*this role is open to remote working within the UK. Successful candidates will be required to travel to their closest UNiDAYS campus (London or Nottingham) on occasion.
The role in a nutshell
UNiDAYS, the world’s leading Student Affinity Network, is seeking a highly skilled and commercially-minded Senior Privacy Counsel to join our fast-paced, collaborative legal team. In this role, you’ll lead our global privacy programme and serve as our registered Data Protection Officer (DPO), helping shape how privacy and trust are embedded across our platform, products and partnerships.
We’re looking for someone who has trained and qualified at a top-tier law firm with strong experience in privacy, technology, and commercial law, and who has since gone in-house to a high-growth, digital-first business offering global consumer services, or a leading streaming, marketplace or media platform. This role blends strategic advice, hands-on operational delivery, and meaningful stakeholder engagement across the organisation.
You’ll report directly to the General Counsel, with a dotted line to the Board, and work closely with senior stakeholders across Product, Engineering, Commercial and Marketing.
Day to day responsibilities
- Serve as UNiDAYS’s registered Data Protection Officer, providing independent oversight of our global data protection programme and advising on data risks and obligations.
- Lead our privacy governance and compliance frameworks across all global markets, driving adoption of best practices across product, operations, and marketing.
- Advise on product development and feature design from early stages through to launch, ensuring privacy is embedded by design and default.
- Draft, negotiate and maintain privacy-related contract terms, including data processing agreements, security addenda and international transfer mechanisms.
- Manage privacy documentation, including our Records of Processing, data protection policies, cookie notices, and vendor assessments.
- Handle data subject requests (SARs), privacy complaints, and regulatory queries with confidence and care.
- Own incident response processes in partnership with InfoSec, including breach assessments and reporting.
- Deliver engaging privacy training to employees across the business and act as a trusted privacy ambassador across functions.
- Monitor global regulatory developments (GDPR, CCPA, CPRA, LGPD, etc.) and translate them into actionable guidance for the business.
- Use tools like OneTrust to streamline workflows and support efficient, scalable privacy operations.
- Report regularly to the Board on data protection risks, incidents and strategic developments.
What we need from you
- Qualified solicitor in England & Wales with a minimum of 8 years PQE, including training at a leading law firm.
- In-house legal experience at a global, tech-enabled media or online services business .
- Expert knowledge of UK and EU privacy law (UK GDPR, GDPR) and a solid grasp of other global frameworks (CCPA, LGPD, CPRA, etc.).
- Experience providing legal advice at the intersection of product development, commercial strategy, and data regulation.
- Strong commercial contract negotiation skills and familiarity with data processing and security terms.
- Comfort operating independently, managing legal risk, and interacting with cross-functional senior stakeholders and regulators.
- Experience using privacy OneTrust to support scalable, automated compliance.
- CIPP/E, CIPM, or similar privacy certification is a plus.
- Excellent written and verbal communication skills, with the ability to distil legal complexity into business-relevant insight.
- A hands-on, low-ego team player who thrives in a fast-moving, high-autonomy environment.
Perks
We've accomplished a lot since we started in 2011, but in many ways, this is just the beginning. This is the chance for you to get in on ground zero. An opportunity to make a difference within the business with global reach. We are the world’s largest Student Affinity Network, with over 22 million verified members in 115 markets including the US, UK, Germany, India, Canada and Australia. We work with 800 of the world’s biggest brands globally, taking their products and services into the hearts and minds of tomorrow’s professionals, delivering engagement, building affinity and sales. You’ll also be working for a Great Place to Work CertifiedTM company who have been recognised on the UK’s Best WorkplacesTM for Wellbeing and UK's Best Workplaces for Women 2022 list. To find out more about our workplace initiatives, see our UK exclusive case study with Great Place to Work and be sure to visit our profile for more information.
We offer a fast paced, fun & social working environment where you can truly make an impact. We believe that work should enhance and complement your life which is why we leave it up to you to decide where you work. You can choose to work from your assigned campus (either Nottingham or London) or from home, whatever works best for your individual needs. Your manager may request you attend team meet ups at your campus but other than that it is up to you! We work hard at UNiDAYS, but we also believe in fair compensation for hard work. That's why we're pleased to offer all employees full access to our comprehensive benefits package.
Our perks include:
- 25 days holiday per year increasing with length of service, plus flexible bank holidays
- Competitive salaries
- 4pm finishes every Friday
- Company bonus scheme
- Company pension scheme
- Private health insurance (BUPA)
- Income protection policy
- Life assurance policy
- Employee Assistance Program
- Enhanced parental leave pay
- Core hours with flexibility around how/when you manage your time
- Regular team building activities
- The latest tech and hardware will be supplied from day one
- Good Vibes Program: we know we’ve all had to adapt to new ways of working and UNiDAYS has always taken pride in the community we’ve created in the office but we’re just as committed to creating an innovative approach to fostering connections and improving engagement outside of the office! We want to boost your remote working experience so think virtual parties, pottery classes, wellness classes and guest speakers just to name a few!
- Support for home working for all new team members. We will help assess your home set up and you can expense £150 towards any additional furniture you may need to be safe and comfortable when working from home
We are an equal opportunity employer and value diversity at our company. We do not discriminate on the basis of race, religion, colour, national origin, gender, sexual orientation, age, marital status, veteran status or disability status.