Regional Data Protection Advisor

Profile Personnel; Gqeberha; On-site; ZAR 600 000 - 900 000; Full time

Job summary

A leading company is seeking a Regional Data Protection Advisor to navigate evolving privacy standards across South Africa and its subsidiaries. The role involves acting as a privacy expert, coordinating compliance efforts, and training staff on legal obligations. Ideal candidates will have an LLB, be admitted attorneys, and possess a strong understanding of privacy law.

Qualifications

• Admitted attorney in South Africa.
• At least 3 years of post-admission experience.
• Certifications like CIPP/E or CIPP/US preferred.

Responsibilities

• Coordinate privacy implementation across business entities.
• Advise on data protection matters and compliance.
• Prepare and deliver training on regulatory obligations.

Skills

Privacy law knowledge

Interpersonal skills

Commercial understanding

Data protection compliance

Education

LLB (Bachelor of Laws)

Tools

SharePoint

MS Office

Job description

The Specialist : Regional Data Protection Advisor collaborates with the business to navigate evolving privacy standards and supports the Chief Data Protection Officer in implementing the Data Protection Compliance Management System across the business, including South Africa and its African subsidiaries.

Possible Tasks within this Role

1. Act as the contact point and coordinate Privacy Leads in the business entities regarding privacy implementation.
2. Serve as a privacy subject matter expert, advising the African region entities on privacy and data protection matters for daily operations, including the development of new products, services, and initiatives.
3. Handle data requests from Data Subjects and Third Parties under the Promotion of Access to Information Act (PAIA).
4. Prepare and deliver training to company entities about their obligations under local regulatory requirements, Company Policy OD 2, and applicable EU data protection laws affecting Volkswagen’s operations in Africa.
5. Support contract negotiations and advise on Data Processing Agreements and Data Privacy Impact Assessments.
6. Assist with Data Protection / Privacy Office responsibilities, including Privacy by Design and implementing technical and organizational measures (TOMs).
7. Conduct gap analyses and develop solutions with the business to address any gaps.
8. Draft and advise on data protection documentation such as privacy notices, policies, procedures, and data subject access requests.
9. Exercise judgment and manage competing deadlines effectively.
10. Collaborate with Legal Services to identify legal issues related to privacy with potential cross-functional impact.
11. Ensure Privacy by Design processes are integrated into business practices.
12. Liaise with and act as a contact point for data protection regulatory bodies regarding personal data processing and other matters.
13. Partner with the Chief Information Security Officer and the business to investigate and manage potential breaches or non-compliance issues, supporting prompt and accurate reporting.
14. Stay informed about local and international legal developments, trends, and guidelines in data and privacy risk, analyzing their impact on company processes.
15. Collaborate with Group Data Protection to exchange ideas, developments, and trends on data protection and privacy compliance.

Qualification requirements

1. LLB (Bachelor of Laws) or equivalent qualification.
2. Admitted attorney in South Africa.

Experience needed

1. At least 3 years of post-admission experience.
2. Working knowledge of privacy law.
3. Certifications such as CIPP/E, CIPP/US or similar (preferred).
4. Experience drafting policies and procedures (preferred).
5. Strong commercial understanding and excellent interpersonal skills.
6. Proficiency in SharePoint, MS Office (Excel, Word, PowerPoint).
7. Understanding of the intersection between legal, IT, and data security requirements.

To apply, please email your CV to Marlene Williams at [emailprotected]. Only shortlisted candidates will be contacted. If you do not receive a response within 14 days, please consider your application unsuccessful. Your CV will be kept on our database for future relevant roles.

Note: Please include a copy of your ID and qualifications with your application.