Data Protection Officer & Legal Counsel

Medtronic; Watford; On-site; GBP 70,000 - 90,000; Full time

Job summary

A leading global healthcare technology company is seeking a Data Protection Officer & Senior Counsel in Watford. This role involves overseeing compliance with GDPR and related laws, developing data protection policies, and providing expertise in privacy matters. The ideal candidate will have in-house experience within healthcare and proven skills in managing data protection programs. Competitive salary and flexible benefits are offered. This position requires a proactive approach to privacy and compliance in a dynamic environment.

Benefits

Competitive salary

Flexible benefits package

Short-term incentive plan (MIP)

Qualifications

• In-house experience in healthcare or medical devices.
• Proven track record in data protection programs.
• Expertise in national and international data laws.

Responsibilities

• Monitor compliance with GDPR and data protection laws.
• Advise on data protection obligations and best practices.
• Develop and implement data protection compliance programs.
• Manage personal data breaches and privacy incidents.
• Conduct privacy-related negotiations and agreements.

Skills

Healthcare regulatory knowledge

GDPR compliance expertise

Data protection program management

Contract negotiation skills

AI and data governance understanding

Job description

At Medtronic you can begin a life‑long career of exploration and innovation while helping champion healthcare access and equity for all. You’ll lead with purpose breaking down barriers to innovation in a more connected compassionate world.

A Day in the Life

Medtronic Diabetes is looking for a Data Protection Officer & Senior Counsel to join the legal department as a key contributor to its growing world‑class Global Privacy Team. Your day will include a variety of matters that will require you to assist, advise, investigate, research and resolve legal matters as well as write corporate legal policies to ensure that company personnel are aware of and in compliance with applicable privacy laws and regulations.

This position is an exciting opportunity to work with Medtronic’s Diabetes business. Medtronic has announced its intention to separate the Diabetes division to promote future growth and innovation within the business and reallocate investments and resources across Medtronic subject to applicable information and consultation requirements. This separation provides our team with a bold opportunity to unleash our potential, enabling us to operate with greater speed and agility. As a separate entity we anticipate leveraging increased investments to drive meaningful innovation and enhance our impact on patient care.

Responsibilities

• Monitor and promote Medtronic’s compliance with GDPR and other applicable data protection laws, regulations, policies and procedures—including maintaining documentation and producing compliance reports.
• Advise the organization and employees on data protection obligations and best practices, serving as a subject‑matter expert and providing education, awareness and training initiatives in partnership with relevant teams.
• Develop, implement and monitor data protection aspects of compliance programs, policies and procedures, coordinating with cross‑functional departments and business units.
• Develop, maintain and support processes for reporting, managing and responding to personal data breaches, privacy/security incidents, complaints and inquiries from stakeholders and authorities.
• Serve as the main point of contact for data protection regulators, external privacy counsel and respond to privacy‑related requests and complaints from stakeholders including customers, regulators and data subjects.
• Review, structure, negotiate and draft privacy/data protection agreements and advise on data protection requirements in contracts and business activities—including mergers, acquisitions and outsourcing.
• Perform other duties and responsibilities as assigned to support Medtronic’s privacy compliance and business objectives.

Required Knowledge and Experience

• In‑house / corporate experience ideally within healthcare, medical devices or other highly regulated environments.
• Demonstrated experience building, implementing and managing data protection programs in organizations subject to multiple privacy and data protection regulations.
• Expert‑level knowledge of national and international data protection laws—including GDPR and applicable U.S./E.U. healthcare privacy frameworks.
• Familiarity with the legal and compliance implications of IT service management, customer relationship management and cloud‑based systems, including experience with negotiating data protection agreements.
• Understanding of responsible AI and data governance principles, with the ability to provide legal guidance on fairness, accountability, transparency and ethical deployment of AI technologies within healthcare and medical device contexts.

Physical Job Requirements

The above statements are intended to describe the general nature and level of work being performed by employees assigned to this position but they are not an exhaustive list of all the required responsibilities and skills of this position.

Benefits & Compensation

Medtronic offers a competitive salary and flexible benefits package.

A commitment to our employees’ lives is at the core of our values. We recognize their contributions; they share in the success they help to create. We offer a wide range of benefits, resources and competitive compensation plans designed to support you at every career and life stage.

This position is eligible for a short‑term incentive called the Medtronic Incentive Plan (MIP).

About Medtronic

We lead global healthcare technology and boldly attack the most challenging health problems facing humanity by searching out and finding solutions.

Our mission—to alleviate pain, restore health and extend life—unites a global team of 95,000 passionate people.

We are engineers at heart, putting ambitious ideas to work to generate real solutions for real people. From the R&D lab to the factory floor to the conference room, every one of us experiments, creates, builds, improves and solves. We have the talent, diverse perspectives and guts to engineer the extraordinary.

Learn more about our business mission and our commitment to diversity here.

Employment Details

Employment Type: Full‑Time

Experience: years

Vacancy: 1