Associate Director, Legal Operations and Privacy

View full description

Requirements:

• 10+ years of progressive experience in Operations, Consulting, or related roles, with proven success in high-impact, fast-moving environments.
• Extensive global project management experience, having led large-scale, cross-border initiatives that foster alignment and business impact across cultures and time zones.
• Master’s degree in Engineering, Sciences, Business, Law, Finance, or Accounting, reflecting a strong analytical and strategic foundation.
• Deep knowledge of global regulatory frameworks, including GDPR, FCPA, SEC, and others, with a record of managing multinational compliance programs.
• Practical expertise in privacy program development and managing regulatory compliance across complex jurisdictions.
• Strong financial literacy, data analysis, and problem-solving skills, enabling sound decision-making and process optimization.
• Experience successfully launching new legal or business initiatives, with a focus on innovation and execution in high-growth environments.
• Proven ability to collaborate across functions such as Product, Sales, HR, Finance, and IT, managing multiple stakeholders and priorities effectively.
• A systems thinker comfortable navigating ambiguity, capable of building clarity and efficiency into evolving processes.
• Resilient and adaptable, with the grit to manage change and overcome challenges in a startup or scale-up setting.
• Exceptional communication skills and cultural fluency, enabling influence across diverse global teams and leadership levels.
• Experienced people manager who leads with accountability, clarity, and a commitment to developing high-performing teams.
• Highly organized and detail-oriented, able to work independently while managing multi-regional legal and operational tasks.
• Experience engaging with regulatory authorities and managing payment service licenses in various jurisdictions is preferred.
• Relevant certifications such as ACAMS, CIPP, CIPM, or equivalent are a strong plus.

Responsibilities:

• Lead and expand the legal operations function globally by establishing scalable, efficient workflows that support legal teams across multiple jurisdictions.
• Implement and optimize legal tech platforms (e.g., contract management, document automation, compliance tools, analytics) to enhance productivity and manage risk.
• Develop and maintain standardized legal policies and operational best practices suitable for a multinational regulatory landscape.
• Manage departmental budgeting, resource allocation, and vendor engagement to ensure high-value, cost-effective outcomes.
• Build and mentor a high-performing Legal Ops and Privacy team, fostering innovation, accountability, and continuous development.
• Use KPIs and data analytics to identify operational bottlenecks and drive continuous improvement in legal service delivery.
• Drive legal initiatives in partnership with teams including Product, Sales, HR, Finance, and IT to align legal operations with broader business goals.
• Serve as a strategic advisor to senior legal and business leadership, translating enterprise priorities into legal action plans.
• Lead change management efforts to introduce new systems, processes, or policies with minimal disruption and maximum adoption.
• Ensure efficient collaboration between the legal team and other departments by organizing workflows and communication channels with key stakeholders across the organization.
• Develop, implement, and maintain global Privacy and AI compliance programs in alignment with GDPR, CCPA, and other regulatory frameworks.
• Conduct privacy audits, DPIAs, and risk assessments; lead remediation efforts to close compliance gaps.
• Respond to regulatory inquiries, investigations, and audits; maintain strong documentation and version control for compliance records.
• Deliver training and guidance on privacy and AI compliance to employees and leadership, ensuring company-wide awareness and adherence.
• Monitor emerging privacy regulations and advise leadership on strategic compliance responses.
• Ensure privacy and compliance with internal policies and external legal/regulatory frameworks, including employment law, AI governance, and EOR practices.
• Oversee global compliance metrics and incident reporting, identifying trends and proactively managing legal risks.
• Support commercial, corporate, and employment legal needs with an agile yet risk-aware approach.
• Continuously monitor industry best practices in Legal Ops, Privacy, AI, and regulatory compliance to ensure the company remains ahead of the curve.
• Champion agility and resilience by introducing scalable, tech-enabled legal solutions in response to organizational growth and change.
• Evaluate the effectiveness of current practices, offering improvements and implementing innovative operational strategies.