At Xero, we’re here to supercharge small businesses. By making small business more efficient every day, connecting them with big business technology and empowering a community behind them, their potential is limitless. When that happens, we’re not only helping small business, we’ll be building a stronger economy that can change the world.At Xero, we’re here to supercharge small businesses. By making small business more efficient every day, connecting them with big business technology and empowering a community behind them, their potential is limitless. When that happens, we’re not only helping small business, we’ll be building a stronger economy that can change the world.
The Role & Team
As GM, Legal - Global Employment, you will own how Xero supports its people and manages employment risk across a global technology business. You are the senior strategic legal partner to PX (our people experience organisation) and a trusted adviser to Xero's executive leadership team on workforce strategy, organisational change, and complex employment matters. You bring sound judgement to the highest-impact issues, while setting the global frameworks, standards, and tools that let the wider business manage routine matters with confidence and consistency.
This is a functional leadership role with no direct reports, suited to someone who leads through expertise, influence, and delivery rather than headcount. You will set the direction for global employment legal support, work closely with regional Legal teams and other REAL (Risk, Ethics, Advocacy and Legal) specialists, and personally take on the matters that call for deep experience and judgement. You will also partner with Employee Relations on the legal dimensions of sensitive investigations and employee matters, complementing their operational expertise with strategic legal advice.
This role reports to the SVP/EGM Legal and can be based in San Mateo, Melbourne or Sydney.
What you'll do
Partner with PX leadership and senior business leaders on workforce strategy, organisational design, restructures, reward, senior employee matters and cross-border initiatives.
Provide clear, practical advice on global employment and labour law, including investigations, performance management, discrimination and harassment, contracts, policies, disputes and regulatory matters.
Set and own Xero's global employment legal strategy, risk framework, standards, escalation paths, playbooks and self-service resources.
Partner with regional Legal GMs on routine employment matters and ensure consistent, coordinated advice across jurisdictions.
Lead complex employment disputes, claims, regulatory inquiries and sensitive investigations.
Support the employment aspects of M&A, integrations and major business change.
Manage external employment counsel and drive proportionate, cost-effective use of external advice.
Build training, tools and AI-enabled resources that help PX and leaders manage routine matters confidently.
Work collaboratively with other members of the REAL team to bring the right expertise together on global workforce matters.
Success looks like
PX and senior leaders see you as a trusted strategic partner on workforce strategy and change.
Xero has clear, scalable and practical global employment frameworks.
Complex employment risks are identified early and managed consistently.
Legal support is technology-enabled, using AI tools and self-service modalities where appropriate.
External counsel is used strategically, with stronger internal capability and better cost control.
What you'll bring
Essential
Substantial international employment experience and proven experience supporting labour and employment in a global organisation, advising across multiple jurisdictions and operating effectively across regions and time zones.
Experience in New Zealand, Australia, the United States and the United Kingdom is highly desirable.
Deep expertise in global employment and labour law, including complex investigations, disputes, restructures and workforce strategy.
Experience directing others’ work without direct reports, and influencing without formal authority.
A track record of advising senior PX/HR leaders and business executives as a strategic partner.
Strong judgement, commercial awareness and the ability to explain complex issues in plain language.
Experience managing external employment counsel and building scalable legal processes and resources.
The ability to influence without formal authority, and to roll up your sleeves and do the work personally.
Strongly preferred
Breadth beyond employment law, such as litigation, transactional work or corporate governance. You are a T-shaped generalist, able to step into work outside your core area.
Experience in a mid-market technology company of a similar size to Xero, or another fast-moving global business.
An interest in using data, technology and AI to improve legal support.
Where and how you can work
This role can be based in San Mateo, California, Melbourne or Sydney. This role is based in Sydney or Melbourne with a flexible hybrid working setup, spending 1 to 2 days per week in the local office to connect and collaborate.
Apply even if your experience isn't a perfect match! At Xero, we hire based on your skills, passion, and the unique perspective you can bring to enhance our culture and team.