Associate Counsel, Privacy & AI

Visa; Foster City (CA); On-site; USD 153,000 - 237,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Medical insurance

Dental insurance

Vision insurance

401(k)

FSA/HSA

Life Insurance

Paid Time Off

Wellness Program

Job summary

Visa is seeking an Associate Counsel to join the Global Privacy Office Legal Advisory team. The role focuses on privacy, data use, AI, and technology matters, especially in technology transactions, sourcing, and third-party risk. You will work with privacy counsel, procurement, and business clients to shape responsible AI and product governance.

You will help develop scalable resources and playbooks while balancing innovation with regulatory obligations across global operations.

Qualifications

• Law degree with 2+ years work experience in privacy/technology law.
• Experience advising on privacy, technology, cybersecurity, or data governance.
• Strong written and verbal communication; cross-functional collaboration.

Responsibilities

• Review and negotiate privacy, data protection, AI, cybersecurity, and technology provisions in third-party agreements.
• Advise stakeholders on privacy and AI risks in vendor engagements.
• Support AI governance initiatives, including risk assessments and contractual frameworks.
• Monitor evolving privacy and AI regulations and operationalize requirements.
• Develop scalable governance resources, templates, and training.
• Collaborate across Legal, Sourcing, Technology, and Product teams.

Skills

Privacy law

Data protection

Contract negotiation

AI governance

Regulatory compliance

Education

Juris Doctor degree or international equivalent

Tools

SaaS contracts

Cloud agreements

Job description

About Us

Visa is a world leader in payments technology, facilitating transactions between consumers, merchants, financial institutions and government entities across more than 200 countries and territories, dedicated to uplifting everyone, everywhere by being the best way to pay and be paid.

At Visa, you'll have the opportunity to create impact at scale — tackling meaningful challenges, growing your skills and seeing your contributions impact lives around the world.

Join Visa and do work that matters – to you, to your community, and to the world. Progress starts with you.

Overview

Visa is seeking an Associate Counsel to join the Global Privacy Office Legal Advisory team. This role provides legal support on a broad range of privacy, data use, artificial intelligence, and technology matters, with a primary focus on technology transactions, sourcing initiatives, and third-party risk. The successful candidate will work closely with privacy counsel, sourcing professionals, AI governance stakeholders, compliance teams, and business clients across the company.

This position offers a unique opportunity to help shape how Visa responsibly develops, deploys, and contracts for emerging technologies while navigating a rapidly evolving global regulatory environment. The role also provides exposure to product counseling and support for AI-enabled products and services.

Key Responsibilities

The Associate Counsel will:

• Review, draft, and negotiate privacy, data protection, AI, cybersecurity, and technology provisions in agreements with vendors, suppliers, and strategic technology partners.
• Advise business, sourcing, procurement, and legal stakeholders on privacy, data use, cybersecurity, and AI risks associated with third-party engagements.
• Support the development and implementation of Visa's AI governance and responsible AI initiatives, including contractual frameworks, risk assessments, and operational processes.
• Monitor and analyze emerging privacy, data, and AI laws and regulations, and help operationalize legal requirements across Visa's business and technology functions.
• Collaborate with privacy counsel and cross-functional stakeholders to support enterprise privacy and AI compliance initiatives.
• Support product and privacy counsel on legal reviews of new products, services, and AI-enabled features, helping identify and address privacy, data use, and regulatory considerations throughout the product lifecycle.
• Assist in the development of scalable privacy and AI governance resources, including playbooks, templates, guidance materials, and training.
• Partner with business, technology, and legal stakeholders to develop practical, risk-based solutions that enable innovation while addressing legal and regulatory obligations.
• Build and maintain strong relationships across Legal, Sourcing, Technology, Information Security, Product, and other business teams.

Visa requires at least 3 days in office, expectations of these days will be confirmed by your Hiring Manager.

Qualifications

Basic Qualifications:

• 2 or more years of work experience with a bachelor’s degree or an Advanced Degree (e.g. Masters, MBA, JD, MD, or PhD)

Preferred Qualifications

• 3 or more years of work experience with a bachelor’s degree or more than 2 years of work experience with an Advanced Degree (e.g. Masters, MBA, JD, MD)
• Intellectual curiosity and a demonstrated willingness to learn, engage deeply with complex legal and business issues, and develop expertise in emerging areas of privacy, AI, technology, and data governance.
• Juris Doctor degree (or international equivalent) with strong academic credentials.
• Admission to practice law in at least one U.S. jurisdiction.
• Approximately 3-5 years of relevant legal experience.
• Experience advising on privacy, technology, commercial contracting, cybersecurity, data governance, or related regulatory matters.
• Excellent written, verbal, analytical, and communication skills.
• Strong organizational skills and ability to manage multiple projects simultaneously.
• Demonstrated ability to work independently while collaborating effectively in a cross-functional environment.
• Sound judgment and the ability to provide practical, business-focused legal advice.
• Combination of law firm and in-house experience.
• Experience negotiating technology, SaaS, cloud services, data licensing, or AI-related agreements.
• Familiarity with global privacy laws and frameworks, including GDPR, U.S. state privacy laws, cross-border data transfer requirements, and emerging AI regulations.
• Knowledge of AI governance, machine learning technologies, and responsible AI principles.
• Experience supporting sourcing, procurement, or third-party risk management functions.
• Experience in the payments, financial services, or technology industries.
• One or more IAPP certifications (CIPP, CIPM, CIPT, or AIGP).

Information for US Applicants

For roles located in the US, the estimated salary range for this position is $152,900.00 to $ 237,000.00 USD per year, which may include potential sales incentive payments (if applicable). Salary may vary depending on job-related factors which may include knowledge, skills, experience, and location. In addition, this position may be eligible for bonus and equity.Visa has a comprehensive benefits package for which this position may be eligible that includes Medical, Dental, Vision, 401(k), FSA/HSA, Life Insurance, Paid Time Off, and Wellness Program.

Work Hours

Varies upon the needs of the department.

Travel Requirements

This position requires travel 5-10% of the time.

Mental/Physical Requirements

This position will be performed in an office setting. The position will require the incumbent to sit and stand at a desk, communicate in person and by telephone, frequently operate standard office equipment, such as telephones and computers.

Visa is an EEO Employer

Qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color religion, sex, national origin, sexual orientation, gender identity, disability or protect veteran status. Visa will also consider for employment qualified applicants with criminal histories in a manner consistent with the EEOC guidelines and applicable local law.