Head of Legal

Our client, a fast-growing multinational startup operating in the technology sector, is searching for a full-time Head of Legal, Spain, reporting to the VP of Legal. This role will manage all Spanish legal matters, ensuring compliance, risk management, contract governance, and regulatory alignment across the company's operations in Spain. The ideal candidate is a senior legal professional with solid experience across technology, data, corporate and regulatory matters, ideally gained in multinational and/or high-growth environments. This person will act as a strategic partner to the local leadership team and collaborate closely with the Global Legal function, the Chief Legal Officer (CLO), and key cross-functional stakeholders.KEY RESPONSIBILITIESYour main duties and responsibilities include: Legal Leadership & GovernanceServe as the head of legal in Spain, ensuring legal integrity, risk mitigation, and alignment with global policies.Act as the principal point of contact for Spanish regulators and public institutions.Assist in ensuring full compliance with national and European regulations.Maintain legal frameworks, policies, and governance structures in coordination with the VP Legal and the global Legal team.Support the VP Legal with Board-related governance matters, corporate housekeeping, and management of Spanish legal entities.Contracts, Commercial & Corporate LawSupport in Drafting, reviewing, and negotiating a wide range of commercial agreements, including SaaS/DaaS licensing, data-usage agreements, distribution and partner contracts, and NDAs, led by the CLO and VP Legal.Ensure proper contract lifecycle management, record-keeping, and process optimization for all Spain-based contractual activities.Advise on corporate structures, inter company agreements, and international legal frameworks relevant to Company's global operations.Regulatory & ComplianceWork with the VP Legal to ensure compliance with Spanish and EU laws, especially in the areas of: Data protection and privacy (GDPR); Intellectual property and licensing; Sector-related regulatory frameworks (when applicable); Technology, AI-related, and digital-services regulation (including forthcoming EU AI Act compliance).Oversee internal compliance programs and contribute to global regulatory initiatives led by the CLO and VP Legal.Risk Management & Strategic Legal AdvisoryProactively identify and mitigate legal risks arising from commercial operations, technological developments, data processing, and international expansion.Provide strategic legal advice to the Finance, HR, Product, Data, Engineering, and Operations functions.Support the structuring and negotiation of investment rounds, public-funding agreements, grant compliance, and relationships with public agencies.External Stakeholder Management in SpainAct as legal representative in Spain for government-backed programs, public funding bodies, or institutional stakeholders.Partner with external advisors to stay ahead of regulatory changes in technology, data, and AI.Cross-Functional CollaborationWork closely with HR on Spanish employment law matters, employee policies, and dispute management.Collaborate with Product and Data teams to ensure legal compliance across data ingestion, processing, storage, and dissemination.Support procurement, vendor relationships, and operational contract reviews.Ensure strong alignment with global legal standards while addressing local requirements.NECESSARY EDUCATION, SKILLS AND EXPERIENCEBachelor's Degree in Law required. Master's Degree (LL.M.) in Technology Law, Corporate Law, Data & Privacy Law, or related fields is highly valued.+10 years of professional legal experience, preferably within privately held or publicly listed multinational organizations.Active membership of the Spanish Bar (Colegio de Abogados) required.Proven experience in contract negotiation, commercial law, corporate law, and regulatory compliance in Spain and the EU.Good understanding of privacy and data-protection law (GDPR), IP/technology licensing, and cross-border legal frameworks.Experience advising high-growth or scaling companies preferred.Proven ability to manage external counsel and lead complex multi-stakeholder legal projects.Excellent communication skills and ability to communicate with senior leadership.Fluent in English and Spanish (English C1 minimum).Ability to manage ambiguity and operate within a dynamic, fast-paced environment.