The Role
Leads the EMEA privacy program, ensuring compliance with GDPR, UK GDPR, ePrivacy, AI regulations, and emerging regional laws. Oversees privacy risk assessments, DPIAs, data governance, cross-border transfers, vendor privacy reviews, data subject rights, incident response, training, and AI governance. Advises business, legal, security, procurement, sales, and commercial teams while supporting audits, regulatory inquiries, contracts, and strategic privacy initiatives.
Summary Generated by Built In
This position is ideal for senior privacy professionals to join the Privacy Office as the Sr. Manager, Regional Privacy Lead - EMEA. The main rule is to operationalize and scale the Privacy Program in EMEA, ensuring compliance with applicable privacy and data protection laws, including GDPR, UK GDPR, ePrivacy requirements, AI-related regulations, and emerging regional privacy legislation. You will partner with the Legal Regulatory and Quality department and business functions. This role is a strategic, influential role and you will leverage AI and digital automation to deliver process simplification and measurable impact to grow the business the right way.
This position may be based in Wroclaw, Poland or Madrid, Spain. The position will report to the Global Compliance and Privacy Officer, with a functional (dotted-line) reporting relationship to the Director, Global Privacy, Data Governance and AI.
Key Responsibilities
• Lead Regional Privacy Program: Serve as the lead privacy advisor and primary point of contact for all EMEA privacy matters. Translate global privacy strategy into region-specific implementation plans and operational priorities. Partner with business leaders to identify and proactively address privacy risks while enabling business growth and innovation, and build strong relationships with regional leadership teams and provide practical, risk-based guidance on privacy requirements.
• GDPR and Regulatory Compliance: Lead the implementation and ongoing maintenance of compliance with GDPR, UK GDPR, ePrivacy requirements, and other applicable EMEA privacy laws. Monitor evolving regulatory developments, enforcement trends, and guidance from supervisory authorities, and advise stakeholders on lawful bases for processing, consent requirements, transparency obligations, retention practices, and individual rights. Support audits, regulatory inquiries, inspections, and privacy-related investigations/inquiries.
• Policies, Procedures and Controls: Adapt and implement global compliance policies to reflect EMEA’s legal requirements and business operations. Draft supplemental regional SOPs or guidance where needed to address local regulatory needs.
• Privacy-by-Design and Risk Assessments: Lead and oversee privacy risk assessments, DPIAs, privacy reviews, AI assessments, transfer impact assessments and enterprise privacy reviews for new initiatives, technologies, products, systems, and AI-enabled use cases. Partner with business, security, legal, and technical teams to identify risks and implement appropriate mitigation measures, and champion privacy-by-design and privacy-by-default principles across the organization
• Data Governance and Accountability: Lead the regional oversight of Records of Processing Activities (RoPA), accountability documentation, and privacy governance reporting. Advise on cross-border data transfer mechanisms, including SCCs, BCRs, UK transfer requirements, and other international transfer frameworks. Partner with Global Privacy, Security, and Data Governance teams to strengthen accountability and oversight processes.
• Vendor and Third-Party Privacy Risk Management: Lead or oversee privacy assessments of third-party vendors, service providers, cloud solutions, and strategic business partners,, and assess third-party privacy risks and partner with Procurement, InfoSec, and Legal teams to implement appropriate controls. Provide guidance on data protection provisions in commercial agreements and data processing agreements.
• Customer and Commercial Privacy Support: Act as the primary privacy advisor for customer-related privacy matters across EMEA. Support sales, commercial, and legal team in responding to customer privacy inquiries, privacy due diligence requests, RFPs, tenders, audits, and contractual negotiations. Provide practical, risk-based guidance on privacy requirements to enable business growth while ensuring compliance with applicable privacy and data protection laws.
• Data Subject Rights and Incident Management: Oversee and support responses to data subject rights requests and regulatory inquiries involving EMEA data subjects. Lead privacy investigation and assessment of security incidents, determine notification obligations, and coordinate engagement with supervisory authorities where required, , in coordination with the Director, Global Privacy, Data Governance and AI. Partner with Cybersecurity, Legal, Compliance, and business stakeholders to assess notification obligations and regulatory reporting requirements.
• Training, Awareness, and Collaboration: Develop and deliver privacy training programs tailored to EMEA business functions. Promote a strong culture of privacy accountability and compliance, and create practical guidance materials and awareness initiatives to support business adoption of privacy requirements. Collaborate closely with regional counsel, compliance leaders, security professionals, and business stakeholders, and contribute to global privacy initiatives, program enhancements, operating model development, and strategic planning efforts
• AI Governance: Regionally develop and deploy of AI governance models and processes that are consistent with global AI governance strategies, but tailored for local application of AI laws, regulations and business strategies. Support AI governance training, oversight and monitoring, due diligence on models and use cases, and processes to ensure appropriate use of AI agents and tools.
• Ethical Leadership: Above all, model integrity and ethical leadership in all actions. Gain the trust of employees as an approachable, fair, and reliable leader on compliance matters. Champion our values and “do the right thing” philosophy, ensuring that business leaders in EMEA likewise embrace these principles and drive them into their teams’ daily activities.
