Remote Lead Data Privacy Counsel — Global Compliance

Placements24; Cape Town; Hybrid; ZAR 1,200,000 - 1,500,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Fully remote work environment

Competitive salary

Opportunity to build and lead privacy

Professional development

Job summary

Placements24 is seeking a Lead Data Privacy Counsel to join its remote-first legal team. You will shape and lead the privacy program across global operations, ensuring compliance with POPIA, GDPR, and other privacy laws. You will collaborate with IT, Security, Marketing and Product Development to embed privacy-by-design.

The role emphasizes building a proactive privacy culture, managing DPIAs/PIAs, DSARs, and data breach responses, while delivering training and governance across the organization.

Qualifications

• Admitted Attorney with a minimum of 6 years post-qualification experience in data privacy.
• Experience advising on POPIA, GDPR, CCPA and other international privacy regulations.
• Experience conducting privacy assessments and managing data breach responses.
• Excellent understanding of data processing agreements, consent management and data mapping.
• CIPP certification is highly desirable.
• Eligible to work remotely from Cape Town, Western Cape, ZA or anywhere in South Africa.

Responsibilities

• Develop, implement and maintain global data privacy policies, procedures and standards.
• Provide expert legal advice on data privacy matters including data collection, processing, storage, transfer and deletion.
• Conduct Privacy Impact Assessments (PIAs) and Data Protection Impact Assessments (DPIAs).
• Manage data subject access requests and other individual rights requests.
• Oversee responses to data breaches including notification procedures and regulatory engagement.
• Stay current with evolving global privacy laws and advise on impact on the business.
• Develop and deliver data privacy training programs for employees.
• Collaborate with IT and Security teams to ensure protective measures for personal data.
• Advise product and engineering teams on privacy implications of new features.

Skills

Data privacy law

Regulatory compliance

Privacy impact assessments

DSAR and data subject rights

Data breach response

Contracting/privacy agreements

Data mapping

Education

Admitted Attorney

CIPP certification desirable

Job description

Placements24 is seeking a Lead Data Privacy Counsel to join its remote-first legal team. You will shape and lead the privacy program across global operations, ensuring compliance with POPIA, GDPR, and other privacy laws. You will collaborate with IT, Security, Marketing and Product Development to embed privacy-by-design.

The role emphasizes building a proactive privacy culture, managing DPIAs/PIAs, DSARs, and data breach responses, while delivering training and governance across the organization.