Associate Legal Counsel - (12 Month Contract)

Hootsuite; Atlanta (GA); On-site; USD 120,000 - 150,000; Full time

Job summary

Hootsuite is seeking an Associate Legal Counsel, Commercial and Privacy to help build a world-class privacy program and support sales and other commercial matters. You will translate complex global privacy laws into practical guidance for product, sales and marketing teams, while negotiating data protection agreements and vendor contracts.

The role is remote-first and open to candidates in regions we hire. You will report to the Senior Legal Counsel, Privacy, AI & Compliance, collaborating with

Qualifications

• 5+ years of privacy, legal or compliance experience
• Familiarity with GDPR and privacy principles
• IAPP or similar privacy certifications or experience in SaaS/tech
• Proactive, organized and able to thrive in a fast-paced environment

Responsibilities

• Provide frontline privacy support to business stakeholders across product, sales, marketing and people.
• Draft privacy policies, notices and guidance.
• Respond to customer data protection and privacy questions through the Customer Assurance function.
• Draft, review and negotiate data processing agreements, NDAs, SaaS and vendor agreements.
• Collaborate to implement privacy initiatives (data retention, PIAs, data inventories, vendor controls).
• Identify privacy risks and propose business-minded solutions.
• Assist in maintaining privacy operations tools and processes and deliver training.

Skills

Privacy compliance experience

GDPR knowledge

IAPP certification

Legal analysis

Contract negotiation

Education

Law degree

Job description

We're looking for an Associate Legal Counsel, Commercial and Privacy to contribute in developing a world class privacy program at Hootsuite and supporting on sales and other commercial matters. As part of our Privacy, Compliance & Customer Assurance team, you'll be helping translating complex global privacy laws into practical advice for business stakeholders and helping the Commercial Legal team drive deals across the line. This is a remote-first role and is open to applicants located in provinces and states where we are set up to hire. In this role, you will report to the Senior Legal Counsel, Privacy, AI & Compliance.

WHAT YOU’LL DO:

• Provide frontline privacy support to business stakeholders throughout the organization (e.g., product development, sales, marketing, people, etc.)
• Draft privacy and other legal policies, notices and guidance
• Support our Customer Assurance function (which provides security and privacy sales support) and efficiently respond to customer data protection and privacy questions
• Draft, review, and negotiate commercial and data protection agreements, including, data processing agreements, NDAs, SaaS agreements, and vendor agreements
• Collaborate with key stakeholders to implement and maintain key privacy initiatives (e.g., improvements to our data retention / deletion policies, PIAs, data inventories, vendor controls, data subject requests)
• Collaborate with key business stakeholders to identify privacy risks and implement business minded solutions
• Support the implementation and maintenance of Privacy and Customer Assurance operations tools and processes in collaboration with the team and other stakeholders.
• Provide business oriented and practical legal guidance and support on a wide range of topics, including commercial contracts (with a focus on SaaS contracts), data protection, and procurement.
• Build and maintain positive relationships with local leadership and other strategic partners, in particular the Sales and Product teams.
• Assist in the development of the privacy and legal knowledge base, sales resources, and delivery of training
• Take initiative, work independently and go the extra mile to meet timelines
• Appropriately triage a heavy workflow, setting appropriate priorities with internal and external clients and delivering results efficiently.
• Research and monitor changes to relevant law and regulations to ensure our programs are compliant, and advise the business as necessary.
• Collaborate with other Legal team members on other matters and projects as required.
• Perform administrative and other related duties as assigned.

WHAT YOU’LL NEED:

• A positive and proactive approach to working with the business and ability to thrive in a fast paced environment.
• Highly organized and efficient working style.
• Experience: 5 years of demonstrated privacy, legal or compliance experience or equivalent combination of education and/or experience
• Education: A law degree from a recognized university
• Customer Focus: demonstrates a desire to proactively help and serve internal/external customers meet their needs
• Creativity and Innovation: seeks new and better ways of doing things, generates original and imaginative ideas, products, or solutions.
• Open Communication: clearly conveys thoughts, both written and verbally, listening attentively and asking questions for clarification and understanding
• Problem Solving: uses an organized and logical approach to find solutions to complex problems. Looks beyond the obvious to understand the root cause of problems
• Process/Project Management: skilled at figuring out and managing the processes and timelines necessary to get work accomplished
• Knowledge: Familiarity and comfort level with privacy laws and principles, including the GDPR; and IAPP or other privacy certifications or experience working in SaaS / technology.

WHO YOU ARE:

• Solution seeker. You're focused on tackling new challenges, solving problems, and moving the business forward—and you don't wait to be asked.
• Lifelong learner. You have a growth mindset – you're here to learn, experiment, seek, apply, and provide feedback, share what works with your team, and move on from what doesn't.
• Resilient adapter. In the face of change and challenges, you bring a thoughtful, calm approach, and a focus on finding the new opportunity.
• Intentional collaborator. You build positive working relationships across the business, bringing people together to foster new opportunities and to facilitate the efficient flow of information.
• Critical challenger. You have the trust in your team to ask difficult questions in order to get to the best end result.
• Active communicator. You listen actively and communicate ideas and information clearly, inclusively, and proactively.
• Integrated thinker. You look beyond your role and responsibilities to understand how your team’s work drives broader organizational goals.
• Accountable owner. You take pride in the work you’re responsible for with a mindset of ultimate accountability and reliability for the outcomes.
• Bar-raiser. You step up to help your team grow and succeed, even when that means going beyond what might be expected.

In all we do, our six guiding principles light the way:

Step Up: Show the world what it looks like to live and work by these guiding principles. #StepUp

One Team: Make Hootsuite a place where everyone feels safe, welcome, valued, and empowered to do their best work without compromising who they are. #OneTeam #FreeToBeMe

Customer Obsessed: Focus relentlessly on helping our customers succeed. #CustomerObsessed

Go Fast, Be Agile: Widen our competitive advantage by committing to speed and simplicity over perfection and complexity. #GoFastBeAgile

Play to Win: Commit to building an incredible, profitable company for our customers, our employees, and our stakeholders. #PlayToWin #NoExcuses

Neighbours & Allies: Give back to our communities and be an ally. #SocialForGood #Allies

Accommodations will be provided as requested by candidates taking part in all aspects of the selection process.

This posting is for a current vacancy for which we are actively hiring.

Canada Pay Range For This Role: $87,700 CAD - $122,700 CAD

Use of AI in Hiring

Hootsuite uses artificial intelligence (AI) to support our recruitment process. These tools may assist with screening and assessing applicants and / or summarizing interview feedback. All final hiring decisions are made by human decision-makers who use their professional judgement to review and evaluate relevant candidate information in addition to AI outputs. For more information about how we use AI and your rights, please see our Careers Privacy Policy.