Skills, Knowledge & Expertise
• Education: Bachelor’s degree required. Advanced degree strongly preferred (e.g. Juris Doctor, MBA or relevant master’s). Professional certifications (e.g. CIPP/E, CIPM, CIPT) are a plus, demonstrating commitment to the field.
• Experience: Minimum 10 years of professional experience, with at least 5 years in a dedicated privacy risk management role. Experience in the medical device, pharmaceutical, or healthcare industry is highly preferred, given the need for familiarity with industry-specific regulations and ethical standards. A track record of building or managing elements of a privacy program (e.g. policies, training, incident management, etc.) is required.
• Skills: Deep knowledge of GDPR, ePrivacy, EU AI Act, and emerging privacy and cybersecurity regulations across Europe; strong leadership and influencing skills, including stakeholder management, change management, executive communications, and regulatory engagement; experience with AI and digital automation; strong analytical and problem-solving abilities; excellent organizational skills; high sense of urgency; and experience managing external counsel.
• Communication: Strong written and verbal presentation and communication skills.
Teamwork: Ability to work both independently and collaboratively.
About
Your growth and well-being:At Align, every smile matters. We’re committed to helping you thrive by supporting the health, growth, and well-being of our team members through a variety of tools and programs. While specific offerings may vary by location and role, Align employees can typically expect:Health and well-being programs to keep you thriving in both body and mind.Employee-exclusive discounts on Invisalign products.Learning opportunities through online learning resources and support for your individual development plans.Inclusive, global workplace that fosters collaboration, recognition and belonging.Country and/or role specific details will be shared with you by your recruiter during the interview process. Discover Align:We are a global community of game-changers and smart team players, united by our belief in the power of a smile. Our dynamic team of exceptional employees is dedicated to transforming the industry and creating extraordinary outcomes every day.Align’s core values of agility, customer, and accountability are more than words to work by, they are words we live by. The actions we take every day speak to who we are as a company and our focus on being truly impactful. We celebrate our differences, and the many ways we support one another— ultimately creating a more inclusive organization and world as we continue transforming smiles and changing lives.We foster a culture where thinking differently and seeking new experiences are not just encouraged but celebrated. With the Align Mindset, we empower each other, ensuring every voice is heard and valued in an inclusive environment that inspires creativity and collaboration.At Align, we believe in the power of a smile, and we know that every smile is as unique as our employees. As we grow, we are committed to building a workforce rich in diverse cultural backgrounds and life experiences, fostering a culture of open-mindedness and compassion. We live our company values by promoting healthy people and healthy communities, all with the intent of changing millions of lives, one unique smile at a time. As part of our commitment to innovation, Align Technology includes exocad and Cubicure, companies that enhance our offerings and extend our impact to industry transformation.Eager to learn how we embrace our global differences and nurture employee well-being? Explore Align's culture here!Want to discover more about exocad and Cubicure? Click on their names for additional information.
Skills Required
- Bachelor's degree
- Advanced degree such as Juris Doctor, MBA, or relevant master's degree
- Professional privacy certification such as CIPP/E, CIPM, or CIPT
- At least 10 years of professional experience
- At least 5 years of experience in a dedicated privacy risk management role
- Experience building or managing privacy program elements, including policies, training, or incident management
- Experience in the medical device, pharmaceutical, or healthcare industry
- Deep knowledge of GDPR, ePrivacy, EU AI Act, and emerging European privacy and cybersecurity regulations
- Leadership, stakeholder management, change management, executive communication, and regulatory engagement skills
- Experience with AI and digital automation
- Experience managing external counsel
- Strong written, verbal, presentation, analytical, problem-solving, and organizational skills
- Ability to work independently and collaboratively
Align Technology Compensation & Benefits Highlights
The following summarizes recurring compensation and benefits themes identified from responses generated by popular LLMs to common candidate questions about Align Technology and has not been reviewed or approved by Align Technology.
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Healthcare Strength — Health coverage includes medical, dental, vision, life, and both short‑ and long‑term disability, along with AD&D and wellness resources. Select locations add region‑specific programs such as medical coverage and Multisport, reinforcing breadth.
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Strong & Reliable Incentives — A corporate bonus plan outlines performance‑based rewards and eligibility, and compensation is described as competitive in commercial roles. Incentive structures in sales are portrayed as offering strong on‑target earnings potential.
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Retirement Support — Retirement programs feature a 401(k) plan with company contribution mechanisms, profit sharing, and a defined contribution pension plan. These elements emphasize long‑term financial security alongside salary and bonus.
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The Company
What We Do
Twenty years ago, we pioneered the world's first clear aligners. Since then, we have continuously innovated with new products and technologies that are revolutionizing treatments for doctors and their patients. Invisalign clear aligners and the iTero Intraoral scanner help dental professionals achieve the clinical results they expect and deliver effective, advanced dental options to their patients. Helping change millions of lives, one smile at a time. Discover your straight path to a bright future at Align. As a part of our smart, diverse and fast-moving global team, you'll make an impact for the market leader that's moving an industry forward. Want to find out what’s next for us—and for you?
