Senior Director of Legal and Compliance

Job Description

Job Description

Ready to make a meaningful impact?

At Brighton Jones, we’re a purpose-driven, client-focused team committed to helping individuals live richer lives. As one of the largest RIAs in the nation, we’ve built a culture of continuous growth, collaboration, and community—recognized with 15 consecutive “Best Places to Work” awards including Inc.com’s 2025 list, as well as national honors for community impact.

We lead the industry in aligning wealth, passion, and purpose to help our clients thrive. With over $30 billion in assets under advisement, 300+ teammates nationwide, and a dynamic, team-based approach, we’re growing fast—and we’re looking for driven, curious individuals to join our #OneTeam. 

The Legal team at Brighton Jones plays a crucial role in ensuring the firm operates with the highest ethical and legal standards. This role offers broad exposure across varying legal domains and provides legal and strategic guidance across all aspects of the business, including regulatory compliance, intellectual property, privacy, employment matters, commercial contracting, and corporate governance. We are a collaborative and supportive team that values proactive and aligned legal support. 

We are seeking an experienced attorney to scale our legal and compliance function at a pivotal moment in our history and growth. This is an in-office position based in our Seattle headquarters. 

Take our Values in Action Self-Assessment to see how our values align! 

Litigation and Investigations Support  

• Manage and support litigation, arbitration, and regulatory inquiries, including coordination with outside counsel. 
• Oversee document preservation, discovery strategy, and internal fact development in connection with disputes or investigations. 
• Provide strategic input on dispute resolution, settlement considerations, and risk exposure to leadership. 

Corporate, Risk Management, and Governance  

• Lead the formation, dissolution, and maintenance of legal entities including LLCs and subsidiaries, including organizational documents and state registrations. 
• Assist with potential strategic transactions including debt, equity or other strategic transactions. 
• Responsible for insurance program management and the company’s global insurance portfolio, including directors and officers, errors and omissions, cyber liability, employment practices liability, fiduciary liability, general and property liability and other liabilities.  

Regulatory Compliance  

• Oversee and continuously enhance the firm’s Compliance function across all business lines, with heightened accountability for regulatory compliance, supervisory frameworks, and program design. 
• Proactively assess new and proposed regulations and provide strategic recommendations to executive leadership, including risk prioritization and implementation roadmaps.  
• Lead development and governance of policies, procedures, and controls with a focus on audit readiness and regulatory defensibility. 

Contracts and Commercial 

• Serve as a senior legal advisor to business leadership, delivering clear, risk-calibrated guidance across Advisory, People, Finance, Marketing, and Technology functions. 
• Independently structure, draft, and negotiate complex commercial agreements with minimal supervision, including high-risk and high-value arrangements. 
• Drive process improvements (e.g., CLM, intake, templates, playbooks) to increase velocity while maintaining consistency and risk control.  

Privacy and Data Protection 

• Lead ongoing evolution of the firm’s privacy and data protection program, including AI governance and vendor risk management. 
• Provide executive-level guidance on data use, risk tradeoffs, and incident response strategy.  

Operational and Cross-Functional Support 

• Operate as a senior legal leader supporting the firm’s growth initiatives, new service lines, and strategic transactions. 
• Translate complex legal and regulatory risks into clear, actionable guidance for stakeholders at all levels of the organization. 
• Independently manage high-priority and sensitive legal matters with executive visibility and accountability.  

• Juris Doctor (JD) and active bar membership in Washington state. 
• 10+ years of legal experience, including demonstrated experience leading a commercial legal function. Experience in financial services or a regulated industry is strongly preferred. 
• Deep experience in commercial law, litigation, privacy and data protection, and corporate governance. 
• Strong understanding of data privacy and regulatory environments. 
• Familiarity with ERISA and securities regulations (a plus). 
• This is a full-time, exempt, in-office position with flexibility. 

• Target Base Salary: $225,000 - $275,000 per year
• Restricted Equity Units awarded at hire  
• May be eligible for discretionary bonuses 

Ownership & Financial Wellbeing

• Fully paid medical, dental, and vision coverage for employees
• 401(k) with 100% match up to 3% of annual compensation
• Equity ownership opportunities for every employee
• New Business Incentive Program
• Generous employee referral bonus
• Cell phone data reimbursement
• Financial planning services discount for employees and immediate family members

Time & Flexibility

• Minimum 3 weeks PTO starting Day 1
• Winter Break, Summer Friday flex-days, and 10 paid holidays
• Unlimited Volunteer Time Off plus company grant matching
• Heavily subsidized transit

Growth & Development

• 100% reimbursement for required training, certifications, licensing, and dues
• Personal career development plans
• Richer Life Business Partner (coaching for all employees)
• Mindful Emotional & Social Intelligence training
• Annual professional & personal wellbeing stipend

Connection & Community

• Quarterly team-building events
• Regular social events
• Employee-led book clubs, committees, and affinity groups

Family & Milestones

• Paid Parental leave (13 weeks for birthing parent and 6 weeks for non-birthing parent)
• Adoption benefits
• Anniversary milestone celebrations, including a 3-month paid sabbatical at 10 years

Visa Sponsorship : Please note, we are unable to provide visa sponsorship for the position offered. Accordingly, we are unable to hire individuals who require, or will require, employment visa sponsorship either now or in the future. 

We are committed to building a business where all of our team members genuinely love where they work and are empowered to reach their full potential. We do this by building authentic relationships with one another, learning and growing continuously together, working hard while having lots of fun, and giving back to our community.

Brighton Jones is a team founded on equity and respect, and we’re on a mission to help each other, our clients, and global community thrive. We actively foster a compassionate and inclusive culture and are committed to creating a diverse #OneTeam where teammates can show up authentically.

To the right individual, we offer very competitive compensation, a robust benefits package, an award-winning culture, and rewarding career growth. 

Brighton Jones provides equal employment opportunities (EEO) to all employees and applicants for employment without regard to race, color, religion, gender, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, national origin, age, genetic information, disability, veteran status, or caste. In addition to federal law requirements, Brighton Jones complies with applicable state and local laws governing nondiscrimination in employment in every location in which the company has offices. This policy applies to all terms and conditions of employment, including recruiting, hiring, placement, promotion, termination, layoff, recall, transfer, leaves of absence, compensation and training. 

We may use artificial intelligence (AI) tools to support parts of the hiring process, such as reviewing applications, analyzing resumes, or assessing responses and identifying potential inconsistencies or verification signals in application materials based on available information. These tools assist our recruitment team but do not replace human judgment. Final hiring decisions are ultimately made by humans. If you would like more information about how your data is processed, please contact us.