Senior Managing Counsel, Blockchain & Digital Assets

About the role

Mastercard is seeking a Senior Managing Counsel to support the integration of BVNK and the development of next-generation digital asset, stablecoin, cross-border payments, and embedded finance solutions. This role will partner with multiple teams and stakeholders including Product, Business Development, Privacy, Compliance, and Regulatory teams.

Responsibilities

• Identify and analyze relevant issues and help the business effectively navigate legal and regulatory risks and implement appropriate controls, policies, and processes.
• Lead legal support for the strategic development and daily operations of Mastercard’s global digital assets products and services.
• Manage tactical and strategic legal support related to products and solutions to advance Mastercard’s corporate objectives, including Mastercard’s stablecoin, digital assets, and blockchain strategy.
• Develop strong relationships with senior management, product development, and business and sales clients.
• Collaborate with product, technology, regulatory, sales, franchise, marketing, communications, and others to develop and launch innovative products and solutions that differentiate Mastercard and meet our customers' and cardholders' rapidly changing needs.
• Assist executive-level clients and others in managing and mitigating legal, regulatory, and commercial risks by providing solution-oriented guidance.
• Inform policy and regulatory positions related to Mastercard’s products and innovation with relevant internal and external stakeholders.
• Advise from the concept through development to launch stage and beyond of various solutions and services, ensuring alignment and compliance with Mastercard’s policies, procedures, and processes and with local and global regulatory and commercial laws.
• Draft, review, and negotiate a wide range of contracts, including complex technology agreements, customer and vendor agreements.
• Identify needed process improvements and efficiencies; own and execute solutions to support Mastercard’s transformation strategy and streamline processes to increase ease of doing business.
• Instruct and manage external counsel within agreed policy and budget.

Requirements

A qualified lawyer with a solid academic and training background, licensed to practice in New York. Experience in the financial services industry, emerging technology, stablecoin and other digital currencies, and the use of public and private blockchains. Experience working on products and solutions involving digital assets and advising on related legal issues. Good working knowledge of the regulatory landscape and legal issues relating to digital assets. Experience across a range of commercial and technology contracts and the ability to analyze and identify the core legal issues, skilled at explaining technical problems succinctly and clearly. A working knowledge of data privacy and intellectual property issues and how they relate to emerging technology such as digital assets. A fast learner who can gain rapid familiarity with complex products, services, and legal frameworks and maintain knowledge of those changing products, services, and legal frameworks. Solutions-oriented with excellent time management, planning, and organizational skills. Agile and flexible while working under pressure and with tight deadlines. Strong drafting, writing, oral communication, and negotiating skills, able to communicate your vision and roadmap effectively to a wide variety of stakeholders. Exceptional interpersonal skills with proven experience in relationship building and partnering. Must work well in both team and individual settings. Strong business acumen. Fluent English.

Qualifications

The ideal candidate should have a solid academic and training background, licensed to practice in New York. They should have experience in the financial services industry, emerging technology, stablecoin and other digital currencies, and the use of public and private blockchains. They should have experience working on products and solutions involving digital assets and advising on related legal issues. They should have good working knowledge of the regulatory landscape and legal issues relating to digital assets. They should have experience across a range of commercial and technology contracts and the ability to analyze and identify the core legal issues, skilled at explaining technical problems succinctly and clearly. They should have a working knowledge of data privacy and intellectual property issues and how they relate to emerging technology such as digital assets. They should be a fast learner who can gain rapid familiarity with complex products, services, and legal frameworks and maintain knowledge of those changing products, services, and legal frameworks. They should be solutions-oriented with excellent time management, planning, and organizational skills. They should be agile and flexible while working under pressure and with tight deadlines. They should have strong drafting, writing, oral communication, and negotiating skills, able to communicate their vision and roadmap effectively to a wide variety of stakeholders. They should have exceptional interpersonal skills with proven experience in relationship building and partnering. They should be able to work well in both team and individual settings. They should have strong business acumen. Fluent English.

Skills

• Strong judgment and strategic thinking
• Ability to navigate complex regulatory and commercial issues in a rapidly evolving environment
• Experience in the financial services industry, emerging technology, stablecoin and other digital currencies, and the use of public and private blockchains
• Good working knowledge of the regulatory landscape and legal issues relating to digital assets
• Experience across a range of commercial and technology contracts and the ability to analyze and identify the core legal issues
• Working knowledge of data privacy and intellectual property issues and how they relate to emerging technology such as digital assets
• Solutions-oriented with excellent time management, planning, and organizational skills
• Able to work well in both team and individual settings
• Strong drafting, writing, oral communication, and negotiating skills
• Exceptional interpersonal skills with proven experience in relationship building and partnering

Benefits

Mastercard offers a competitive base salary and may be eligible for an annual bonus or commissions depending on the role. The base salary offered may vary depending on multiple factors, including but not limited to location, job-related knowledge, skills, and experience. Mastercard benefits for full-time (and certain part-time) employees generally include: insurance (including medical, prescription drug, dental, vision, disability, life insurance); flexible spending account and health savings account; paid leaves (including 16 weeks of new parent leave and up to 20 days of bereavement leave); 80 hours of Paid Sick and Safe Time, 25 days of vacation time and 5 personal days, pro-rated based on date of hire; 10 annual paid U.S. observed holidays; 401k with a best-in-class company match; deferred compensation for eligible roles; fitness reimbursement or on-site fitness facilities; eligibility for tuition reimbursement; and many more. Mastercard benefits for interns generally include: 56 hours of Paid Sick and Safe Time; jury duty leave; and on-site fitness facilities in some locations.