Legal Counsel – Content Safety, Product & Privacy

Canva

Legal Counsel at Canva supporting product and privacy team focusing on compliance with online safety laws. Collaborating with global teams to manage legal issues related to AI and content moderation.

Posted 6/22/2026full-timeRemote • Sydney • 🇦🇺 AustraliaSeniorLeadWebsite

About the role

Key responsibilities & impact

Identify and advise on legal issues in key areas including online content and product safety (including youth and AI), platform, privacy, intellectual property, 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 particular focus on safety issues.
Contribute to the development and operationalization of company-wide safety policies, and processes, including regulatory, government and law enforcement inquiry handling, scalable risk assessment frameworks, 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 other resolution efforts.
Stay up to date with global AI, safety and privacy regulations and relevant industry standards, conduct impact mapping of incoming regulations, and drive compliance projects including annual online safety risk assessments.
Respond to and triage incidents and escalations.
Support with Canva-wide privacy and legal training and awareness initiatives.
Help us redefine the role of in-house counsel - build tools and processes for continued growth and success.

Requirements

What you’ll need

Legally qualified (AU/NZ practising certificate)
8+ years practicing law with some experience in-house
Familiarity with key online safety laws and regulations, as well as privacy, platform and consumer laws relating to digital product and generative AI (e.g., Digital Services Act, Online Safety Act (UK and AU), GDPR)
Deep understanding of modern AI technology and products
You’re comfortable collaborating with team members in other time zones
You are a collaborative, pragmatic, business-minded lawyer who wants to help the Canva group grow and be a part of its exciting journey
You bring clarity to complexity and simplify compliance without compromising standards
You love collaborating with engineers and PMs — and thrive in fast-moving environments
You’re creative, curious, and motivated by meaningful work
Experience with data incidents and government authority requests
AIGP, CIPP/E or similar qualifications highly regarded (and willingness to obtain at least one certification within 6 months of joining is a must)

Benefits

Comp & perks

Equity packages - we want our success to be yours too
Inclusive parental leave policy that supports all parents & carers
An annual Vibe & Thrive allowance to support your wellbeing, social connection, office setup & more
Flexible leave options that empower you to be a force for good, take time to recharge and supports you personally

ATS Keywords

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Applicant Tracking System Keywords

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Hard Skills & Tools

legal analysisrisk assessmentcompliance projectsincident responsedata securityproduct safetyprivacy lawintellectual property lawregulatory monitoringgenerative AI

Soft Skills

collaborationpragmatic thinkingbusiness-mindedclarity in complexitycreativitycuriositymotivationcommunicationrelationship buildingadaptability

Certifications

AU/NZ practising certificateAIGPCIPP/E