Head of Data Protection

Taylor Root; Barcelona; On-site; EUR 110,000 - 130,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Relocation support

25 days annual leave

Strong pension offering

20 days' work from anywhere allowance

Job summary

Taylor Root is seeking a Head of Privacy for its Barcelona team to lead the privacy and AI governance function within a fast-growing international SaaS/tech business. The role collaborates with senior leadership, Product, Engineering, Security and commercial teams.

You will own the global strategy, manage a specialist team, and drive privacy initiatives with strong AI expertise. English is the working language; relocation to Barcelona is supported.

Qualifications

• Around 7+ years' privacy/data protection experience in SaaS/fintech or fast-growth tech.
• Strong knowledge of GDPR and emerging AI regulation, including the EU AI Act.
• Experience partnering with Product and Engineering teams.
• Genuine AI fluency, ideally with AI tools/workflows/automation in your current role.
• Excellent commercial judgement and ability to communicate complex risk clearly.
• Leadership experience or readiness to step into broader leadership.

Responsibilities

• Own and develop the global privacy and AI governance strategy.
• Lead, coach and develop the privacy team.
• Advise senior leadership on privacy, data and AI risk.
• Embed privacy by design across Product, Engineering and Operations.
• Oversee DPIAs, DSARs, ROPA, data retention, third-party privacy, and incidents.
• Develop AI-enabled and automated privacy processes.
• Position Privacy as a strategic, commercial resource within the organisation.

Skills

Privacy leadership

GDPR knowledge

AI fluency

Stakeholder communication

Commercial judgement

Team development

Project management

Education

UK/EU legal qualification

Job description

Taylor Root is currently mandated by a large international technology firm looking to appoint a Head of Privacy to join its Barcelona team.

This is an opportunity to lead and develop the privacy function within a fast-growing international SaaS/technology business, with significant exposure to AI, data governance and privacy transformation.

The Head of Privacy will own the global privacy and AI governance programme, lead a small specialist team and work closely with senior leadership, Product, Engineering, Security and commercial teams.

The role

• Own and develop the global privacy and AI governance strategy.
• Lead, coach and develop the privacy team.
• Advise senior leadership on privacy, data and AI-related risk.
• Embed privacy by design across Product, Engineering and Operations.
• Oversee DPIAs, DSARs, ROPA, data retention, third-party privacy and data incidents.
• Develop increasingly AI-enabled and automated privacy processes.
• Help position Privacy as a commercial and strategic resource within the organisation rather than simply a control function.

Your background

We are looking for someone with:

• Around 7+ years' privacy/data protection experience, ideally within SaaS, fintech or another fast-growth technology environment.
• UK or EU legal qualification.
• Strong knowledge of GDPR and developing AI regulation, particularly the EU AI Act.
• Experience partnering with Product and Engineering teams.
• Genuine AI fluency, ideally using AI tools, workflows or automation within your current role.
• Strong commercial judgement and the ability to communicate complex privacy risks simply.
• Leadership experience, or the ambition and credibility to step into a broader leadership position.

The working language of the role is English, so Spanish qualification or fluency is not required.

• €110,000–€130,000 fixed salary + equity (options to turn the equity to cash)
• Relocation support to Barcelona
• 25 days' annual leave
• Strong pension offering
• 20 days' work from anywhere allowance
• Significant scope for career development and the opportunity to shape how Privacy operates commercially across the business

Requirements:

• Around 7+ years' privacy/data protection experience, ideally within SaaS, fintech or a high-growth technology business.
• Strong experience working with Product and Engineering teams.
• Excellent commercial judgement and the ability to communicate complex risk in straightforward language.
• Leadership experience or someone ready to step into a broader leadership position.
• Strong understanding of GDPR and emerging AI regulation, including the EU AI Act.
• Genuine AI fluency, ideally with experience using AI to build workflows, automations or improve legal/privacy processes.
• Ideally experience working within an international/forward thinking technology business.