Head of Legal, Yoto
12 month FTC
£120-130k
1-5 days a week in office
Interactive audio platform for kids
Posted today
Interactive audio platform for kids
101-200 employees
Posted today
£120-130k
1-5 days a week in office
101-200 employees
Company mission
To help parents inspire the next generation of independent, creative minds.
Role
Who you are
- Qualified solicitor with at least 8 years UK qualification (or equivalent) including senior in-house legal role, ideally within entertainment, media, technology or IP-heavy sectors
- Tech or scale-up experience the ability to operate with agility in a fast-paced growth environment, understanding of product development cycles, commercial partnerships and managing regulatory challenges with emerging technology regulations
- Commercial mindset and strategic business partnership - deep understanding of business objectives with ability to provide pragmatic legal solutions that enable growth, demonstrating strong commercial judgement and proven track record as trusted advisor to C-suite executives with ability to translate legal complexities into clear business insights
- Adaptability, resourcefulness and self-sufficiency - thrives in high-growth, dynamic environments with ability to prioritise effectively, make decisions with imperfect information, demonstrate initiative in managing competing priorities, and strong judgement on when to seek external counsel versus handling matters in-house
- Deep IP and content expertise in IP law, content licensing, music licensing, and rights management, with experience negotiating complex creative industry agreements while maintaining commercial focus
- Team leadership and budget management experience managing legal professionals and external counsel relationships, with strong resource allocation skills and ability to build high-performing teams
- Comprehensive compliance knowledge of data protection (GDPR, CCPA essential), consumer protection, marketing regulations, and emerging AI/technology law requirements, with pragmatic approach to implementation
- Exceptional stakeholder management skills with ability to work effectively across all organisational levels, explaining
- Experience in children's/family entertainment, EdTech, or consumer technology sectors (nice-to-have)
- Previous experience in an interim role (nice-to-have)
What the job involves
- We're seeking an experienced Head of Legal to provide maternity cover and lead our legal function across the international company, serving as strategic legal advisor to our C-suite executives and Senior Leadership Team, reporting to the COO/CLO
- Lead with strategic legal counsel across our corporate entities, advising senior leadership on governance, risk management and business initiatives that drive growth, including critical board preparation support
- Manage our lean legal team and operations, support our legal counsel, manage external counsel relationships, and legal budgets to ensure efficient resource allocation and cost-effective services
- Drive content and IP strategy, leading complex licensing negotiations, content commissioning agreements, and comprehensive IP rights portfolio management
- Structure complex commercial deals, drafting and negotiating supply agreements, procurement and SaaS contracts, and strategic partnerships supporting our global expansion
- Ensure regulatory compliance across data privacy (including GDPR, CCPA), consumer protection, marketing regulations, AI governance, anti-bribery, and ESG matters while developing enterprise-wide risk frameworks
- Working alongside our People team, maintaining compliance with employee incentive schemes, equity plans, and employment law requirements across multiple jurisdictions for our growing global team
Salary benchmarks
Our take
A key development in the last 5 years has been a move towards screen-based kids entertainment like apps and streaming services. However, more recently there have been concerns that excessive screen time for children can be damaging to health and development. So, many consumers are looking for alternative products which will expose children to modernity without the drawbacks of many modern devices. This is the demand which Yoto is setting out to capitalise on.
Yoto's product - a screen-free audio platform - enables children to access features such as audiobooks, podcasts, and soundscapes via physical cards inserted into the device. The Yoto Player has received considerable early praise from consumers and from investors also, who granted Yoto considerable funding.
Perhaps the most difficult challenge for a business operating in the highly competitive children's toys market is keeping its product current. However, Yoto's software is fully customisable, meaning that alongside its library of content, parents can add their own audio files to the device to suit the interests of their children. This imbibes Yoto with a customisability that gives it an edge, especially as children's tastes change with age.
Steph
Company Specialist at Welcome to the Jungle
Meet the team
11 people
Niamh Power, Tech Lead Manager
Our mission
Looking after Yoto's native iOS & Android apps, which allow parents to control and manage their players, their library and discovering new contentInsights
Company
Employee endorsements
Flexible working
"At Yoto I'm treated as an adult, and given the autonomy to get on with what I need to get done at work while also getting done what I need to in my..."
Funding (last 2 of 3 rounds)
Jun 2024
$22m
GROWTH EQUITY VC
May 2021
$17m
SERIES A
Total funding: $42.3m
Company benefits
- Your birthday off
- Choice-based approach to where you work - we encourage everyone to come in to the office minimum once a month
- A Work from Anywhere policy giving you the opportunity to work from a different location for a temporary period
- Yoto player and starter pack of cards
- Company socials and celebrations, including our annual Yoto Fest
- 2x volunteer days a year
- 24/7 Employee Assistance Programme (EAP)
- Family-friendly leave
- 25 days holidays plus bank holidays
- Workplace pension
- Private Medical Insurance or Wellbeing Allowance
- Dental advice and guidance
- Income Protection
- Life Assurance
Company HQ
Somers Town, London, UK
Articles
Leadership
Ben Drury
(Co-Founder & CEO)He has extensive experience as a Non Executive Director for the likes of Marmalade and Intercede. Since 2016, he has also been a board member and investor for Pimoroni.
Filip Denker
(Co-Founder & CTO)People progressing
Beth is our wonderful Head of Product, she got promoted to the position after 2 years as a Senior Product Manager.
Niamh is our superstar Tech Lead Manager for the iOS team, she got promoted to the position after 18 months as a Senior iOS Engineer.
Diversity, Equity & Inclusion at Yoto
Clemence Strobl (Talent & People Manager)
- At Yoto, we love creating a world where childhood is rich with discovery and joy. We’re also passionate about building a workplace where everyone can thrive - both professionally and personally. We value flexibility and give our team the freedom to balance life and work in ways that suit them.
- We're committed to fostering a safe, diverse, and inclusive environment where all individuals, regardless of their background, feel valued and supported. Our Diversity, Equity and Inclusion group holds bi-monthly forums to elevate diverse voices and perspectives, ensuring everyone at Yoto feels heard, respected, and appreciated.
- We don’t just embrace differences - we celebrate them. We share audio content from a vibrant and diverse community of creators, and we are building a team that reflects that same diversity. We invite candidates from all walks of life to explore opportunities with us and join a company that champions flexibility, equity, and inclusion.
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