle management platform workflows, including playbooks, templates, approval paths, and reporting.
• Conduct legal reviews of client onboarding workflows and contracts, ensuring consistent risk positions on key provisions such as indemnity, liability caps, IP, confidentiality, data security, and governing law.
• Identify and escalate non-standard or high-risk contract terms to external counsel or senior leadership with clear recommendations.
• Support legal operations and strategic initiatives including vendor agreements, corporate governance, employment law, and IP protection.

Compliance Program Management

• Oversee and enhance compliance operations, including MNPI/insider-trading controls, expert network compliance guidelines, and data protection/privacy policies.
• Implement and continuously improve compliance processes, tools, and controls.
• Review surveys, interview guides, and research deliverables for compliance risks, including MNPI and financial compliance issues.
• Prepare and present compliance reports to senior management and maintain documentation of compliance activities, audits, and risk assessments.
• Monitor regulatory developments affecting B2B research and market research industries and update policies accordingly.

Cross-Functional Collaboration

• Collaborate with Sales, Client Delivery, Finance, Marketing, Product, and Engineering teams to operationalize contractual obligations, data protection commitments, and compliance requirements.
• Align contract language and compliance procedures with privacy frameworks such as SOC 2, GDPR, and related standards.
• Develop internal guides, training materials, and communication channels to educate non-legal teams on involving Legal & Compliance.
• Communicate with clients and their legal teams on contractual and compliance matters throughout engagements.

Requirements

• Minimum 7 years of progressive experience in legal, compliance, or combined legal & compliance roles, including at least 2 years in people management.
• Strong expertise in commercial contract review and negotiation (MSAs, NDAs, DPAs, SOWs).
• Proven experience building and managing compliance programs, including policy development, risk assessment, and regulatory monitoring.
• Excellent knowledge of data protection and privacy regulations (GDPR, SOC 2, CCPA) applicable to B2B research and data-intensive businesses.
• Proficiency in Intellectual Property frameworks, especially related to proprietary methodologies and licensing in data-intensive/SaaS environments.
• Demonstrated ability to build scalable legal and compliance processes in high-growth settings.
• Outstanding written and verbal communication skills, capable of translating complex legal and regulatory issues into actionable business guidance.
• Highly organized, process-driven, results-oriented, with strong project management skills.
• Ability to work under pressure, manage competing priorities, and make independent sound judgments.
• Bachelor’s degree required; JD, LLM, or equivalent advanced legal qualification preferred.
• Experience using AI tools to enhance productivity and improve processes is a plus.

Preferred Qualifications

• Experience in market research, expert network, B2B SaaS, or consulting industries.
• Familiarity with MNPI/insider-trading compliance frameworks and financial services regulations.
• Hands-on experience with Salesforce, Ironclad, or similar contract lifecycle management platforms.
• Paralegal certification, CCEP (Certified Compliance & Ethics Professional), or similar credentials.
• Proficiency with Google Workspace, Excel, and modern legal/compliance technology tools.

Compensation & Benefits

• Competitive base salary ranging from $170,000 to $180,000.
• Annual performance bonus and employee equity program.
• Career advancement and development opportunities in a high-growth environment.
• Comprehensive medical, dental, and vision coverage for employees and dependents.
• 401(k) plan with immediate vesting match.
• Health savings/flexible spending accounts, life insurance, and pre-tax commuter benefits.
• Paid time off including vacation, holidays, sick leave, and parental leave.

Location

This role is open to candidates who meet the specified eligibility and work authorization requirements.