Counsel, Digital Transformation, Optimization

Counsel, Digital Transformation, Optimization at Mastercard

Mastercard empowers people and economies across 200+ countries, fostering a sustainable and inclusive economy. We enable secure, simple, smart, and accessible digital payments through our technology, innovation, partnerships, and networks, helping individuals, businesses, and governments reach their full potential.

Who is Mastercard?

Mastercard is a global technology company in the payments industry, committed to connecting and powering an inclusive digital economy. Our mission is to make transactions safe, simple, smart, and accessible for everyone, everywhere. We leverage secure data, networks, partnerships, and passion, driven by our 'decency quotient' (DQ), to build a sustainable world that unlocks priceless possibilities for all.

Overview of the Role

Mastercard is seeking an experienced lawyer to join its legal team, supporting the global Optimization product team. This team is central to identifying, developing, and distributing products and solutions tailored to various market needs. The successful candidate will be part of a highly agile team focused on building exciting and innovative products. The Optimization team aims to empower Mastercard and its customers to maximize the potential of Mastercard solutions by applying a disciplined approach across product, data, strategy, and go-to-market functions to elevate performance.

The ideal candidate is a curious, self-motivated lawyer with a strong background in technology and payments, possessing extensive transactional experience. They must demonstrate sound business and legal judgment, thrive in a fast-paced environment with a diverse workload, and have a proven track record of providing pragmatic, proactive legal advice. The ability to engage tactically and strategically to support internal clients is crucial. This full-time role is based in Purchase, New York, reporting to a Senior Managing Counsel within the Core Payments legal team.

Key Responsibilities

As Counsel, Digital Transformation, Optimization, you will manage product development and support matters on a day-to-day basis, identifying and analyzing relevant issues, and guiding the business through legal, governance, and regulatory risks. This involves implementing appropriate controls, policies, and processes. Specific responsibilities include:

• Collaborating with business teams to launch and scale new product and service offerings.
• Independently structuring, drafting, and negotiating commercial agreements with Mastercard customers and partners across the payments ecosystem (e.g., acquirers, issuers, merchants, processors, vendors, and other stakeholders).
• Providing detailed legal advice on a wide range of product development, commercial, and contractual matters.
• Working cross-functionally with various product and legal teams, including data privacy, intellectual property, anti-trust, regulatory affairs, public policy, and franchise functions, to offer holistic support for Mastercard’s global and regional product strategy.
• Partnering with internal and external regulatory counsel and regional colleagues to ensure compliance with relevant laws and government regulations impacting Mastercard's consumer products.
• Advising business teams in monitoring and evaluating applicable laws and government regulations affecting the operation and product development of Mastercard’s Optimization products.
• Implementing improvements and efficiencies within the product development process.
• Developing strong relationships with key internal stakeholders, including product, business, sales teams, and senior management across various regions.
• Assisting with the creation of project plans, trackers, training materials, and guides, and providing training for business clients and law department colleagues.

Please note that roles within Mastercard are dynamic and evolve with business needs. The above is a guideline, and there may be opportunities to work on other matters within the Core Payments business. The global nature of the team may require supporting other time zones and occasional travel.

Candidate Requirements

• Minimum four years of solid experience in technology, commercial transactions, complex negotiations, and/or payments is required.
• A qualified lawyer with a strong academic and training background, licensed to practice in the relevant jurisdiction (New York).
• Able to analyze and identify core legal issues, skilled at explaining technical problems succinctly and clearly.
• Working knowledge of data privacy, regulatory, and intellectual property issues, especially as they relate to emerging technology.
• A fast learner capable of quickly familiarizing with complex products, services, and legal frameworks, and keeping abreast of their changes.
• Must possess a positive 'can-do' attitude, willingness to take initiative, and readiness to go the extra mile.
• Solutions-oriented with excellent time management, planning, and organizational skills.
• Able to work flexibly under pressure and meet tight deadlines.
• Strong drafting, writing, oral communication, and negotiating skills, capable of effectively communicating vision and detailed approaches to diverse stakeholders.
• Exceptional interpersonal skills with proven experience in relationship building and partnering, demonstrating the ability to work both independently and collaboratively.
• A global mindset and in-house experience, particularly within a multi-national company, is preferred.
• Must be flexible, solutions-oriented, and able to multi-task effectively within tight timelines.

Corporate Security Responsibility

All activities involving access to Mastercard assets, information, and networks carry an inherent organizational risk. Therefore, every individual working for or on behalf of Mastercard is responsible for information security and must:

• Abide by Mastercard’s security policies and practices.
• Ensure the confidentiality and integrity of the information being accessed.
• Report any suspected information security violation or breach.
• Complete all periodic mandatory security trainings in accordance with Mastercard’s guidelines.

Compensation and Benefits

In line with Mastercard’s total compensation philosophy and assuming the job is performed in the US, the successful candidate will receive a competitive base salary and may be eligible for an annual bonus. The base salary offered may vary based on factors including location, job-related knowledge, skills, and experience. For full-time employees, Mastercard benefits generally include comprehensive insurance (medical, prescription drug, dental, vision, disability, life); flexible spending and health savings accounts; generous paid leaves (e.g., 16 weeks new parent leave, up to 20 days bereavement leave); 80 hours Paid Sick and Safe Time, 25 days vacation, 5 personal days (pro-rated); 10 annual paid U.S. holidays; 401k with a best-in-class company match; deferred compensation for eligible roles; fitness reimbursement or on-site facilities; tuition reimbursement eligibility; and many more perks.

The pay range for Purchase, New York is $159,000 - $254,000 USD.

Key skills/competency

• Digital Transformation
• Payments Industry
• Legal Counsel
• Commercial Agreements
• Regulatory Compliance
• Data Privacy
• Intellectual Property
• Product Development
• Contract Negotiation
• Legal Risk Management