Senior Counsel, Strategic Partnerships (Payments)

Overview

This role involves leading strategic partnerships in the fintech and banking space, managing the entire lifecycle from initial discussions through drafting, signing, launch, and ongoing expansion. The position requires architecting innovative partnership structures to enable modern banking experiences while navigating complex regulatory requirements. The role works closely with cross-functional teams including Go-to-Market, Engineering, Finance, Risk, and Compliance, and reports directly to the Bank’s General Counsel.

Responsibilities

• Lead the legal structuring of payments partnerships including ACH origination and receipt, wire transfers, card issuing and acquiring, card network compliance, payment processor relationships, push-to-card, and instant payment capabilities.
• Draft and review customer-facing terms, marketing materials, onboarding flows, and applications.
• Determine BSA/AML requirements and conduct true lender analyses.
• Collaborate with engineering to design flow-of-funds models and reflect product structures in legal documentation.
• Structure, draft, and negotiate complex customer and third-party partnership agreements covering a broad range of banking products and services.
• Provide strategic legal guidance to enable product innovation across credit and lending portfolios.
• Advise on credit product structuring and legal implications of new lending features and partnership models.
• Build and evolve regulatory frameworks for existing and new products, leveraging expertise in Reg E, NACHA rules, card network rules, money transmission, TISA, Reg CC, UCC Article 4A, and real-time payments.
• Partner with compliance and risk teams to develop scalable approaches that protect the business while enabling growth.
• Serve as a subject matter expert on legal and regulatory requirements impacting payments products.
• Share insights on regulatory developments and their practical implications.
• Drive adoption of technology including AI and automation tools to increase efficiency and scalability of legal workflows.
• Identify opportunities to build legal tooling in partnership with engineering teams.
• Design and implement scalable legal processes to support hypergrowth.
• Improve partner onboarding efficiency while maintaining compliance.
• Develop template loan program agreements, disclosure packages, and servicing frameworks to accelerate partnership launches.

Requirements

• Licensed to practice law in a U.S. state with a J.D. or equivalent.
• 7–15+ years of experience as a practicing lawyer, preferably with both law firm and in-house experience at a fintech or financial institution.
• Deep expertise advising product teams on banking infrastructure and embedded finance solutions, especially payments, money transmission, and money-movement regulatory frameworks.
• Ability to independently draft and negotiate complex commercial agreements with strong understanding of contract law and commercial transactions.
• Comprehensive knowledge of regulatory frameworks governing banking partnerships and fintech services.
• Deep working knowledge of NACHA rules, card network operating regulations, Regulation E, UCC Article 4A, BSA/AML requirements, and OFAC sanctions as they apply to payment products.
• Experience structuring payment processing agreements, funds-flow structures, settlement mechanics, and chargeback/dispute frameworks.
• Proven ability to manage a high volume, cross-functional workload without sacrificing quality or speed.
• Strong desire to work at the intersection of fintech and banking innovation with comfort making fast, sound risk decisions in complex legal environments.

Compensation & Benefits

• Annual base salary range: $210,000 - $300,000 plus equity.
• Comprehensive health, dental, and vision plans, including options fully covered for employees and dependents.
• Family planning and fertility benefits with reimbursement up to $20,000 in qualified expenses.
• Flexible Spending Account (FSA) and Health Savings Account (HSA) options.
• 401(k) plan with self-directed brokerage options.
• Flexible time-off policy.
• 100% paid parental leave: 16 weeks for birth mothers, 12 weeks for primary caregivers, 8 weeks for secondary caregivers.
• Catered lunches and dinners for San Francisco employees.
• Commuter benefits.
• Regular team-building events including an annual offsite.

Location

San Francisco, CA (implied by catered lunches and commuter benefits for SF employees)

The organization is committed to diversity and encourages applications from all qualified individuals. Reasonable accommodations are available during the application and recruiting process upon request. The employer participates in the E-Verify program where required by law.