Job Description

The Senior Privacy Counsel will advise and provide guidance to Sage colleagues on data protection issues on a global basis. In particular, the role will focus on support for Sage colleagues working in product development and engineering, and sales and marketing, plus assistance to the Commercial and Product Legal teams with advice in connection with complex privacy legal matters (including regional Commercial Legal team members), and privacy risk incident management.




The role will report into the Data Privacy Director, and will involve close collaboration with other members of the Data Privacy Legal team, and the Sage legal team more widely.




This is a hybrid role, and the successful candidate will be required to work from the London office 3 times a week.

Key Responsibilities

What's in it for you?


In this role, you'll have the opportunity to make a significant impact by providing crucial support to Sage colleagues across various functions, including product development, engineering, sales, and marketing.




You'll collaborate closely with the Commercial and Product Legal teams to offer expert advice on complex privacy legal matters and assist in privacy risk incident management. You will also develop, mentor and potentially manage more junior members of the team.




Additionally, you'll play a key role in developing, implementing, and maintaining policies, procedures, and processes to ensure Sage's compliance with data protection legal requirements. This position offers a rewarding opportunity to contribute to the organisation's commitment to data privacy and compliance, while further developing your expertise in this critical area of law. It's a great opportunity for someone with experience of leading a small team.




Summary of your day-to-day?


- In this role, your day-to-day activities involve leveraging your expert knowledge of data protection laws, including GDPR and the UK Data Protection Act 2018, to provide high-quality legal advice to stakeholders across Sage.


- You'll collaborate with regional colleagues and external counsel on matters outside the UK jurisdiction and data privacy risk incidents. Additionally, you'll contribute to maintaining Sage's data privacy compliance framework, including policy review and development, while supporting the creation of external-facing materials such as privacy notices and consent notices.


- Your role also entails identifying and mitigating privacy risks, providing expert input on GDPR compliance activities, and supporting product and engineering teams in implementing privacy by design principles. - Furthermore, you'll lead advisory efforts on cookies, similar technologies, and digital advertising, contribute to the management of the data privacy operating model, act as a key contact for EU local legal and data privacy matters, and develop and deliver training materials to colleagues across Sage.




Minimum qualifications for this role:


- Robust knowledge of data protection laws coupled with significant post-qualification experience advising corporate organisations, preferably gained through in-house roles.


- Candidates should demonstrate a business-oriented mindset, operational focus, and familiarity with emerging technologies such as ad tech, AI, and machine learning. The ability to work independently in a fast-paced environment, prioritise tasks effectively, and communicate complex concepts clearly to non-legal colleagues is essential.


- Additionally, candidates should exhibit advanced behavioural competencies, including effective communication, collaboration, customer focus, and adaptability, while also showcasing experience with privacy management tools like OneTrust.




Preferred qualifications include prior in-house experience or secondment roles, along with a track record of working on complex projects.




Technical / professional qualifications: Qualified lawyer with significant post qualification experience with strong data protection law expertise within the UK and EU, and good working knowledge of data privacy law regimes in other jurisdictions preferred. IAPP CIPP/E certification or similar.




Your benefits


- Comprehensive health, dental and vision coverage


- Work away scheme for up to 10 weeks a year


- On-going training and professional development


- Paid 5 days yearly to volunteer through our Sage Foundation


- Flexible work patterns and hybrid working




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