Vice President & Associate General Counsel, Technology and Data Privacy

Walker & Dunlop; Bethesda (MD); On-site; USD 210,000 - 230,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Medical benefits

401(k) + match

Transit benefits

Wellness program

Parental leave

Job summary

Walker & Dunlop seeks a Vice President & Associate General Counsel for Technology and Data Privacy to lead legal strategy across product, engineering, and cybersecurity. You will govern data usage, privacy compliance, and AI initiatives while partnering with cross‑functional teams on licensing and governance.

The role requires a JD, 5+ years in tech/privacy law, and certifications such as CIPM/CIPP. This is a senior, high‑impact position with hybrid work options in Bethesda, MD.

Qualifications

• Juris Doctorate from an accredited law school.
• 5+ years of relevant legal experience advising on technology, privacy, data, and commercial matters.
• CIPM, CIPP/US, and/or CIPP/EU certification preferred.

Responsibilities

• Serve as product counsel to Product and Engineering teams through the product lifecycle.
• Embed privacy, data governance, security, and responsible AI into new products, features, platforms, and initiatives.
• Review data flows, user experiences, and proposed uses of data and AI to identify legal risks and craft practical solutions.
• Lead privacy compliance programs and data licensing across the organization.

Skills

Product counsel

Privacy law

AI & data

Contract negotiation

Education

Juris Doctorate

Job description

Department: Legal

We are Walker & Dunlop. We are one of the largest providers of capital to the commercial real estate industry, enabling real estate owners and operators to bring their visions of communities - where people live, work, shop, and play - to life. We are committed to creating meaningful social, environmental, and economic change in our communities.

Department Overview

The Legal department provides support for issues relating to all corporate policies, compliance, risk, contracts, litigation, and more.

The Impact You Will Have

Walker & Dunlop is seeking a talented Vice President & Associate General Counsel of Technology and Data Privacy to be the key legal leader partnering with our Product, Engineering, Marketing, Information Technology, and Cybersecurity teams. This is an opportunity to be an integral member of a high-performing legal team within a leading commercial real estate company, providing counsel on complex and evolving technology, data, and privacy matters across the organization. This person will partner with Product and Engineering leaders on data governance, data and technology licensing, and artificial intelligence (AI) implementation, while leading Walker & Dunlop's privacy compliance efforts.

Primary Responsibilities

• Serve as product counsel to Product and Engineering teams throughout the product lifecycle, advising on legal and regulatory considerations from product design and development through launch, commercialization, and ongoing operation.
• Partner with cross-functional stakeholders to embed privacy, data governance, security, and responsible AI considerations into new products, features, platforms, and business initiatives.
• Review product functionality, data flows, user experiences, and proposed uses of data and AI to identify legal risks and develop practical, business-oriented solutions.
• Serve as the subject matter expert and primary legal advisor on U.S. and international privacy, data governance, data and technology licensing, and AI implementation matters.
• Build out operational and compliance related requirements regarding internal and external data usage, including managing external privacy providers and software vendors and leading process enhancements.
• Collaborate and coordinate closely with our in-house technology and cybersecurity team, including the Chief Information Security Officer, to address privacy and data governance risks.
• Lead negotiations for complex technology related contracts and agreements, including SaaS, data and software licensing and confidentiality agreements.
• Collaborate with our Procurement team to improve the efficiency of our contract lifecycle management processes.
• Balance business and contract goals against legal, business, policy and reputational risks.
• Present and defend positions and views to business team members as well as counterparties.
• Perform other duties as assigned.

Attendance for in officer employees is generally required from 8:30 am - 5:30 pm local time, Monday through Thursday, with the option to work remotely on Fridays.

Education and Experience

• Juris Doctorate from an accredited law school
• 5+ years of relevant legal experience, including experience advising on technology, privacy, data, and commercial matters.
• CIPM, CIPP/US, and/or CIPP/EU certification preferred.

Knowledge, Skills and Abilities

• Experience as a product counsel with expertise across product, privacy, AI and emerging technology related legal issues.
• Superior business acumen with the ability to balance legal issues with business objectives.
• Excellent attention to detail, judgment, flexibility, and dependability.
• Effective communication skills with a variety of contacts, including outside counsel, senior management and other business colleagues.
• High standards of integrity and good judgment.
• Commitment to producing high quality work.
• Ability to show ownership of your work, take on challenges and acknowledge growth opportunities, and demonstrate patience when learning new processes.
• Courtesy, respect, and thoughtfulness in teaming with colleagues and other stakeholders.

This position has an estimated base salary of $210,000 - $230,000 plus discretionary bonus. An employment offer is based on the applicant's relevant work experience, applicable knowledge, skills, abilities, internal equity, and alignment with market data.

#LI-AA1 #LI-Hybrid

What We Offer

The opportunity to join one of Fortune Magazine's Great Places to Work winners Comprehensive benefit options that have earned Walker & Dunlop the gold level of the 2025 Cigna Healthy Workforce Designation, some of which include:

• Up to 83% subsidized medical payroll deductions
• Competitive dental and vision benefits
• 401(k) + match
• Pre-tax transit and commuting benefits
• A robust health and wellness program - earn cash rewards and gain access to resources that promote health, engagement, and balance
• Paid maternity and parental leave, as well as other family paid leave programs
• Company-paid life, short and long-term disability insurance
• Health Savings Account and Healthcare and Dependent Care Flexible Spending Career development opportunities
• Empowerment and encouragement to give back - volunteer hours and donation matching

Eligibility may vary based on average number of hours worked

Equal Employment Opportunity Statement

We are committed to equity in all steps of the recruitment and employment experience. We believe in equal access to opportunities in our workplace. We do not tolerate discrimination, including harassment, based on any characteristic protected by applicable law, such as race, color, national origin, religion, gender identity, sexual orientation, sex, age, disability, veteran or military status, and genetic information, or any other characteristic protected by applicable law. We strive to be a safe place to ask questions, build professional relationships, and develop careers.

Fair Chance Hiring Background checks, including any questions related to infractions, arrests, or conviction records, will not be conducted until after a conditional offer of employment has been accepted. We will consider for employment qualified applicants regardless of arrest and conviction records, in accordance with federal, state, and local laws.

Our experience is the combination of everything that’s unique about our culture, our core values, our company meetings, our commitment to success, our recognition programs, but most importantly, it’s our people. Our employees are self-disciplined, hardworking, curious, trustworthy, humble and truthful. They make choices according to what is best for the team, they live for opportunities to collaborate and make a difference, and they make us the #1 Top Workplace in our area.