Principal Counsel, Africa Legal

Overview

This role leads and scales legal and compliance efforts across multiple countries of operation in Africa. The position sits at the intersection of compliance execution and regulatory strategy, enabling continued growth in complex and evolving regulatory environments.

You will independently lead Legal & Compliance operations and strategy for Africa while serving as an integral member of the international Legal Team. The role also includes participation in the Africa Leadership Team with the Heads of People and Finance and country directors, with a dotted reporting line to the Africa CEO. You will collaborate across Operations, Policy, Government Affairs, People, Finance, and Engineering, and report directly to the Deputy General Counsel.

Responsibilities

• Design, implement, scale, and continuously improve legal and compliance programs across Africa, with a focus on sustainable, practical operations that support rapid growth
• Lead day-to-day compliance workstreams covering sanctions, anti-bribery and anti-corruption, privacy, healthcare, employment, and product-related regulations
• Support internal investigations, audits, and risk assessments, partnering closely with People, Finance, and senior leadership
• Manage litigation and disputes across African markets
• Translate complex regulatory requirements into clear, actionable guidance for business and technical teams
• Own compliance with U.S. government award requirements, including FARs and 2 CFR 200, and serve as a primary point of contact for U.S. government contracting officers (including at the U.S. Department of State)
• Monitor and assess regulatory and policy developments across relevant African jurisdictions and advise leadership on emerging risks and opportunities

Cross-Functional Partnership

• Act as a senior legal advisor to business leaders, providing pragmatic, risk-calibrated guidance
• Build strong relationships across the organization and help foster a durable “culture of compliance” so teams understand expectations and raise issues early
• Help shape long-term legal and regulatory strategy in Africa, balancing compliance rigor with innovation and speed

Requirements

• Willingness to dive deep into unfamiliar issues and operate effectively in ambiguous, fast-moving environments
• Strong judgment and confidence to make independent decisions, with the discernment to escalate when appropriate
• Experience advising on legal and compliance matters, preferably in international or emerging-market environments
• Ability to break down complex legal and regulatory problems into clear priorities and practical solutions
• Excellent written and verbal communication, including the ability to advise senior stakeholders
• Collaborative, solutions-oriented mindset and strong organizational skills
• Ability to travel up to 25% to Africa and San Francisco headquarters

Compensation & Benefits

• Not specified in the provided description.

Location

• Africa, with travel up to 25% to Africa and San Francisco headquarters.

Equal Opportunity

• Equal opportunity employer. Prohibits discrimination and harassment of any type without regard to race, color, religion, age, sex, national origin, disability status, genetics, protected veteran status, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, or any other characteristic protected by federal, state, or local laws or company policy.

Voluntary Self-Identification

• For government reporting purposes, completion of a voluntary self-identification survey may be requested; responses are not required and do not affect the hiring process.