Assistant General Counsel - Data Strategy & Security

Guided by our company Purpose of “Inspiring well-being for our colleagues, consumers, and communities,” we are committed to building a best-in-class Law Department.

We drive a high-performance culture across our Legal, Compliance, and Government Affairs functions. That culture is aligned to “what” we deliver (our goals) and “how” we deliver it (the values and behaviors we demonstrate in achieving those goals). We do this by leveraging a set of core capabilities: interpersonal effectiveness, business savvy, subject matter expertise in your practice area, and leading people and teams where applicable.

Our colleagues and the candidates we hire are key to the continued success of our department.

Position Summary

As Assistant General Counsel, Cybersecurity, Data Governance & Privacy, you will join a multidisciplinary team of attorneys and paraprofessionals that combines our privacy, cybersecurity, data governance, artificial intelligence, and intellectual property practices.

You will help Guardian’s businesses navigate business-critical issues and counsel first-line professionals who are focused on innovative opportunities to improve our customers’ experiences. You will advise business leaders on cybersecurity issues and partner with Law colleagues on regulatory inquiries and civil litigation, providing strategic advice that combines legal and technical guidance. You will also support business partners across all areas of data risk and governance and help shape how Guardian governs its use of artificial intelligence.

You are

A trusted legal advisor with strong expertise in cybersecurity, data governance, and privacy. You bring sound judgment and a practical, business-focused approach to navigating evolving risks and complex challenges. You build strong relationships, influence and empower leaders, and translate legal requirements into clear guidance and actionable solutions.

You have

Required:

• A Juris Doctor degree.
• Three to five or more years of relevant professional legal experience in corporate data security/cybersecurity.
• Industry knowledge across a broad range of insurance and investment products, platforms, and trends.
• Strong oral and written communication skills, as well as outstanding organizational and analytical skills.
• Strong negotiation skills and business acumen.
• Ability to work independently and collaboratively in a team setting, with a high level of self-direction and sound judgment.
• A self-starter with a proactive approach to addressing issues before they create legal exposure, and the ability to handle a wide range of complex and challenging situations.
• Demonstrated AI literacy, including using AI-enabled legal tools (such as Harvey) for research and drafting, with the judgment to critically evaluate and verify AI-generated output against primary sources.
• Working knowledge of U.S. and global privacy laws, cybersecurity regulations (including NYDFS Part 500), and emerging AI laws and regulations.

Preferred:

• New York State bar admission, or eligibility to practice under New York’s registered in-house counsel program.
• Experience in the life insurance industry, financial services, or another highly regulated industry.
• Proficiency in Westlaw and Harvey, and general desktop computer competency.

You will

• Help Guardian’s businesses navigate business-critical issues.
• Counsel first-line professionals pursuing innovative opportunities to improve customers’ experiences.
• Advise business leaders on cybersecurity issues, including incidents, breach notification obligations, and cyber regulations (e.g., NYDFS Part 500), so the business can demonstrate that its controls are defensible.
• Provide legal counsel and practical support to the Privacy team on privacy-related business initiatives, applying U.S. and global privacy laws to how personal data is collected, used, shared, and deleted, including through privacy impact assessments (PIAs) and privacy by design.
• Partner with Law colleagues on regulatory inquiries and civil litigation.
• Provide strategic legal and technical guidance.
• Assist business partners across all areas of data risk and governance.

Reporting Relationships

As our Assistant General Counsel, Cybersecurity, Data Governance & Privacy, you will report to our Associate General Counsel, Data Strategy & Security, who reports to our Chief Legal Officer.

Functional Leadership Skills & Behaviors

Interpersonal Effectiveness

• Uses communication and storytelling to inspire, motivate, and influence others. Communicates concisely, with composure and confidence, in an engaging manner.
• Goes beyond what is expected and engages others to do the same.
• Proactively seeks out leadership and significant project opportunities rather than waiting for direction.

Business Savvy

• Takes the time to learn the business in depth and applies professional expertise to business and customer needs in ways that make a significant difference.
• Takes a strategic, end-to-end view in organizing and planning work and initiatives, and delivers exceptional results, including by managing or influencing others.
• Asks insightful questions to create or shape new solutions, challenges existing approaches, enlists others in new thinking, and champions change and new projects that shape the future.

