Senior Legal Counsel - Data Protection with DPO responsibilities

This role will sit within the legal and regulatory team which consists of a team of 2 senior legal counsel (1 specialising in data protection matters), 1 legal counsel, 1 regulatory specialist and 1 privacy manager.

There is scope for line management responsibility of the privacy manager.

Reporting to giffgaff’s General Counsel, you will be passionate about data, privacy and confident in your approach to delivering trusted legal guidance for an agile business. The Senior Legal Counsel must be confident advising across a range of matters, analysing sophisticated data, privacy issues, challenging the business, developing data strategies, creating improvements in business performance and communicating legal advice constructively and succinctly.

This is a unique opportunity to provide pivotal legal advice and play a key role in shaping the development and growth of a pioneering organisation. You will aim to provide effective, timely and consistently high-quality advice; and to do so efficiently. The legal team is here to identify and manage risk and to assist in the exploration of commercial opportunities. You will also be a part of the wider General Counsel’s Office for Virgin Media O2, which is giffgaff’s parent company.

Key responsibilities

The Senior Legal Counsel will work with giffgaff’s General Counsel to provide legal advice to giffgaff and directly advise the Leadership Team on a range of issues. They will be able to provide advice, work autonomously, and develop excellent relationships with internal clients and their role includes:

• advising on applicable data privacy and data protection law in relation to complex technology projects, agreements and initiatives being run by our product, marketing, commercial, and advertising, teams and the company's compliance projects and status.
• Collaborating with privacy managers and other collaborators to ensure precise data governance and oversight of data within the business.
• Providing practical guidance to the business on how to navigate the complex data and privacy world whilst protecting giffgaff’s members and achieving our commercial goals.
• Working to improve the data governance structure and implementation of working practices aimed at improving the provision of privacy and data support.
• Being the Legal strategic partner for the Leadership Team for leading, developing and managing the strategy and legal advice on matters relating to data protection, privacy, and digital transformation across giffgaff.
• Lead on key privacy initiatives such as cross-functional privacy improvement projects.
• Provide guidance and supervision in relation to timely processing of SARs.
• Assist with responses to regulatory enquiries and investigations.
• Act as primary contact for ICO and other regulators and represent the company externally and internally in respect of privacy and data protection as necessary, providing hands-on expertise on privacy and data governance and advising on incident reporting and investigations.
• Staying updated with any changes in legislation and regulatory requirements that might affect the company the privacy and data area.
• Assist with the provision of Data Protection related training and development for internal clients.

Who we are

Do you want to join a telecoms company that’s up to good? At giffgaff, we do mobile differently. We call out the bad and find a better way. We’re laser-focused on flexibility, value and mutual good.

And we’re so proud to be a certified B Corp. This means we've joined a network of more than 1,000 UK companies, who want to make a positive impact on people and the planet. Working at giffgaff is something you could be proud of too.

You’ll get the best of both worlds, the energy and fast pace of giffgaff, plus all the benefits that come with being part of our parent company, Virgin Media O2.

Our business model is unique. We work with our members (our customers) to understand their needs in all areas of the business. We love this highly collaborative approach. Over the past few years our member base has grown steadily, and we’re still going. We’re always looking to acquire new members, and to do that we need the best people in our team.

Our bright and modern gaff is in Uxbridge, in leafy West London. But if commuting isn’t your favourite, most of our roles can be hybrid or work from home, or anywhere in between. If you like coming in, you’ll always find some office buddies. And if you like big occasions, we really bring the office to life monthly for our themed culture days. Plus all our giffgaffers come together at our legendary giffgaff summer, birthday and Christmas celebrations.

The must haves

In order to be considered, you must have the following experience;

• You will ideally be a UK Qualified Solicitor or have other equivalent professional qualifications required to practice law, with a strong academic background, with previous in-house experience.
• At least five years post-qualification experience in commercial and legal environment(s), including advising on data protection matters for a highly regulated brand.
• Ability to build, influence and manage powerful relationships both internally and with external partners at all levels of the business, including the Leadership Team and CEO office.
• Attention to detail with the ability to communicate and negotiate complex issues in a clear and concise manner at all levels within an organisation.
• An understanding and appreciation for the role technology plays not just in the management of data but also in directing the development of consumer products.
• Proven ability to provide solutions to regulatory and commercial challenge.

The other stuff we are looking for

We'd also love you to bring;

• Working closely with the Leadership Team, General Counsel, and business stakeholders whilst taking ownership of matters.
• Ability to work in a pressured changing environment to tight deadlines.
• Comfortable working autonomously and taking the initiative when needed.
• Willingness and enthusiasm to cover a breadth of privacy and data issues, and to learn.

What's in it for you

Our goal is to celebrate our people, their lives and everything in-between. We aim to create a culture that empowers everyone to bring the best versions of themselves to work each and every day. We believe the most inclusive and diverse culture makes for a better business and a brighter world.

Working at giffgaff means you get a bumper reward package bursting with benefits, and loads of extras you can add if you’d like to. These are designed to support both you and your loved ones, making sure that you’re covered no matter what life throws your way.

We're all about hybrid working here, so expect to have a base location where you'll have the right facilities to enable amazing collaboration and quality time with your team, alongside all the right kit to work from home too.

Next steps

If we feel like a place where you can belong, we'd love to learn more about you as a person and your experience to date. Once you've submitted an application the next steps of the process, if successful, are likely to include two interview stages.

Please note: Applications will be reviewed, and interviews conducted throughout the duration of this advert, therefore we may bring the closing date forward. We encourage all interested applicants to apply as soon as possible. If you’re offered a job with us, it will be conditional, based on the passing of background checks. All roles require a criminal record check and some roles need a financial probity check. Your recruiter can provide you with more information if needed.

Thanks for your patience and for showing an interest in joining the giffgaff family.

#LI-NA1