Senior Regulatory & Policy Counsel

Checkr • San Francisco, California, United States • 1w ago

Why This Job is Featured on The SaaS Jobs

This Senior Regulatory and Policy Counsel role stands out in SaaS because it sits at the junction of product delivery and public rulemaking, where subscription software companies increasingly win or lose trust. With AI, privacy, and background screening under active regulatory scrutiny, the work reflects a SaaS environment in which policy interpretation must keep pace with iterative product development and customer expectations.

For a long-term SaaS legal career, the position offers durable exposure to how regulation becomes operational reality across Product, Engineering, and Customer Success. Translating multi-level legal change into clear guidance is a repeatable skill across modern SaaS categories, especially those handling sensitive data. The remit also includes building internal systems for policy knowledge, a capability that scales as platforms expand into new markets and face more varied compliance obligations.

The role is best suited to a senior counsel who prefers cross-functional influence over isolated legal review and is comfortable prioritising what is materially relevant amid constant regulatory signals. It will fit someone who enjoys external-facing work with policymakers and customers, while maintaining pragmatic internal decision support for teams shipping software on tight timelines.

The section above is editorial commentary from The SaaS Jobs, provided to help SaaS professionals understand the role in a broader industry context.

Job Description

About the team/role

Reporting to Checkr's Director of Product and Privacy Legal, the Senior Regulatory and Policy Counsel will serve as a strategic legal partner navigating the complex and rapidly evolving landscape of regulations and policies related to AI, data privacy, and background screening. You'll translate global, federal, state, and county-level laws into actionable compliance guidance, partner closely with the business to conduct risk analyses on changes to laws and regulations in relation to quick-moving product development, and proactively engage with customers and policymakers on government affairs efforts. Partnering closely with Product, Engineering, and Customer Success, you'll help Checkr strategically address regulatory change and deepen the trust that fuels our growth.

What you’ll do

Monitor and analyze changing regulations, laws, and policies and translate them into clear, actionable compliance guidance for the business.
Conduct risk analyses on emerging regulatory developments, filtering for the most material changes that impact Checkr's products, customers, and operations.
Lead proactive engagement with policymakers, regulators, and government officials to advocate for sensible policy and position Checkr as a thought leader on relevant areas, such as AI, background screening, and fair chance hiring.
Partner with Product, Engineering, and Customer Success to develop guidance on regulatory requirements and lead customer-facing conversations on policy and compliance matters.
Own and continuously improve Checkr's policy hub — a central repository for regulatory updates, advocacy positions, and customer communications.
Build and maintain relationships with external stakeholders — including trade associations, customer policy teams, and non-profit allies — to drive collaborative advocacy efforts and proactive strategies.

What you bring

JD required, with 8+ years of experience in regulatory law, policy, or government affairs — ideally working at the intersection of those areas.
Proven experience engaging directly with policymakers, regulators, and government officials at the federal, state, and/or local levels to shape policy outcomes.
Track record of operating in a complex, highly regulated environment (e.g., consumer reporting, financial services, healthcare, employment, or similar).
Demonstrated ability to proactively translate complex legal and regulatory analysis into clear, actionable guidance for business leaders and non-lawyer partners.
Strong cross-functional collaborator with excellent judgment, communication skills, and a bias for action in fast-moving environments.
An A-player mindset with a strong bias for action: you raise the bar, move with urgency, stay resilient through ambiguity, and take ownership to deliver meaningful outcomes.

Nice to have: