Corporate & Regulatory Compliance Counsel, Rakuten Kobo
CA$97-147k
+ Performance based annual bonuses & stock options
Digital bookseller
Be an early applicant
Digital bookseller
501-1000 employees
Be an early applicant
CA$97-147k
+ Performance based annual bonuses & stock options
501-1000 employees
Company mission
To bring the power of reading to the world.
Role
Who you are
- Rakuten Kobo is seeking a highly motivated, proactive, and detail-oriented Corporate and Regulatory Compliance Specialist to join our dynamic legal team in Toronto
- Bachelor's degree in Law, Business Administration, or a related field. A Juris Doctor (JD) or Bachelor of Laws (LLB) is a strong asset
- 4-6 years of progressive experience in a corporate compliance, regulatory affairs, or in-house legal counsel role, preferably within a global organization
- Proven experience in monitoring and interpreting complex legal and regulatory frameworks
- Demonstrated experience with corporate secretarial duties, corporate filings, and managing subsidiary compliance across multiple jurisdictions
- Strong understanding of global e-commerce laws and consumer protection regulations
- Excellent research, analytical, strategic thinking, and problem-solving skills
- Exceptional written and verbal communication skills with the ability to translate complex legal concepts into clear, concise business advice
- High level of attention to detail and accuracy
- Ability to work independently, proactively manage multiple priorities, and thrive in a fast-paced, international environment
- Proficiency in Microsoft Office Suite (Word, Excel, PowerPoint)
What the job involves
- This is an exciting opportunity to play a critical role in ensuring Kobo's continued adherence to a complex and evolving global regulatory landscape. Working closely with the General Counsel and the in-house legal team, you will be instrumental in safeguarding Kobo's operations and reputation across our international markets, directly contributing to our global success and growth
- Proactively monitor and analyze new and evolving global legislation and regulations impacting Rakuten Kobo's operations, with a focus on areas such as e-commerce, content distribution, consumer protection, and financial services (excluding hardware device compliance laws and regulations, and privacy-related legislation)
- Develop and present concise summaries and actionable recommendations for the legal team and relevant business stakeholders regarding potential impacts and required adjustments
- Maintain a comprehensive understanding of current and anticipated regulatory trends in key operational jurisdictions
- Manage and oversee corporate filings for Rakuten Kobo's subsidiaries worldwide, ensuring timely, accurate, and complete submission to relevant authorities
- Monitor and ensure compliance with local corporate governance requirements, business registrations, and other statutory obligations for all international entities
- Act as a central point of contact for external legal counsel regarding local compliance matters in various jurisdictions
- Assist with the establishment and dissolution of corporate entities as needed
- Ensure Rakuten Kobo's adherence to all Rakuten Group internal compliance policies, procedures, and reporting requirements
- Act as the primary liaison with the Rakuten Group company compliance function regarding compliance training, initiatives, and reporting
- Prepare and submit regular compliance reports to Rakuten Group as required
- Coordinate with internal hardware product compliance specialists to ensure a holistic approach to Kobo's overall regulatory compliance efforts
- Collaborate effectively with the General Counsel and the in-house legal team on various legal projects and initiatives as needed
- Assist in the development and implementation of internal compliance policies and procedures
- Maintain organized records and documentation related to compliance activities
Application process
- Rakuten Kobo would like to thank all applicants for their interest in this role however only qualified candidates will be shortlisted
Our take
Long-form content is having a resurgence. That’s great news for the e-reader industry, of which Rakuten’s Kobo battles with Amazon’s Kindle for ownership.
The e-reader giant has changed tack in recent years to pursue growth via integrations and partnerships. A notable example is its native device integration with Pocket, a wishlist app loved by millions of readers.
The company is hoping that these partnerships and product improvements will allow it to finally break the US market where it most struggles for market share with Kindle.
Amazon has consistently shown its willingness to drop prices to protect its position in any market it plays in. That means that Kobo will have to demonstrate true product superiority to make a dent while protecting its margins.
Steph
Company Specialist at Welcome to the Jungle
Insights
Company
Company benefits
- "Work from anywhere" policy
- Flexible hours
- Internet/phone/commuting allowance
- Daily meal allowance when in the office
- $500 CAD flexible spending account
- Parental leave top-up
- Unlimited sick and mental health days
- 4-day summer holiday weekends
- RRSP matching, bonus and stock options
- Free Kobo eReader
- Free weekly book of your choice
- Volunteer time off
Company HQ
Liberty Village, Toronto, ON
Leadership
Michael Tamblyn
(CEO)Part of the founding team of Kobo, Michael previously held the role of Chief Content Officer. Michael has also been the founding CEO of the supply chain agency, BookNet Canada and co-founded Canada’s first online bookstore, Bookshelf.ca, purchased by Indigo Books & Music in 1998.
Anna Giagkou
(CFO)Prior to joining Rakuten Kobo in 2021, Anna was the CFO of Cox Automotive Canada.
Nimod Narayanan
(CTO)Nimod joined Rakuten Kobo in 2022 as VP of Technology, he then became the SVP of Technology in 2023, and CTO in 2025. Prior to this, he spent nearly 4 years at Rogers Communications joining as a Senior Development Manager before becoming a Director of eCommerce & Personalization and then Senior Director of Digital Platforms & Services.
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