Privacy Counsel

Job Description

Zendesk develops software that helps its 160,000+ customers across more than 150 countries and territories build the best customer experiences. 

We’re seeking a motivated, adaptive, and business-minded privacy expert to counsel business partners and support our global privacy program. Reporting to Zendesk’s Associate General Counsel, Product & Privacy, you will work closely with stellar stakeholders in Legal, HR, IT, Sales, Data Governance, and Marketing.

At Zendesk, we value innovation and collaboration. Join us and be part of a team that shapes the future of privacy! 

What You’ll Do:

• Oversee internal and external privacy policies, notices, templates, agreements, and training materials drive compliance with evolving global privacy requirements

• Act as a go-to expert for privacy inquiries from internal departments, regulators, customers, or as needed to maintain our impressive certifications

• Negotiate and draft a diverse range of agreements, including Data Processing Agreements (DPA), Business Associate Agreements (BAA), and other privacy-related terms for vendors and customers

• Enhance and maintain privacy documentation for partners (articles, guidance, playbooks etc.)

• Conduct privacy risk assessments to evaluate legal risks areas, document gaps, and effectively mitigate risks, including for employee and candidate personal data while partnering with our stellar Employment Legal team

• Advise on our data subject rights compliance process, ensuring compliance with new laws while collaborating with the team to facilitate the handling of data subject rights requests in providing timely and accurate responses to inquiries

• Communicate privacy concepts, legal risks, and recommendations to both technical and non-technical audiences in direct, easy-to-understand language

• Create and deliver dynamic training sessions on privacy practices and compliance, empowering colleagues to understand and embrace privacy principles

• Maintain and manage records of processing activities and ensure proper documentation of privacy-related activities

What You’ll Bring:

• 7+ years of in-house experience or law firm, preferably at a global technology company

• J.D., LLB, or equivalent from an accredited law school, with relevant bar admission in good standing 

• IAPP certification(s) in one or more jurisdictions 

• Experience advising on domestic and global privacy issues, including the GDPR, ePrivacy Directive, anti-spam laws, cookies regulation, and U.S. State privacy laws (CCPA and HIPAA etc.)

• Strong negotiation and drafting skills for complex commercial transactions

• Detail-oriented, business-friendly, and a team player, with a creative approach to problem-solving

• A self-starter with a proactive and adaptable mindset, able to prioritize and manage multiple projects in a fast-paced environment while effectively adjusting strategies in response to shifting priorities, legal developments, and evolving risk tolerance

• Strong communication and interpersonal skills, with the ability to work effectively autonomously and with cross-functional teams 

• Excellent analytical, problem-solving, and organizational skills

• Desire to roll up your sleeves and growth mindset: no task is too big or small with an interest in learning and growing

The intelligent heart of customer experience

Zendesk software was built to bring a sense of calm to the chaotic world of customer service. Today we power billions of conversations with brands you know and love.

Zendesk believes in offering our people a fulfilling and inclusive experience. Our hybrid way of working, enables us to purposefully come together in person, at one of our many Zendesk offices around the world, to connect, collaborate and learn whilst also giving our people the flexibility to work remotely for part of the week.

Zendesk is an equal opportunity employer, and we’re proud of our ongoing efforts to foster global diversity, equity, & inclusion in the workplace. Individuals seeking employment and employees at Zendesk are considered without regard to race, color, religion, national origin, age, sex, gender, gender identity, gender expression, sexual orientation, marital status, medical condition, ancestry, disability, military or veteran status, or any other characteristic protected by applicable law. We are an AA/EEO/Veterans/Disabled employer. If you are based in the United States and would like more information about your EEO rights under the law, please click here.

Zendesk endeavors to make reasonable accommodations for applicants with disabilities and disabled veterans pursuant to applicable federal and state law. If you are an individual with a disability and require a reasonable accommodation to submit this application, complete any pre-employment testing, or otherwise participate in the employee selection process, please send an e-mail to [email protected] with your specific accommodation request.