Head of Legal Response Operations - USDS

Why Join Us
Creation is the core of TikTok's purpose. Our platform is built to help imaginations thrive. This is doubly true of the teams that make TikTok possible.
Together, we inspire creativity and bring joy - a mission we all believe in and aim towards achieving every day.
To us, every challenge, no matter how difficult, is an opportunity; to learn, to innovate, and to grow as one team. Status quo? Never. Courage? Always.
At TikTok, we create together and grow together. That's how we drive impact - for ourselves, our company, and the communities we serve.
Join us.

Team Intro
Legal Response Operations is a critical component of Risk and Response Operations within the USDS Trust and Safety organization. This department encompasses the Law Enforcement Response Team (LERT) and the Civil Response Team (CRT), both of which play pivotal roles in fulfilling the company's legal obligations and ensuring compliance with applicable laws, regulations, and standards. Together, these teams address a wide spectrum of legal demands and operational responsibilities, including responding to subpoenas, search warrants, preservation requests, court orders, and executing restraining orders when permitted. As such, this team requires strong legal acumen, operational rigor, and unwavering dedication to maintaining the highest standards of compliance, user privacy, and safety.

This team performs a critical function that supports our efforts to address objectionable or disturbing content. Content that our Head of Legal Response Operations interacts with includes images, video, and text related to every-day life, but it can also include (but is not limited to) bullying; hate speech; child abuse; sexual assault; torture; bestiality; self-harm; suicide; and murder.

It is possible that this role will be exposed to harmful content on a daily basis.

In order to enhance collaboration and cross-functional partnerships, among other things, at this time, our organization follows a hybrid work schedule that requires employees to work in the office 3 days a week, or as directed by their manager/department. We regularly review our hybrid work model, and the specific requirements may change at any time.

Responsibilities
Overseeing our Law Enforcement Response Team (LERT) and Civil Response Team (CRT). This role requires an experienced leader with a strong legal background-preferably with courtroom experience in criminal law-who can shape the strategic direction, drive operational excellence, and elevate the team's capabilities to new heights. This leader will also be responsible for developing robust programs to ensure team members can serve effectively as custodians of records, including preparing for and providing court testimony. The leader will be instrumental in aligning the department's workflows with federal, state, and international legal standards while ensuring robust processes to address risk, scalability, and the company's evolving obligations.

Qualifications

Minimum Qualifications
- Advanced legal training or degree (JD or equivalent); courtroom experience required (criminal law preferred).
- Extensive relevant experience in legal operations, compliance, or related fields.
- Strong understanding of relevant laws and regulations, including the Electronic Communications Privacy Act of 1986 (ECPA) and the Stored Communications Act (SCA), 18 U.S.C. § 2258A et al, COPPA, the California Consumer Privacy Act, law enforcement evidentiary standards and model/federal rules of civil procedure.
- Highly organized, detail-oriented, and able to manage multiple priorities simultaneously.
- Ability to thrive in ambiguous environments, navigating challenges where no precedent exists, balancing competing priorities, and reassessing strategies in real time.

Preferred Qualifications
- Familiarity with international data privacy and compliance laws such as EU General Data Protection Regulation and knowledge of cross-border data transfer frameworks such as Mutual Legal Assistance Treaties (MLATs)
- Proven track record of building and scaling operational teams in high-pressure, fast-paced environments.
- Your ability to work in a high tempo environment, adapt, respond to day-to-day challenges of the role.
- Your resilience and commitment to self-care to manage the emotional demands of the role.

Wellbeing Statement
Trust & Safety recognizes that keeping our platform safe for TikTok communities is no ordinary job. It can be rewarding, psychologically demanding, and emotionally taxing. This is why we are sharing the potential hazards, risks and implications in this unique line of work from the start: so our candidates are well informed before proceeding.

We are committed to the wellbeing of all our employees and promise to provide comprehensive and evidence-based programs, to promote and support physical and mental wellbeing throughout each employee's journey with us. We believe that wellbeing is a relationship and that everyone has a part to play, so we work in collaboration and consultation with our employees and across our functions in order to ensure a truly person-centred, innovative and integrated approach.

D&I Statement
TikTok is committed to creating an inclusive space where employees are valued for their skills, experiences, and unique perspectives. Our platform connects people from across the globe and so does our workplace. At TikTok, our mission is to inspire creativity and bring joy. To achieve that goal, we are committed to celebrating our diverse voices and to creating an environment that reflects the many communities we reach. We are passionate about this and hope you are too.

Accommodation Statement
TikTok is committed to providing reasonable accommodations in our recruitment processes for candidates with disabilities, pregnancy, sincerely held religious beliefs or other reasons protected by applicable laws. If you need assistance or a reasonable accommodation, please reach out to us at https://shorturl.at/ktJP6

Data Security Statement
This role requires the ability to work with and support systems designed to protect sensitive data and information. As such, this role will be subject to strict national security-related screening.