General Counsel

Job description

ABOUT SPARE At Spare, we’re on a mission to unlock the potential of every vehicle on the planet. Our platform powers on-demand and accessible transportation for cities and transit agencies around the world — enabling more sustainable, efficient, and equitable mobility. From demand-responsive transit to paratransit and microtransit, Spare helps communities move better. We’re a Series B company backed by top-tier investors, growing rapidly across North America, Europe, and Asia-Pacific. As we scale, we’re hiring our first General Counsel — a trusted legal and business partner who will build the foundation of Spare’s in-house legal function and guide us through our next stage of growth. ABOUT THE ROLE We are looking for a General Counsel to build and lead our legal function at Spare. This role will operate as a core business partner, acting as a trusted advisor to Sales, Customer Success, and leadership — enabling the business to move faster while managing risk. ROLE STRUCTURE This is a 3 month contract-to-hire role based in Vancouver, BC, with the option to be hired on as a full-time salaried employee. Benefits will not be provided for the first 3 months and you will be a contractor. The General Counsel will work in-office three days per week (Monday, Wednesday, and Friday) and may work remotely on other days. You will report directly to the CEO, acting in an advisory capacity to the senior leadership team. This is not considered an executive role. THE OPPORTUNITY As General Counsel, you will lead all legal and compliance matters at Spare, shaping our legal strategy while remaining closely engaged in day-to-day execution. You’ll partner cross-functionally with the CEO, CFO, and leadership team to scale our business globally and responsibly. This is an opportunity to establish the company’s legal framework, oversee critical commercial contracts, and ensure that Spare continues to grow with integrity and speed. WHAT YOU’LL DO - Lead all legal matters across commercial, corporate, and regulatory domains - Support contract drafting, review, and negotiation across enterprise deals - Act as a trusted advisor to internal stakeholders, translating legal concepts into clear, actionable guidance for non-legal teams (Sales, CS, Execs) - Ensure compliance while enabling pragmatic, business-forward solutions (not just risk avoidance) - Minimize reliance on external counsel by building internal capabilities and systems - Design and build an AI-first legal function to scale output without scaling cost - Develop contract playbooks, fallback positions, and automated review processes to accelerate deal cycles Commercial and Product Counsel - Serve as Spare’s lead commercial counsel, negotiating SaaS agreements, municipal RFPs, and government procurement contracts. - Partner with revenue, partnerships, and operations teams to close deals quickly and pragmatically. - Advise on product development, data use, and privacy compliance across multiple jurisdictions. - Support the integration of AI tools into operations while maintaining ethical and regulatory standards. Corporate and Strategic Advisory - Provide counsel on corporate governance, subsidiary management, and intercompany agreements. - Support the executive team on financings, audits, and potential M&A transactions. - Collaborate with HR and People teams on employment matters, policies, and dispute prevention. Risk, IP, and Policy - Develop and implement contract templates, playbooks, and policies that streamline legal workflows. - Oversee intellectual property protection, including trademarks and technology rights. - Lead privacy, data security, and regulatory initiatives in collaboration with product and engineering teams. - Manage and mitigate legal risks while enabling fast, business-aligned decisions. AI-Driven Legal Operations - Hands-on experience using AI tools (LLMs, contract automation, workflow tooling) to improve legal productivity - Track record of redesigning legal workflows using AI (e.g., contract review, redlining, playbooks) - Ability to identify what should be automated vs. where human judgment is required - Experience reducing external counsel reliance through systems and automation WHAT WE’RE LOOKING FOR Must-Haves - JD or LLB with an active call to the Bar in Canada. - Deep expertise in commercial law with a proven record of managing and negotiating complex technology or SaaS contracts. - 8+ years of legal experience, preferably in SaaS or high-growth environments - Strong experience in commercial contracts and enterprise negotiations - Exceptional communication skills with a proven ability to educate and influence non-legal stakeholders - Track record of building trust and operating as a collaborative, solutions-oriented partner (not a gatekeeper) - Demonstrated experience using AI to materially improve legal productivity, reduce cost, and increase speed - Experience systematizing legal work into repeatable, scalable processes - Comfort operating in a fast-paced, ambiguous environment with high ownership Nice-to-Haves - Experience in corporate law or intellectual property law. - Background in mobility, transportation, or smart-city technology. - Experience managing outside counsel or building legal infrastructure within a scaling organization. Success Metrics - Reduction in legal cost per deal - Reduction in contract turnaround time - Internal stakeholder satisfaction and trust (Sales, CS, Exec team) WHY JOIN SPARE We believe Legal should be a force multiplier for the business — and that AI is core to achieving that. - Help shape the legal and ethical backbone of modern mobility. - Build the company’s legal foundation from the ground up at a high-growth Series B technology firm. - Work closely with experienced founders and a mission-driven leadership team. - Hybrid work model with in-office collaboration and flexibility for remote days. - Competitive compensation and meaningful equity participation. Interview Process - Pre-qualification with our recruitment partner, Goodlawyer. - First interview with David Sandberg, TA Lead - Second interview with Kristoffer (CEO) - Final interview with Kristoffer (CEO) and other founders as required. - Candidates will be asked to walk through a specific example of how they used AI to improve a legal workflow, including: tools used; before vs. after impact; and what they personally built vs. implemented. Start Date We are targeting a May 2026 start for this role. Next Steps If you’re an accomplished commercial lawyer ready to lead legal strategy at a fast-scaling, purpose-driven company — and you’re based in Vancouver — we want to hear from you.