Legal Expertise

• Demonstrates mastery of written and oral communication, delivering concise, clear, and persuasive messages, especially at the executive level.
• Stays current in the subject matter and demonstrates expert knowledge in the field; is sought after for advice and counsel and makes significant contributions toward team and organizational goals.
• Brings a solutions-based approach to understanding client and customer needs and delivering unique solutions to challenging business problems.

• Lead by Example

• Bring your authentic self to work, demonstrate empathy, and create an inclusive environment.
• Prioritize your well-being.
• Stay informed and continually develop yourself as a leader to create capacity for growth.

Location

The primary location for this position is New York (Hudson Yards), onsite three days a week.

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Salary Range:

$178,690.00 - $293,560.00

The salary range reflected above is a good faith estimate of base pay for the primary location of the position. The salary for this position ultimately will be determined based on the education, experience, knowledge, and abilities of the successful candidate. In addition to salary, this role may also be eligible for annual, sales, or other incentive compensation.

Our Promise

At Guardian, you’ll have the support and flexibility to achieve your professional and personal goals.  Through skill-building, leadership development and philanthropic opportunities, we provide opportunities to build communities and grow your career, surrounded by diverse colleagues with high ethical standards.

Inspire Well-Being

As part of Guardian’s Purpose – to inspire well-being – we are committed to offering contemporary, supportive, flexible, and inclusive benefits and resources to our colleagues. Explore our company benefits at www.guardianlife.com/careers/corporate/benefits. Benefits apply to full-time eligible employees. Interns are not eligible for most Company benefits.

Equal Employment Opportunity

Guardian is an equal opportunity employer. All qualified applicants will be considered for employment without regard to age, race, color, creed, religion, sex, affectional or sexual orientation, national origin, ancestry, marital status, disability, military or veteran status, or any other classification protected by applicable law.

Accommodations

Guardian is committed to providing access, equal opportunity and reasonable accommodation for individuals with disabilities in employment, its services, programs, and activities. Guardian also provides reasonable accommodations to qualified job applicants (and employees) to accommodate the individual's known limitations related to pregnancy, childbirth, or related medical conditions, unless doing so would create an undue hardship. If reasonable accommodation is needed to participate in the job application or interview process, to perform essential job functions, and/or to receive other benefits and privileges of employment, please contact [email protected]. Please note: this resource is for accommodation requests only. For all other inquires related to your application and careers at Guardian, refer to the Guardian Careers site.

Visa Sponsorship

Guardian Life is not currently or in the foreseeable future sponsoring employment-based visas (e.g., such as an H-1B). In order to be a successful applicant, you must be legally authorized to work in the United States, without the need for employer sponsorship/support now or at any time in the future.

Notice Regarding Guardian’s Use of Artificial Intelligence in Recruitment

As part of Guardian’s job application process, Guardian may use artificial intelligence tools (“AI Tools") to automate the sorting and filtering of information provided by applicants as part of its preliminary screening. This preliminary screening may be used to help identify applicant materials and resumes relative to their indication that the applicant meets the requirements for the specific job for which they are applying, as specified in the listing posted on Guardian’s jobs website (Careers at Guardian at https://www.guardianlife.com/careers). At Guardian, we do not use AI Tools to substantially assist or replace human judgment or discretionary decision making in our hiring process. All hiring decisions will be made by Guardian colleagues.

Please be aware that if you apply for a specific position with Guardian, you will have the choice of opting out of Guardian’s use of AI Tools during the job application process. If you would like to request an alternative process that does not utilize AI Tools or would like to request a reasonable accommodation, within ten business days of your position application, you must email your request to [email protected], making sure to provide your name and job requisition identification number. Guardian will retain your applicant materials and resume and all information therefrom in accordance with Guardian’s document retention policy, a copy of which you may request via [email protected].

Additionally, at applicable times, Guardian will make public the most recent bias audit results for such AI tools, which may be found here. 

Current Guardian Colleagues: Please apply through the internal Jobs Hub in Workday.