Head of Legal (United States)

Come join our Legal team

Our Legal team is dedicated to supporting Karat's people, solving complex problems with both a business and a legal mindset, and serving as a strategic partner to leaders and teams across a dynamic organization. We embrace innovation, creative thinking, and teamwork in our mission to empower Karat's successes.

What you will do

As Head of Legal at Karat, you will serve as a strategic advisor and partner to the Leadership Team on matters including Data Privacy, Product, AI Governance, Corporate Governance, and Commercial Law. You'll lead and develop the Legal and Information Security (InfoSec) teams, integrating these functions across the company to provide premier support, counsel, and risk management.

• Serve as a key stakeholder in company direction, strategizing and counseling on the risks and opportunities of proposed actions; devise practical solutions that meet cross-organizational business objectives while protecting core legal interests.
• Oversee legal services delivery to accomplish company goals and strategies; implement effective risk management techniques and provide proactive, business-minded advice on emerging legal issues.
• Lead Karat's privacy program, assisting in development, implementation, and ongoing maintenance as we expand into new territories, product lines, and AI-driven solutions.
• Provide guidance to R&D teams throughout the product development lifecycle to minimize legal risk, respect consumer privacy, and advance business goals.
• Own corporate governance efforts, maintaining training programs, policies, and Code of Conduct for all employees; drive awareness on privacy and security issues with programs that help stakeholders proactively address data protection challenges.
• Partner with Commercial Counsel to negotiate enterprise-level customer agreements that support Karat's sales cycles and capacity; collaborate with People and Delivery teams on employment and contractor matters.
• Lead and develop the Legal and InfoSec teams, building complementary skill sets and fostering an inclusive environment where diverse perspectives drive better outcomes; champion Karat's mission to provide efficient, effective, and equitable interview experiences.

The experience you will bring

• J.D. degree from an accredited law school and active bar admission in at least one U.S. state
• 10+ years of legal experience, with significant in-house experience; focus on product law, data privacy, or technology law strongly preferred
• Demonstrated leadership experience managing Legal teams and driving cross-functional collaboration
• Excellent business judgment and ability to balance risk-reward, providing pragmatic, solution-oriented advice that protects core legal interests while enabling business growth
• Exceptional communication skills, with the ability to clearly articulate legal issues to diverse audiences (including non-legal business partners and executives)
• Experience building or scaling legal operations in a growth-stage technology company (100-500 employees)
• Deep expertise in privacy program development and implementation, particularly in the context of expanding into new territories or product lines
• Background in HR technology, talent assessment platforms, or workforce solutions preferred
• Experience with AI governance and emerging technology legal frameworks
• Track record of building diverse, inclusive teams and championing equitable practices

This position is only available to candidates residing in the following U.S. states: CA, CT, Washington, D.C., FL, GA, IL, KS, MA, MD, MO, NC, NV, NY, OR, PA, RI, SC, TX, VA, and WA. While our team operates 100% remotely, we are currently limiting hiring to these specific locations. Applications from other states will not be considered at this time.

Immigration sponsorship is not available.

Benefits of joining Karat in the United States

All U.S.-based offers include a competitive salary in local currency and Karat-granted stock options. We're proud of our additional offerings, and highlight some of our team's favorites below.

Benefits / Wellness:

Benefits are available for all full-time, U.S. employees

• Employer-sponsored healthcare (100% premium coverage for employees and 75% premium coverage for eligible dependents)
  • Medical (Regence PPO and HDHP available)
    • HSA employer contribution for those enrolled in the HDHP medical plan
  • Dental and Vision (Guardian)
• 100% employer-paid Short-Term Disability, Long-Term Disability, and Standard Life Insurance
• Optional Life Insurance available
• Flexible Savings Account (Healthcare)
• 401(k) match of 4%

Time Off:

U.S. Time Off Policies

• Vacation: flexible policy for salaried employees and three (3) work weeks available for hourly employees per year
• Wellness (Sick & Mental Health): three (3) work weeks available per year
• Karat 'No Questions Asked' Leave: one (1) work week per calendar year
• Other: Bereavement, Jury Duty, LOA, etc. available as-needed

U.S. Parental Leave: 24 weeks

• 16 weeks: full-out, full pay
• 8 weeks: "Karat Phase-Back" 20 hours per week, full pay

U.S. Holidays

• U.S. Holiday Schedule available here: 10 days
• Karat Summer Break: 5 days - July
• Karat Winter Break: 5 days - December