Legal Counsel - Content Safety, Product & Privacy

Join the team redefining how the world experiences design. We offer flexibility in how and where you work, trusting our team to choose the balance that empowers them and their colleagues to achieve their goals. Our flagship office is in Sydney, Australia, with a hub in San Francisco for US operations.

About the role

This role is a unique opportunity to join Canva’s Product and Privacy function, working at the intersection of AI, product counseling, legal strategy, and governance. You’ll collaborate with global colleagues, so comfort with time zones is essential. The role supports product and engineering teams to launch exciting products while ensuring compliance with online safety and platform laws, particularly around content safety and moderation.

Responsibilities

• Identify and advise on legal issues in key areas including online content and product safety (youth and AI), platform, privacy, intellectual property, and AI regulation.
• Build strong relationships with key stakeholders, advising on product development (including Generative AI products), go-to-market strategy, and risk mitigation, with a focus on safety issues.
• Contribute to the development and operationalization of company-wide safety policies, processes, and regulatory monitoring (with a focus on online and child safety).
• Draft and maintain legal playbooks and internal guidance.
• Collaborate closely with policy, IP, security, product, trust and safety, regulatory, and engineering teams.
• Help build scalable and effective processes for legal review to enable the launch of new products.
• Participate in the review and coordination of potential safety, privacy, or data security incidents (including on-call), including investigations, notifications, and resolution efforts.
• Stay up to date with global AI, safety, and privacy regulations, conduct impact mapping of incoming regulations, and drive compliance projects, including annual online safety risk assessments.
• Respond to and triage incidents and escalations.
• Support Canva-wide privacy and legal training and awareness initiatives.
• Help redefine the role of in-house counsel by building tools and processes for continued growth and success.

Requirements

• Legally qualified with 8+ years of practicing law, including some in-house experience.
• Familiarity with key online safety laws and regulations, as well as privacy, platform, and consumer laws relating to digital products and generative AI (e.g., Digital Services Act, Online Safety Act (UK and AU), GDPR).
• Deep understanding of modern AI technology and products.
• Comfortable collaborating with team members in other time zones.
• Collaborative, pragmatic, and business-minded, with a passion for helping Canva grow.
• Ability to bring clarity to complexity and simplify compliance without compromising standards.
• Enjoy collaborating with engineers and PMs and thrive in fast-moving environments.
• Creative, curious, and motivated by meaningful work.
• Experience with data incidents and government authority requests.

Bonus Qualifications

• AIGP, CIPP/E, or similar qualifications (willingness to obtain at least one certification within 6 months of joining is required).
• Knowledge and understanding of Canva’s products and mission.
• High level of comfort with technology and AI experimentation.
• Hands-on experience advising rapidly growing technology companies on privacy and product-related regulatory requirements.

Benefits

• Equity packages to share in Canva’s success.
• Health benefits plans to support you and your wellbeing.
• 401(k) retirement plan with company contribution.
• Inclusive parental leave policy supporting all parents and carers.
• Annual Vibe & Thrive allowance for wellbeing, social connection, office setup, and more.
• Flexible leave options to recharge and pursue personal goals.

Pay

The target salary range for this position is $190,000 to $290,000, based on market data and candidate skills and experience.