Privacy Operations Lead / Senior Counsel

Thomson Reuters is seeking a high-caliber Senior Legal Counsel & Privacy Operations Lead to join the General Counsel’s Office. Reporting directly to the Chief Privacy Officer (CPO), this role serves as both the technical operations leader and a trusted Chief of Staff to the CPO. You will blend deep legal and regulatory expertise with hands-on technical privacy operations, while providing strategic governance, operational cadence, and administrative oversight across Thomson Reuters’ global privacy program.

About the Role

In this opportunity as a Privacy Operations Lead / Senior Counsel, you will lead:

Chief of Staff & Strategic Program Oversight

• Act as the CPO’s right-hand strategic partner and advisor, driving the execution of high-priority strategic initiatives across the global privacy office.
• Provide overarching administrative governance, including tracking program budgets, vendor management, resource allocation, and team operating rhythms.
• Prepare executive-level briefings, Board of Directors presentations, and cross-functional reporting on privacy program maturity, risks, and compliance posture.
• Lead cross-functional alignment between the CPO’s office, General Counsel, Information Security (CISO), Product, and business unit leaders.

Privacy Program Management

• Drive end-to-end program governance, operational roadmap planning, and scalable execution for Thomson Reuters’ global privacy program.
• Oversee the day-to-day operations of Thomson Reuters’ global privacy program
• Implement privacy policies, procedures, and operational frameworks
• Conduct or facilitate the conduct of risk assessments, including privacy impact assessments (PIAs), data protection impact assessments (DPIAs), and transfer impact assessments (TIAs)
• Coordinate responses to data subject access requests (DSARs) and ensure timely resolution
• Track and report on privacy program metrics and KPIs
  

Privacy Compliance & Risk Management

• Track and report changes in new/existing privacy regulations and monitor compliance with key regulations including GDPR, CCPA, PIPEDA, among others
• Build out and maintain data inventory, and data mapping automation initiatives Identify privacy risks and work with stakeholders to implement mitigation strategies
• Support privacy incident response and breach notification processes
• Conduct privacy audits and assessments of internal processes and third-party vendors

Cyber Incident Management

• Support the day-to-day operational execution of the cyber incident response program, including intake, triage, and escalation of security incidents with privacy implications
• Support cross-functional co-ordination with Information Security, IT, Legal, and Business teams during active incidents to ensure timely containment, remediation, and communication
• Support legal assessment of incidents to determine breach notification obligations under applicable privacy and data protection regulations, and drive timely notification to affected individuals and regulators
• Maintain and continuously improve incident response playbooks, runbooks, and operational procedures for cyber incidents

Privacy-by-Design and Cross-Functional Collaboration

• Partner with Legal, Information Security, IT, Product, and Business teams to integrate and operationalize privacy-by-design principles and guidance into the product development cycle.
• Serve as a privacy subject matter expert and advisor to business units
• Facilitate privacy training and awareness programs for employees
• Work with vendors and partners to ensure contractual privacy obligations are met
• Identify current sub-processor's and updating contractual documentation to reflect current state

Documentation & Reporting

• Maintain records of processing activities (ROPA) and privacy documentation
• Prepare and maintain privacy metrics, dashboards and reports for leadership and relevant stakeholders
• Document privacy procedures and create operational playbooks
• Support regulatory inquiries and audits

Team Leadership & Management

• Provide strategic direction, mentorship, and operational management to privacy operations specialists, privacy engineers and cross-functional privacy champions.
• Set clear performance expectations, conduct regular one-on-ones, and provide ongoing coaching to support individual growth and career development.
• Collaborate cross-functionally with Legal, IT, Security, and Business teams to align privacy operations priorities, resolve escalations, and ensure the team has the resources and guidance needed to execute effectively.
• Drive team efficiency by establishing standardized workflows, refining processes, and implementing best practices that scale with the organization’s evolving privacy landscape.

About You

You’re a fit for the role of Privacy Operations Lead / Senior Counsel if your background includes:

Required:

• Bachelor’s degree in law, Information Systems, Computer Science, Cybersecurity, or related legal or technical field Juris Doctor (J.D.) or Master’s degree in legal studies
• 8-10+ years of combined experience in privacy law, technical privacy operations, and program management, preferably in a SaaS environment
• 4-6+ years leading technical/legal teams, driving program strategy, and serving in an executive advisory or Chief of Staff capacity
• Relevant privacy and/or cybersecurity certification, such as IAPP’s Certified Information Privacy Professional credential (CIPM, CIPPT), Certified Information Systems Security Professional (CISSP).
• Experience with privacy risk assessments from a technical perspective.
• Subject matter expertise in privacy tech stacks (OneTrust, PETs, automated data mapping) paired with the ability to translate technical architecture into actionable legal guidance.
• Strong knowledge of global privacy regulations (GDPR, CCPA, PIPEDA, etc.)
• Ability to interpret legal and regulatory requirements into system-level controls.
• Experience in advising product and technology teams on privacy obligations relating to the processing of sensitive data, including implementing privacy by design requirements.
• Knowledge of data classification, retention, and lifecycle management.
• Experience managing privacy operations in a large, complex organization.
• Proven ability to manage multiple projects and priorities simultaneously.
• Excellent communication skills with ability to explain complex privacy concepts to non-technical audiences.
• Strong analytical and problem-solving capabilities Experience with privacy management tools and technologies.

Preferred:

• Experience with automation tools (e.g., PowerBI, PowerAutomate) and AI/ML frameworks for compliance.
• Experience with data governance tools, SIEM systems, and privacy-enhancing technologies (PETs).
• Proficiency in scripting and automation for compliance tasks/privacy automation tools and technologies.
• Knowledge of information security frameworks and practices.
• Project management certification or experience.
• Experience operating within a dual legal/technical capability at an enterprise software or data provider.
• Proven track record supporting a General Counsel or Chief Privacy Officer with strategic planning, budget management, and executive communications.
  

Skills & Competencies

• Strategic thinking with operational execution capabilities
• Strong attention to detail and organizational skills
• Ability to work independently and collaboratively across global teams
• Adaptability to changing regulatory landscapes
• Cultural sensitivity for working in a global environment
• Technical aptitude for understanding data flows and systems

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What’s in it For You?

About Us

Thomson Reuters informs the way forward by bringing together the trusted content and technology that people and organizations need to make the right decisions. We serve professionals across legal, tax, accounting, compliance, government, and media. Our products combine highly specialized software and insights to empower professionals with the data, intelligence, and solutions needed to make informed decisions, and to help institutions in their pursuit of justice, truth, and transparency. Reuters, part of Thomson Reuters, is a world leading provider of trusted journalism and news.

We are powered by the talents of 26,000 employees across more than 70 countries, where everyone has a chance to contribute and grow professionally in flexible work environments. At a time when objectivity, accuracy, fairness, and transparency are under attack, we consider it our duty to pursue them. Sound exciting? Join us and help shape the industries that move society forward.

As a global business, we rely on the unique backgrounds, perspectives, and experiences of all employees to deliver on our business goals. To ensure we can do that, we seek talented, qualified employees in all our operations around the world regardless of race, color, sex/gender, including pregnancy, gender identity and expression, national origin, religion, sexual orientation, disability, age, marital status, citizen status, veteran status, or any other protected classification under applicable law. Thomson Reuters is proud to be an Equal Employment Opportunity Employer providing a drug-free workplace.

We also make reasonable accommodations for qualified individuals with disabilities and for sincerely held religious beliefs in accordance with applicable law. More information on requesting an accommodation here.

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