Principal Counsel, Africa Legal

Overview

This role is responsible for leading legal and compliance strategy and operations across multiple countries of operation in Africa. It sits at the intersection of compliance execution and regulatory strategy and is critical to supporting growth in complex, evolving regulatory environments.

The position involves independent leadership of Africa Legal & Compliance operations and strategy, along with collaboration as an integral member of the global Legal Team. It also includes participation in the Africa Leadership Team and cross-functional work with Operations, Policy, Government Affairs, People, Finance, and Engineering. The role reports directly to the Deputy General Counsel, with dotted reporting to the CEO for Africa.

Responsibilities

• Design, implement, scale, and continuously improve legal and compliance programs across Africa, focused 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 the organization’s 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

Requirements

• Strong judgment and the confidence to make independent decisions, with the discernment to escalate when appropriate
• Willingness to dive deep into unfamiliar issues and operate effectively in ambiguous, fast-paced environments
• 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

Preferred Qualifications

• Experience with international compliance and cross-border legal risk management (e.g., export controls, sanctions, anti-corruption)

Compensation & Benefits

• Not specified in the provided job description.

Location

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

Equal Opportunity

• The employer is an equal opportunity employer and 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 its own policies.

Voluntary Self-Identification

• For government reporting purposes, candidates are asked to complete a self-identification survey. Completion is voluntary and not considered in the hiring process; any provided information is recorded and maintained in a confidential file.