Counsel – Privacy & Data Protection

Counsel – Privacy & Data Protection

Our Purpose

We work to connect and power an inclusive, digital economy that benefits everyone, everywhere by making transactions safe, simple, smart and accessible. Using secure data and networks, partnerships and passion, our innovations and solutions help individuals, financial institutions, governments and businesses realize their greatest potential. Our decency quotient, or DQ, drives our culture and everything we do inside and outside of our company. We cultivate a culture of inclusion for all employees that respects their individual strengths, views, and experiences. We believe that our differences enable us to be a better team – one that makes better decisions, drives innovation and delivers better business results.

Title and Summary

Counsel – Privacy & Data Protection

The Global Privacy & Data Protection team at Mastercard ensures that privacy and data protection is integrated in Mastercard’s product design and business processes that collect, use, disclose or retain personal data about our customers, consumers, merchants and employees.

The Counsel, Privacy & Data Protection will be part of the Global Privacy & Data Protection team, and will be responsible for ensuring the maintenance of a robust privacy and data protection program within Mastercard and its subsidiaries in the EEMEA region. The role will also provide day-to-day privacy support to business teams in Mastercard including cyber & intelligence, processing, marketing, and digital platforms. The role will also involve reviewing and advising on data-related laws.

The position can be based in either Dubai, UAE, Lagos, Nigeria or Johannesburg, South Africa, and will report to the Senior Counsel, Privacy & Data Protection.
The ideal candidate will be able to think and act strategically and tactically with respect to the needs and objectives of the business clients while managing risk appropriately and ensuring the corporation remains compliant with law, including:
• Engaging with business teams in their development of cyber & intelligence, processing, marketing and digital products and solutions, utilizing a privacy-by-design methodology
• Analyzing new and existing business initiatives that collect, store, analyze, manage, and transfer personal information with the aim of identifying relevant privacy and data usage issues and the relevant process and infrastructure requirements to ensure compliance of such initiatives with applicable privacy and data protection laws in the EEMEA region and to ensure consistency with Mastercard’s global policies and standards
• Developing and implementing processes and controls that address applicable privacy and data protection requirements for the EEMEA region including: access to data, managing privacy and data protection policies and notices, preparing and filing local regulatory registrations, and managing cardholder and government requests for data
• Reviewing data-related laws (new laws and changes to laws), and providing useful advice to business teams on the potential impact of these laws
• Supporting privacy and data protection due diligence and integration for M&A projects
• Increasing awareness among business clients and regional counsel colleagues regarding privacy and data protection laws in EEMEA through training and other initiatives.
• Supporting region business counsel with the review and negotiation of applicable privacy and data protection language in agreements with affiliates, vendors, and customers.
• Ensuring all activities comply with applicable privacy and data protection laws.
LL.B, Juris Doctor (or international equivalent) required
• Licensed to practice in one or more countries
• solid and proven privacy and data protection related experience required
• solid legal experience in direct marketing, financial service or interactive technology
• Understanding and track record of dealing with data protection laws and requirements for the protection and transfer of data in the EEMEA region
• Familiarity with financial services industry and payment processing
• Strong analytic capabilities and an ability to work on complex regulatory and business problems. Attention to detail is a must
• Capability and eagerness to dive-deep into the technology, and work with product and operations and technology teams when applying privacy principles
• Knowledge of digital marketing laws in EEMEA region, including laws and self-regulatory schemes
• Knowledge of interactive marketing technologies, including, social media platforms and other data collection technologies
• Superior time management, planning, and organizational skills with an ability to excel at multi-tasking in a fast-paced environment
• Exceptional interpersonal skills with proven experience in relationship building and partnering. Must work well in both team and individual settings
• Solid English language skills

Corporate Security Responsibility

All activities involving access to Mastercard assets, information, and networks comes with an inherent risk to the organization and, therefore, it is expected that every person working for, or on behalf of, Mastercard is responsible for information security and must:

• Abide by Mastercard’s security policies and practices;
• Ensure the confidentiality and integrity of the information being accessed;
• Report any suspected information security violation or breach, and
• Complete all periodic mandatory security trainings in accordance with Mastercard’s guidelines.