Director, Counsel, Privacy and AI

Director, Counsel, Privacy and AI - (Hybrid) - Dublin, Ireland

This is an exciting opportunity to join an outstanding team of privacy professionals, serving as an in-house counsel responsible for providing legal support to Western Union in relation to privacy, data protection, AI, cyber and related laws in Europe and Africa. The lawyer in this role will report directly to the Global Head of Legal for Privacy and Marketing, Managing Associate General Counsel, who is also based in Dublin.

Hybrid: 3 days at the office per week

Role Responsibilities

In this role, you will advise multiple teams across Western Union on privacy practices and data protection initiatives and, in particular:

• Provide legal advice regarding privacy, AI, and related laws and practice as the principal subject matter expert for Europe and Africa;
• Conduct privacy risk assessments and DPIAs for new company initiatives and major projects;
• Monitor and analyse new and emerging privacy, AI, and related laws and guidance across Europe and Africa, conducting gap assessments to advise on the impact of emerging law and guidance;
• In the context of M&A opportunities, conduct privacy due diligence reviews and work on integration plans for new acquisitions and partnerships;
• Draft and negotiate privacy, AI, and cyber clauses in contracts; enhance existing contract playbooks and templates as necessary; advise on data transfers and data transfer clauses in contracts;
• Conduct privacy and AI training across all functions at Western Union;
• Manage escalated data subject rights requests and complaints, communicating effectively with data subjects and data protection regulators;
• Report to local boards and management and risk committees, as necessary;
• Advise on privacy incident response and reporting obligations.

Role Requirements

• Qualified solicitor or barrister in Ireland;
• Bachelor's degree; additional advanced degree preferred;
• Significant privacy-related work experience as in-house counsel or at a law firm advising on privacy and AI, preferably in a multinational financial services context (+5 years of experience preferred);
• Strong knowledge of privacy, AI, and related laws in the EU, including the GDPR, the AI Act, and the ePrivacy Directive;
• Privacy and/or AI-related certification preferred;
• Excellent communication skills, including confident presentation skills and a clear, concise writing style;
• Fluency in English; additional language skills (particularly in European languages) a plus;
• Proactive and effective business counselling; issue-spotting, problem-solving, negotiation, and analytical skills;;
• Ability to work on multiple projects to deliver timely, solutions-oriented decisions and risk-mitigating advice;
• Excellent organizational and prioritization skills;
• Ability to influence and challenge business partners in a constructive and persuasive manner;
• Ability to distill privacy concepts and requirements into clear recommendations for business partners.

We make financial services accessible to humans everywhere. Join us for what’s next. 

Western Union is well positioned to become the world’s most accessible financial services company —transforming lives and communities. More than moving money, we design easy-to-use products and services for our digital and physical financial ecosystem that help our customers move forward. 

Just as we help our global customers prosper, we support our employees in achieving their professional aspirations. You’ll have plenty of opportunities to learn new skills and build a career, as well as receive a great compensation package. If you’re ready to help drive the future of financial services, it’s time for Western Union. Learn more about our purpose and people at https://careers.westernunion.com/ 

You will also have access to short-term incentives, multiple health insurance options, accident and life insurance, and access to best-in-class development platforms, to name a few 
(https://careers.westernunion.com/global-benefits/). Please see the location-specific benefits below and note that your Recruiter may share additional role-specific benefits during your interview process or in an offer of employment. 

Your Ireland specific benefits include:  

• 25 days annual leave
• Comprehensive life & medical cover

• Contributory pension plan 

Western Union values in-person collaboration, learning, and ideation whenever possible. We believe this creates value through common ways of working and supports the execution of enterprise objectives which will ultimately help us achieve our strategic goals. By connecting face-to-face, we are better able to learn from our peers, problem-solve together, and innovate. 

Our Hybrid Work Model categorizes each role into one of three categories. Western Union has determined the category of this role to be Hybrid. This is defined as a flexible working arrangement that enables employees to divide their time between working from home and working from an office location. The expectation is to work from the office a minimum of three days a week. 

We are passionate about diversity. Our commitment is to provide an inclusive culture that celebrates the unique backgrounds and perspectives of our global teams while reflecting the communities we serve. We do not discriminate based on race, colour, national origin, religion, political affiliation, sex (including pregnancy), sexual orientation, gender identity, age, disability, marital status, or veteran status. The company will provide accommodation to applicants, including those with disabilities, during the recruitment process, following applicable laws. 

#LI-LP1 #LI-Hybrid

Estimated Job Posting End Date:

This application window is a good-faith estimate of the time that this posting will remain open. This posting will be promptly updated if the deadline is extended or the role is filled.