Senior Privacy Manager/Legal Counsel DACH (m/f/d) - Part Time

Brenntag Group; Essen; Hybrid; EUR 45,000 - 70,000; Part time

Benefits offered by this job

Flexible working hours

Pension scheme

Free employee parking

Company restaurant

30 days holiday

Wellbeing programs

Bike leasing

Job summary

Brenntag is seeking an experienced privacy leader to join the Group Data Protection Office as Senior Privacy Manager / Legal Counsel (DACH). The 50% part-time role provides ownership and strategic impact for Germany, Austria and Switzerland.

You will be the privacy anchor, shaping strategy and serving as the main contact for data protection across the DACH region. As a core GDPO member, you will shape privacy governance, advise on GDPR and local law, oversee DPIAs, DPAs and SCCs, and work with

Qualifications

• Fully qualified German lawyer with >4 years in law firm, professional service firms, or global corporate env.
• Deep GDPR expertise with strong knowledge of German BDSG, Austrian DSG and/or Swiss nDSG.
• Proven ability to review and negotiate DPAs, SCCs and related provisions.
• Deliver pragmatic, commercially grounded privacy advice to diverse stakeholders.
• Excellent organizational, analytical and negotiation skills; able to manage complex topics.
• Fluent in German and English; French is a plus.
• Desirable: CIPP/E, CIPM, AIGP or AI ethics/compliance credentials.

Responsibilities

• DACH privacy governance: central point of contact for GDPR in Germany, Austria, Switzerland.
• Maintain regional governance framework aligned with global privacy program.
• Manage regulator interactions and represent the company with local authorities.
• Operational privacy support: review contracts and manage incidents, DS rights, regulator interactions, works council matters.
• Negotiate multi-jurisdictional DPAs, SCCs and related contracts.
• Conduct DPIAs and implement risk-mitigating measures.
• Ensure data flows and processing activities are documented with mitigated privacy risks.
• Provide pragmatic, legally sound guidance on privacy matters for DACH units.

Skills

GDPR Expertise

German Lawyer

Contract Negotiation

Risk Advisory

Stakeholder Communication

Education

Fully qualified German lawyer

Tools

SCCs negotiation

DPIA Methodology

Job description

We are seeking an experienced privacy professional to join the Group Data Protection Office as Senior Privacy Manager / Legal Counsel (DACH). This is a permanent part-time role (50%) - designed for a senior practitioner who wants real ownership and strategic impact without a full-time commitment. You will be the dedicated privacy anchor for Germany, Austria and Switzerland.

Your Role

In this high-impact, broad, and fast-paced role, you will be a core member of the Group Data Protection Office, working closely with the Head of Group Privacy to shape and execute global privacy strategy, while serving as the primary point of contact for all data protection matters across the DACH region - a truly hands-on position at the intersection of law, governance, and business enablement.

Responsibilities

DACH Privacy Governance

• Serve as the central point of contact for all data protection matters in Germany (BDSG), Austria (DSG) and Switzerland (nDSG/revDSG), advising local management, business units and HR on GDPR requirements and national specificities.
• Maintain and develop the regional privacy governance framework, ensuring alignment with the global privacy program and local legal requirements.
• Manage regulator interactions and represent the company in data protection matters with local supervisory authorities where applicable and in alignment with the GDPO.

Operational Privacy Support

• Enable compliant business operations by supporting strategic projects, reviewing privacy-relevant contracts and managing key operational privacy topics (e.g., incidents, data subject rights, regulator interaction, works council matters).
• Manage and negotiate multi-jurisdictional data protection agreements, SCCs, and related contractual provisions.
• Conduct Data Protection Impact Assessments (DPIAs) and ensure timely implementation of risk-mitigating measures.
• Ensure processing activities and/or data flows are identified, documented and related privacy risks have been mitigated.
• Provide pragmatic, legally sound guidance on incoming privacy matters, in particular from DACH business units, balancing thoroughness with commercial reality.

Strategic Projects & Business Enablement

• Work closely with a range of local and global stakeholders on technology and data innovations to help ensure good data handling practices and privacy by design.
• Actively support global privacy initiatives, policy roll-outs and training activities in the DACH region, acting as the regional implementation arm of the GDPO.
• Contribute to the development and maintenance of privacy policies, guidelines and documentation templates on a global level.
• Monitor legislative and regulatory developments across DACH and internationally, and translate their implications into actionable business guidance.

Your Profile

Essential

• Fully qualified German lawyer or equivalent, with > 4 years of work experience in a law firm, professional service firms, or global corporate environment.
• Deep expertise in GDPR in practice, with a strong command of German BDSG, complemented by solid knowledge of Austrian DSG and/or Swiss nDSG.
• Proven ability to review and negotiate data processing agreements, SCCs, and related contractual provisions.
• Demonstrated ability to deliver pragmatic, commercially grounded advice on data privacy, information security and data handling to diverse stakeholder groups.
• Excellent organizational, analytical and negotiation skills; able to manage complex, multi-workstream topics independently within a lean team structure.
• Exceptional communication skills - able to explain complex legal requirements in a clear, business-friendly manner.
• Collaborative, hands‑on mentality and ability to work effectively in both small teams and cross‑departmental projects.
• Proven ability to operate effectively in complex, multicountry regulatory environments.
• Fluent in German and English (written and spoken); French is a plus.

Desirable

• Recognized data protection certifications (e.g., CIPP/E, CIPM, AIGP, or AI ethics/compliance credentials).

Our Offer

• Exciting professional tasks and challenges in a diverse and secure working environment with the world market leader in the chemical distribution industry and DAX listed company.
• Arrange your working hours and breaks flexible via your flextime account; thanks to our company's internal regulation on mobile working, your professional and private life can be combined even better.
• Our personalized onboarding program guarantees that you will be off to a quick start.
• A competitive remuneration package, including holiday pay and a Christmas bonus, awaits you.
• Take advantage of our company-sponsored pension scheme.
• Benefit from free employee parking and convenient transport connections.
• Our “House of Elements” offers modern and ergonomic workplaces, an award-winning company restaurant, and a selection of complimentary coffee varieties.
• Your well-being is very important to us: Take advantage of our preventive health care offers, running groups, and yoga courses, and enjoy 30 relaxing days of holiday per year.
• Stay fit and do your bit for the environment at the same time: lease your dream bike conveniently via Brenntag.

Brenntag provides equal employment opportunities to qualified applicants and employees of all backgrounds and identities to create a workplace where difference is valued because it forms a resilient and more innovative organization. We do not discriminate on the basis of age, disability, gender identity, sexual orientation, ethnicity, race, religion or belief, parental and family status, or any other protected characteristic. We welcome applications from women, men and non‑binary candidates of all ethnicities and socio‑economic backgrounds.

Brenntag TA Team