Etsy

VP, Deputy General Counsel, Corporate

Brooklyn, New York Full time

Company Description
Etsy is the global marketplace for unique and creative goods. We build, power, and evolve the tools and technologies that connect millions of entrepreneurs with millions of buyers around the world. As an Etsy Inc. employee, whether a team member of Etsy or Depop, you will tackle unique, meaningful, and large-scale problems alongside passionate coworkers, all the while making a rewarding impact and Keeping Commerce Human.

Salary Range:

$322,000.00 - $418,000.00

What’s the role?
Etsy is seeking a seasoned legal executive to serve as Vice President, Deputy General Counsel, Corporate. This role will report directly to the Chief Legal Officer, oversee all corporate secretary functions, and serve as a key strategic partner to Etsy’s executive leadership team and Board of Directors.

You will lead Etsy’s Corporate, Securities, Compliance, Enterprise Risk, Labor and Employment, and Governance functions globally, ensuring that the company operates with integrity, accountability, and resilience as we scale. This includes oversight of public company reporting and disclosure, corporate governance, compliance programs, enterprise risk management, data protection, employment-related legal strategies, and related regulatory matters.

This role requires a leader who excels as a leader, shaping organizational direction while empowering teams to execute independently, and as a lawyer, bringing to bear deep substantive domain expertise, particularly in the areas of public-company reporting and corporate governance.
This is a full-time position reporting to the Chief Legal Officer. In addition to salary, you will also be eligible for an equity package, an annual performance bonus, and our competitive benefits that support you and your family as part of your total rewards package at Etsy.

This role requires your regular presence in Etsy’s Brooklyn Office at least two days once or twice per week depending on your proximity to the office. Candidates living within commutable distance of Etsy’s Brooklyn Office Hub may be the first to be considered. Learn more details about our work modes and workplace safety policies here.

What’s this team like at Etsy?
Etsy’s global Legal team works with every Etsy business unit, across our offices worldwide, to provide timely and business-savvy legal advice. We help teams that design products, we draft contracts and policies, we advise engineers and leadership, advocate externally, and handle disputes to protect Etsy and our users.

We meaningfully support Etsy’s growth by delivering legal and business know-how with a great work ethic. We are a global enterprise team that works across and supports all of our marketplaces, subsidiaries, and offices worldwide.

What does the day-to-day look like?
Lead the teams that:
  • Prepare and review Etsy’s SEC reporting (10-K, 10-Q, 8-K, proxy), and manage NYSE compliance, insider trading compliance, and other public company corporate governance matters
  • Oversee, implement and evolve Etsy’s compliance program, covering areas such as anti-bribery and corruption (FCPA, UK Bribery Act), sanctions, anti-financial crime, and ethics
  • Advise on employment-related legal strategies and services, including executive compensation practices, and oversee employee-related internal investigations and employment litigation 
  • Oversee, implement and evolve Etsy’s ERM framework and reporting, working collaboratively with cross-functional teams to identify, assess, and prioritize key enterprise-wide risks and to ensure scalable systems that anticipate regulatory and operational risks
  • Operationalize the Office of the DPO in Europe and the Corporate Secretary for Etsy’s subsidiaries  
  • Lead in the development and implementation of AI tools to empower the legal team and its vendors to deliver first-rate work product in the fastest and most efficient manner possible.
  • Provide thought leadership relating to legal risk at the executive level and with the Board; evaluate and explain technical, legal, and business risks and concepts with ease; demonstrate a deep understanding of our business, and the broader tech sector, as you evaluate and manage risk. 
  • Serve as a strategic advisor to the CEO, Executive Team, and Board on governance, enterprise risk, compliance, ESG, and public company governance and disclosure obligations
  • Lead cross-functional partnerships with Finance, Treasury, Accounting, Internal Audit, Investor Relations, and Impact to align governance and compliance with business strategy
  • Collaborate with teams across Etsy to help shape a long-term governance and compliance strategy in light of evolving regulatory landscapes affecting ecommerce, technology platforms, and design and implement the systems, policies and processes for achieving compliance
  • Lead and develop a high-performing team while driving operational excellence in outside counsel management and legal spend
  • Serve as a visible enterprise leader who influences strategy beyond Legal and contributes to company-wide direction
  • Of course, this is just a sample of the kinds of work this role will require! You should assume that your role will encompass other tasks, too, and that your job duties and responsibilities may change from time to time at Etsy's discretion, or otherwise applicable with local law.
     
Qualities that will help you thrive in this role are:
The ideal candidate has a foundation in securities law and corporate governance at a US post-IPO company as well as in compliance at an e-commerce company.
  • JD and admission to a state bar (NY preferred); eligible to work in-house in New York
  • 15+ years of experience, including a mix of major law firm and in-house global public company leadership experience
  • Deep expertise in corporate governance, public company reporting (including executive compensation disclosures), and enterprise risk and compliance oversight frameworks
  • Experience managing and interacting directly with Boards and senior executives with integrity and confidence
  • Experience leading and scaling global compliance and corporate governance functions;
  • Strong executive presence; demonstrated ability to distill complex legal issues into clear, stakeholder level-appropriate business-aligned guidance, both written and verbal 
  • Proven track record anticipating internal and external regulatory trends and adjusting strategy proactively
  • Outstanding people management and leadership skills with a proven track record of building, mentoring and managing diverse teams. You will be a trusted mentor, dedicated to empowering senior leaders, building high-performing teams, and helping your team members reach their full potential and collectively contribute to the organization’s long-term success.
  • Strong comfort level with and curiosity about technology, including emerging AI tools
  • Sound judgment, logical critical thinking skills, and the ability to operate confidently in ambiguous and unfamiliar situations
  • Experience operating in a fast-paced, high-growth technology, ecommerce or FinTech company preferred
  • Business-first mindset—you balance legal risk with strategic and operational considerations
  • Deep alignment with Etsy’s mission and dedication to building an ethical, resilient marketplace

Additional Information
 

What's Next
If you're interested in joining the team at Etsy, please share your resume with us and feel free to include a cover letter if you'd like. As we hope you've seen already, Etsy is a place that values individuality and variety. We don't want you to be like everyone else -- we want you to be like you! So tell us what you're all about.
 
Our Promise
At Etsy, we believe that a diverse, equitable and inclusive workplace furthers relevance, resilience, and longevity. We encourage people from all backgrounds, ages, abilities, and experiences to apply. Etsy is proud to be an equal opportunity workplace. We are committed to equal employment opportunity regardless of race, color, ancestry, religion, sex, national origin, sexual orientation, age, citizenship, marital status, disability, gender identity or veteran status, or any other characteristic protected by applicable law. If, due to a disability, you need an accommodation during any part of the application or interview process, please let your recruiter know. While Etsy supports visa sponsorship, sponsorship opportunities may be limited to certain roles and skills.