Job description
Who are we?
Lyka is an Australian founded pet wellness company that’s shaking up an outdated industry and paving the way for happier, healthier pets. Despite medical advancements, animal lifespans are on the decline. Today, the average pet only reaches 37% of their full potential lifespan and statistics have shown us that many suffer from dental disease, cancer, and obesity. Simply put, the status quo is not enough.
As humans, we’ve experienced firsthand the positive impact fresh wholefoods can have on our health and wellbeing, and we believe our furry friends deserve the same. We’re on a mission to do just that, starting with nutritionally balanced, wholefood meals delivered direct to doors around Australia. As the world’s most sustainable pet wellness company, we’re putting pets and our planet first - one bowl at a time.
Today, we are proud to share we’ve served over 50 million meals to puppers and their parents across Australia, and this is just the beginning. Our vision is to create multiple nutritional products, adding disease prevention meals and supplements, and expand into new markets.
Currently, we have a team of 250+ pet-obsessed people, and we’re continuing to grow (yes, looking at you!). These carefully selected people are dedicated to building the next generation of technology and products to help empower pet parents to take control over their pet’s wellbeing.
Our Mission
The time we share with our pets is being cut short. Despite medical advancements, they’re getting sicker earlier. They’re dying prematurely. The industry has it backwards - prioritising treating symptoms instead of addressing the root cause. That’s where we come in.
At Lyka, we take a preventative, holistic and personalised approach to pet care. We look at the full picture, factoring in the diet, lifestyle and environment of each individual animal.
We don’t stop at symptoms, instead we dig for the root cause. We create nutrition plans unique to each pet, because it’s not just about living longer, but living well too.
Our mission is to increase the lifespan of dogs and cats.
The Role
We’re looking for a dynamic and versatile In-house Legal Counsel to join our high-growth, purpose-driven organisation. You’ll join our strategy and development team and be our first legal hire - shaping how legal works in a scaling start up.
Responsibilities:
Commercial & Corporate: Proactively identify and manage grants, government funding, regulatory and policy engagement and partnership opportunities, support fundraising process and legal documentation; keep Lyka at the forefront of regulatory changes and discussion.
Property & Infrastructure Development: Support property and lease management to ensure our spaces meet operational, sustainability, strategic and regulatory needs, drafting and negotiating as required.
Manage external legal matters: End-to-end management of legal matters on behalf of Lyka, may include responses to complaints or proactive matters, ranging from issues covering contract, employment, intellectual property or consumer law; engage the support of external counsel as required.
Contract Management: Support the business in managing contracts, ensuring compliance and risk management; manage our contract management tool (Gatekeeper).
Employment & Operations: Provide pragmatic advice on day-to-day people and workplace issues.
Building Legal Function: Establish scalable processes, templates, and policies to support a high-growth environment; manage relationships with external counsel as needed.
5+ years’ relevant experience (a combination of experience within a top tier firm, along with in-house in a start-up environment or FMCG will be a bonus).
Relevant tertiary qualifications with a minimum of 3 years post-admission legal experience; admitted to practice law in Australia.
Commercial and pragmatic mindset, with the ability to analyse complex information and adapt advice to context.
Strong stakeholder management and negotiation skills; experience with government and regulatory bodies desirable (but not essential).
Comfort working across legal, commercial and operational domains.
Passion for purpose-driven work and a strategic-thinking mindset.
The ability to thrive in a start-up environment - think fast-paced, scrappy, and at times, a bit unpredictable.
Work in a fast-growing start-up, experiencing what goes behind the scenes to sustain hyper-growth for a start-up with a physical product!
Growth and Development – Lyka is growing extremely quickly, which means you will have the opportunity to experience different challenges every day and progressively acquire more responsibilities as our facility and team expands. We provide an annual L&D budget for you to continue your personal development.
Work for a sustainability focused company - we care about the health of our dogs and our planet. We’re proud to be Australia’s only carbon-negative and plastic-negative pet company and we’re always looking at ways for us improve sustainability practices.
Be part of a diverse top talent team, coming from widely different backgrounds and geographies.
Up to 18 weeks of paid parental leave top-up.
Wellbeing assistance and tools to take care of your mental and physical wellbeing so you can do your best work.
Hybrid working - 3 days per week in office. We have pet-friendly offices and industrial kitchens in Sydney and Melbourne. Onsite days are required during your onboarding.
Pupper parent support to care for your furry friends - flexible arrangements for new pets, pet-friendly offices, discounts, and financial allowance for dog training & care to help them live their best life!
We are committed to building inclusive and diverse teams
Lyka is an equal opportunity employer devoted to providing a working environment that embraces and values diversity and inclusion.
We celebrate diversity, are devoted to creating an inclusive environment for all staff and encourage people of all backgrounds to apply. If you have any support or access requirements, we encourage you to advise us at the time of application.
