Remote Data Protection Officer — Privacy & Compliance Leader

Placements24; East London; Hybrid; ZAR 900,000 - 1,500,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Fully remote work arrangement

Medical insurance

Professional development budget

Annual bonus

Paid time off

Job summary

Placements24 is seeking an experienced Data Protection Officer (DPO) to lead privacy programs for a global enterprise. The role requires an admitted South African attorney with 5+ years in data protection and strong POPIA/GDPR knowledge.

You will design, implement, and oversee privacy policies, DPIAs, and training, while coordinating with IT and legal teams. Fully remote with international scope.

Qualifications

• Admitted Attorney of the High Court of South Africa or equivalent legal qualification.
• Minimum of 5 years of experience in data protection/privacy law.
• Strong knowledge of POPIA and GDPR.
• Experience building and implementing data privacy frameworks.
• Understanding of IT systems and information security principles.
• Excellent analytical and communication skills.
• Ability to work independently in a remote environment.
• CIPP/E or similar certification is advantageous.

Responsibilities

• Oversee compliance with data protection laws (POPIA, GDPR) across the organization.
• Develop, implement, and maintain data protection policies and procedures.
• Provide regular data protection training to staff.
• Advise on DPIAs for new projects and systems.
• Serve as primary contact for data protection authorities and data subjects.
• Manage data subject requests (access, rectification, erasure).
• Advise on data processing agreements and vendor contracts.
• Monitor legislative changes and adjust programs accordingly.
• Collaborate with IT and security teams to ensure data security.

Job description

Placements24 is seeking an experienced Data Protection Officer (DPO) to lead privacy programs for a global enterprise. The role requires an admitted South African attorney with 5+ years in data protection and strong POPIA/GDPR knowledge.

You will design, implement, and oversee privacy policies, DPIAs, and training, while coordinating with IT and legal teams. Fully remote with international scope.