Job Overview
Location
Hybrid - San Francisco
Job Type
Full-time
Category
Product Management
Date Posted
February 27, 2026
Full Job Description
đź“‹ Description
- • Vercel is at the forefront of enabling developers to build, scale, and secure a faster, more personalized web, powering industry leaders like Ramp, Supreme, PayPal, and Under Armour with our innovative platform, including v0, Next.js, and the AI SDK. Our mission, "to enable the world to ship the best products," is deeply intertwined with fostering an environment where everyone can achieve their best work, embodying our ethos of "You can just ship things."
- • As the Director of Product Foundations, you will be instrumental in constructing the robust legal frameworks that underpin Vercel's rapid product development and scaling. This pivotal role is centered on leading our privacy and regulatory initiatives, while also providing oversight for intellectual property matters and litigation.
- • You will report directly to Vercel’s VP of Legal, forging close partnerships with critical teams such as Security, Trust & Safety, GRC (Governance, Risk, and Compliance), as well as Product, Engineering, and other key stakeholders across the organization.
- • This position is based in our San Francisco office, with a requirement for three days of in-office presence per week, fostering collaboration and a strong team dynamic.
- • Your primary responsibility will be to lead and mature Vercel’s global privacy program, architecting our regulatory strategy and establishing foundational frameworks. This includes spearheading our intellectual property strategy and managing all aspects of litigation, ensuring Vercel’s innovations are protected and its operations are compliant.
- • A key aspect of this role involves developing and refining the legal team’s incident response processes, ensuring swift and effective action in the face of potential challenges.
- • You will excel at translating intricate legal and regulatory requirements into clear, business-oriented, and actionable guidance. This will empower our product and engineering teams to maintain their velocity and continue shipping innovative features at pace, without being hindered by legal complexities.
- • A significant part of your contribution will be the design and implementation of scalable legal programs. This will involve creating comprehensive policies, playbooks, templates, and training materials, leveraging technology, including AI, to enhance efficiency and consistency across the organization.
- • You will be a proactive force in anticipating and addressing legal risks associated with cutting-edge technologies, particularly in the AI and cloud services domains, ensuring Vercel remains a leader in a rapidly evolving landscape.
- • This role demands a strategic thinker who can not only identify potential legal issues but also develop creative and effective mitigation strategies, aligning with Vercel’s culture of speed and product innovation.
- • You will play a crucial role in building and nurturing relationships with external counsel, regulatory bodies, and industry groups, representing Vercel’s interests and staying ahead of emerging legal trends.
- • The Director of Product Foundations will also contribute to the development of Vercel’s overall legal strategy, ensuring alignment with the company’s business objectives and growth trajectory.
- • You will be a key player in ensuring Vercel’s compliance with a wide array of global regulations, including those related to data privacy, cybersecurity, and emerging AI governance frameworks.
- • This position offers a unique opportunity to shape the legal infrastructure of a high-growth technology company, directly impacting its ability to innovate and scale responsibly in the AI-native web era.
- • You will be a trusted advisor, providing pragmatic and forward-thinking legal counsel to senior leadership and cross-functional teams, enabling informed decision-making.
- • Your work will directly contribute to Vercel's reputation as a secure, compliant, and innovative platform, fostering trust with our customers and partners worldwide.
🎯 Requirements
- • Admission to the California Bar in good standing, or eligibility for Registered In-House Counsel status.
- • 12+ years of legal experience, with a significant portion focused on product counseling, privacy, and/or regulatory matters within a high-growth technology company serving enterprise clients.
- • Deep understanding of AI, cloud services, B2B SaaS, PaaS, and IaaS business models, along with relevant global regulatory landscapes.
- • Proven ability to assess and mitigate risks with strong judgment and creativity, comfortable making decisions with incomplete information and embracing Vercel’s fast-paced environment.
- • Exceptional technical literacy, with the capacity to map technical architectures and data flows to legal risk frameworks and a genuine interest in understanding Vercel’s product suite.
- • Outstanding communication and advocacy skills, particularly in explaining complex legal concepts to non-legal audiences.
🏖️ Benefits
- • Competitive compensation package, including equity.
- • Comprehensive and inclusive healthcare package.
- • Opportunities for professional development through mentorship and attendance at industry events.
- • Flexible time off policy.
- • Provision of necessary work equipment and a WFH budget for home office setup.
Skills & Technologies
JavaScript
Next.js
Hybrid
$310k-340k
About Vercel Inc.
Vercel Inc. provides a cloud platform that automates deployment, previewing, and scaling of modern web applications. Built around Next.js, it enables developers to push code from Git repositories to a global edge network with zero configuration, delivering optimized performance through serverless functions, static hosting, and incremental static regeneration. The platform offers real-time collaborative previews, analytics, and integrations with popular frameworks, supporting teams from prototype to production while maintaining security and observability.
