Senior Employment Counsel

Company Description

Join the team redefining how the world experiences design.

Hey, g'day, mabuhay, kia ora, 你好, hallo, vítejte!

Thanks for stopping by. We know job hunting can be a little time consuming and you're probably keen to find out what's on offer, so we'll get straight to the point.

About Us

At Canva, our mission is to democratise design and empower creativity for anyone and everyone, on every platform. Inspired by a team of talented thinkers, an amazing culture and a remarkable growth trajectory – we’re out to change the world, one design at a time. 

Since launch in August 2013, we have grown exponentially, amassing over 85 million monthly active users across 190 different countries who have created more than 8 Billion designs. We are one of the world’s fastest-growing technology companies and we have only achieved about 1% of what we want to do.

About the team

Canva is looking for an experienced Employment Counsel to join our global Employment Legal Team on an 18-month contract. This role will focus primarily on APAC matters while operating as part of a highly collaborative global team.

This is a hands-on, senior role suited to a pragmatic employment lawyer who enjoys partnering closely with People teams and business leaders on complex and strategic workforce matters. You’ll be comfortable navigating ambiguity, exercising sound judgment, and delivering practical advice in a high-growth environment.

What you’ll do:

• Provide strategic, commercially pragmatic advice on employment law matters in Australia and across APAC more broadly

• Advise on day-to-day employment matters across Canva’s employee and contingent workforce, including performance management, exits, investigations, and regulatory issues

• Partner closely with People, Total Rewards, Finance and other key stakeholders to support Canva’s growth and evolving workforce model

• Contribute to the development, implementation and review of workplace policies, processes, guidance and templates

• Support and deliver training on employment-related topics

• Collaborate with the broader global Employment Legal Team on cross-border initiatives and shared priorities

What we’re looking for:

• Admitted to practice in Australia

• 6+ years’ experience as a practising employment lawyer (in-house experience in a multinational environment is highly regarded)

• Strong experience advising HR/People teams and business leaders on a broad range of employment matters

• Confidence navigating ambiguity and balancing legal risk with commercial pragmatism

• Excellent communication skills and the ability to translate complex legal concepts into practical solutions

• High level of integrity, professionalism, intellectual curiosity and willingness to grow

What's in it for you?

Achieving our crazy big goals motivates us to work hard - and we do - but you'll experience lots of moments of magic, connectivity and fun woven throughout life at Canva, too. We also offer a range of benefits to set you up for every success in and outside of work.

Here's a taste of what's on offer:

• 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

Check out lifeatcanva.com for more info.

Other stuff to know

We make hiring decisions based on your experience, skills and passion, as well as how you can enhance Canva and our culture. When you apply, please tell us the pronouns you use and any reasonable adjustments you may need during the interview process.

We celebrate all types of skills and backgrounds at Canva so even if you don’t feel like your skills quite match what’s listed above - we still want to hear from you!

Please note that interviews are conducted virtually.