5Rights is seeking to recruit an exceptional legal professional to lead our complaints, litigation and public accountability work to enforce (mainly EU) tech law for children. This is a unique opportunity for a sharp, ambitious and driven leader to play a key role addressing one of the defining social challenges of our time, as part of a pioneering NGO with an unmatched track-record of global impact.
About 5Rights
5Rights Foundation exists to ensure a digital world that will serve children and young people today and for future generations. We are a small team of senior professionals and experts delivering change in how the digital world works. We have shifted the narrative and the agenda through provocative comms campaigns (e.g. Twisted Toys), pioneering research (e.g. Pathways) and award-winning tools (e.g. Child Online Safety Toolkit). We continue to drive real-life change thanks to an outstanding track-record of delivering legislation (e.g. Californian Age Appropriate Design Code), policy and regulatory frameworks (e.g. UNCRC General comment No.25), and industry standards (e.g. IEEE 2089)).
Reporting Line: Executive Director
Role Purpose
The Head of Legal Compliance will be the organisation’s in-house legal expert, supporting work on the compliance of online platforms and digital products with the law, with a strong focus on the EU Digital Services Act.
The role is about using legal expertise to hold technology companies to account. This includes identifying where platforms may be failing to meet their legal obligations, preparing well evidenced legal complaints and public accountability reports, and engaging directly with regulators responsible for enforcement. The post holder will support the organisation to take strong, credible legal positions when raising concerns about platform practices that affect children’s rights.
Overseeing a small team of researchers and working closely with policy, advocacy, and communications colleagues, the Head of Legal Compliance will ensure that 5Rights’ public and legal arguments are accurate, consistent, and effective, and that complaints and submissions to regulators are of the highest quality.
This is a senior role focused on external legal action and regulatory engagement.
Key Responsibilities
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Act as the organisation’s in-house legal expert on digital service accountability, with a strong focus on the EU Digital Services Act and related laws affecting online services and products.
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Identify potential legal breaches by digital services and assess cases for regulatory or enforcement action.
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Lead the preparation of high-quality legal complaints, submissions, and correspondence to regulators, ensuring arguments are clear, well evidenced, and strategically framed.
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Lead the preparation of high-quality public reports on service compliance and support public engagement (working with the advocacy and communications teams).
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Engage with regulators, enforcement bodies, and where appropriate companies, to support investigation, remedy, and enforcement.
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Provide legal advice and quality assurance across policy, advocacy, research and communications outputs, ensuring legal accuracy, consistency, and strength of argument.
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Manage external legal counsel where specialist support is required.
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Oversee the in-house Research team and evidence gathering, ensuring research directly supports legal complaints and regulatory engagement.
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Draft and review briefings and speaking notes for the Executive Director and senior colleagues ahead of regulatory, policy, and enforcement engagement.
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Contribute to organisational strategy by identifying legal and regulatory opportunities to strengthen digital service accountability.
Person Specification
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Legal expert (preferably qualified lawyer) with significant proven experience in legal work and compliance management in a related field;
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In depth knowledge of the EU and international technology regulatory landscape from the perspective of privacy, consumer protection or child rights;
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A strong understanding of the tech industry ecosystem and business models;
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Experience developing or contributing to tech regulation or technical frameworks;
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Strong research credentials and the ability to design and oversee technical evidence gathering for corporate compliance;
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A sharp mind and pen for succinct legal regulatory analysis;
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A meticulous eye for detail and proven ability to design and deliver high-quality products, including the ability to craft and manipulate legal language (at least in English);
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A keen sense of politics and knack for strategic negotiation and timing;
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The imagination and curiosity to put forward new and inventive ways to solve problems without compromising on core goals;
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The reliability, patience and relentless focus required to get complex deliverables over the line;
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The interpersonal, communication and leadership skills (including humility and self-confidence) to build consensus within groups and lasting positive relationships;
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The management skills to lead a team;
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The confidence to engage in adversarial exchanges when necessary;
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Strong prioritisation and organisation skills to manage various processes and pieces of work in parallel;
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A can-do, action and solution-oriented attitude;
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Self-motivation and drive to work independently and cohesively within a remote team;
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The commitment, energy and enthusiasm to deliver on 5Rights’ ambitious mission;
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Experience working internationally and in culturally-diverse settings;
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Ability to work in other languages, such as French or Spanish (desirable).
Practical Details
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Location: Remote position based in Brussels. Some travel required.
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Starting at €80,000 per annum including all benefits, (monthly gross salary of €5,600 before benefits). Some flexibility for candidates demonstrating exceptional skills and experience.
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Working hours: Full time (38h week), with occasional accommodation necessary for work across time-zones.
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Statutory pension contribution.
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25 days annual leave per annum + 1 day per year worked.
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Work equipment including a laptop will be provided.
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Starting date: ASAP, depending on notice period.
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Reporting line: Executive Director.
5Rights values diversity and we strongly encourage people from under-represented groups to apply for this role. We aim for our recruitment to be inclusive and equitable, and we strive to constantly learn and improve in this regard. Feel free to share your views and suggestions on how we could improve our approach with us via email [email protected]
How to apply
Please send your CV and a brief cover letter by 31st January 2026 via the following: https://5rightsfoundation.peoplehr.net/Pages/JobBoard/Opening.aspx?v=9625b6e9-55b7-416e-b52f-a839196570d8
