Employment Counsel, Americas

Location: Team Legal

Team: Country San Francisco / United States

About the Role

Join Canva's dynamic Legal team as Employment Counsel, Americas, and help power the visual communication revolution that's redefining design for 170+ million users worldwide. Based in our vibrant San Francisco or Austin hubs, you'll report to the Senior Employment Counsel and partner with our global team to navigate complex employment challenges in a fast-scaling, innovation-driven environment. At Canva, our Legal Canvanauts blend sharp legal expertise with creative problem-solving to keep our products delightful, compliant, and ahead of regulatory curves—ensuring our collaborative culture thrives as we grow. In this hybrid role, you'll provide pragmatic advice on everything from performance management and global mobility to employee equity and disputes, all while embedding Canva's user-first values into employment practices. Expect to draft agreements, lead investigations, shape policies, and deliver training that aligns with our design-focused mission. You'll collaborate closely with People teams, product designers, and executives, leveraging your US state bar expertise and Americas knowledge to drive compliance without stifling creativity in our unstructured, high-velocity setting. Canva's culture celebrates big thinking, inclusivity, and fun—think equity that shares our success, flexible hybrid work, wellness allowances, and parental leave that supports real life. If you have 4+ years in employment law at tech scale-ups, thrive on ownership, and can communicate complex issues simply, you'll love seeing your impact on a platform that empowers everyone to design. We're building the future of visual communication—come help us make it employment-law-proof.

Key Responsibilities

• Provide strategic advice on a broad spectrum of employment law issues including performance management, disciplinary outcomes, grievances, employee equity, executive compensation, benefits, contingent workers, and global mobility
• Prepare, negotiate, and review various employment-related agreements, including severance agreements
• Deliver day-to-day employment law guidance to key stakeholders across People, HR, and business teams
• Support and manage employee disputes, litigation, and investigations
• Conduct employment classification reviews and lead compliance initiatives across US states
• Lead complex, time-sensitive employment projects while coordinating internal stakeholders and external counsel
• Develop, implement, and review workplace policies, processes, guidance, and templates aligned with local laws and Canva's collaborative culture
• Liaise with external counsel in the US and Americas jurisdictions as needed
• Support Canva-wide learning initiatives by delivering training on employment topics, legal changes, best practices, and Canva's values
• Partner with product and design teams to ensure employment practices support Canva's innovative, user-delight-focused mission

Required Qualifications

• 4+ years of relevant employment law experience gained within a respected law firm or in-house at rapidly growing international technology companies
• Member of a US state bar in good standing
• Strong understanding of employment law across various US states with ability to apply knowledge pragmatically in a commercial environment
• Experience advising on performance management, disciplinary actions, grievances, employee equity, executive compensation, benefits, contingent workers, and global mobility
• Demonstrated ability to manage employee disputes, litigation, and employment classification reviews
• Experience preparing, negotiating, and reviewing employment-related agreements including severance agreements
• Proven track record leading complex, time-sensitive projects and coordinating with internal stakeholders and external advisors

Preferred Qualifications

• International employment law experience, particularly in diverse jurisdictions throughout the Americas
• Background working at fast-scaling tech companies with design or creative industry exposure
• Experience developing and implementing workplace policies, processes, and training programs
• Familiarity with global mobility and contingent worker compliance in tech environments
• Previous in-house counsel experience at a high-growth SaaS or consumer tech company

Required Skills

• Deep knowledge of US employment law across multiple states
• Pragmatic risk-aware legal judgment in fast-paced tech environments
• Excellent stakeholder management and cross-functional collaboration
• Strong project management for complex, time-sensitive initiatives
• Clear, concise communication of complex legal concepts
• Global mindset with Americas employment law exposure
• Innovative problem-solving aligned with business goals
• Ownership mentality and 'can-do' attitude
• Experience with employment agreements and negotiations
• Litigation and dispute resolution expertise
• Policy development and training delivery skills
• Adaptability in unstructured, high-growth settings
• Business acumen for design/tech industry
• Cultural fit with Canva's collaborative, creative values

Benefits

• Competitive salary range of $168,000-$260,000 based on experience and market data
• Equity packages to share in Canva's success
• Comprehensive health benefits plans supporting physical and mental wellbeing
• 401(k) retirement plan with generous company contribution
• Inclusive parental leave policy for all parents and carers
• Annual Vibe & Thrive allowance for wellbeing, social connection, office setup, and more
• Flexible leave options empowering personal recharge and work-life balance
• Hybrid work model in San Francisco or Austin with relocation support

Canva is an equal opportunity employer.