Privacy Legal Counsel, EMEA with German (12 months contract)

Everyone is welcome at Handshake. We know diverse teams build better products and we are committed to creating an inclusive culture built on a foundation of respect for all individuals. We strongly encourage candidates from non-traditional backgrounds, historically marginalized or underrepresented groups to apply.

As a Privacy Counsel for EMEA, you will play a pivotal role in ensuring Handshake’s compliance with data protection laws and regulations, as well as safeguarding the privacy rights of our users and customers in Europe, particularly across the UK, France and Germany. You will work closely with cross-functional teams to develop and implement privacy strategies, policies, and procedures. This role reports directly to the Vice President and Managing Director, Europe working also with our global legal team.

Please note that this is a 12 month FTC.

Key Responsibilities:

• Provide expert legal guidance on data protection and privacy matters, including GDPR, and other relevant regulations.
• Serve as a point of contact for our go-to-market teams on privacy inquiries, documentation and content
• Partner with our go-to-market teams to effectively explain our compliance and data protection measures to customers
• Conduct privacy impact assessments (PIAs) and compliance audits to identify potential risks and areas for improvement.
• Collaborate with product, engineering, and compliance teams to integrate privacy-by-design principles into our products and services.
• Draft and negotiate data processing agreements, data transfer agreements, and other legal documents relating to data privacy.
• Stay informed about emerging trends, best practices, and regulatory developments in the field of data protection.

Qualifications and Requirements:

• Qualified solicitor with a minimum of 5 years of experience practicing law, preferably with a focus on data protection and privacy.
• In-depth knowledge of relevant privacy laws and regulations, including GDPR, DPA 2018, and ePrivacy Directive.
• Experience advising on international data transfers, privacy impact assessments, and data breach response procedures.
• Strong analytical skills with the ability to assess complex legal issues and provide practical solutions.
• Excellent communication and interpersonal skills, with the ability to collaborate effectively across different teams and levels of the organization.
• Proven track record of managing multiple projects simultaneously and meeting tight deadlines.
• CIPP/E, CIPP/US, or other relevant privacy certifications are desirable but not required.
• Experience working in the technology sector within global companies is a plus.
• Working Proficiency in German

For cash compensation, we set standard ranges for all U.S.-based roles based on function, level, and geographic location, benchmarked against similar stage growth companies. In order to be compliant with local legislation, as well as to provide greater transparency to candidates, we share salary ranges on all job postings regardless of desired hiring location. Final offer amounts are determined by multiple factors, including geographic location as well as candidate experience and expertise, and may vary from the amounts listed above.

About us

Handshake is the #1 place to launch a career with no connections, experience, or luck required. The platform connects up-and-coming talent with 750,000+ employers - from Fortune 500 companies like Google, Nike, and Target to thousands of public school districts, healthcare systems, and nonprofits. In 2022 we announced our $200M Series F funding round. This Series F fundraise and valuation of $3.5B will fuel Handshake’s next phase of growth and propel our mission to help more people start, restart, and jumpstart their careers.

When it comes to our workforce strategy, we’ve thought deeply about how work-life should look here at Handshake. With our Hub-Based Remote Working strategy, employees can enjoy the flexibility of remote work, whilst ensuring collaboration and team experiences in a shared space remains possible. Handshake is headquartered in San Francisco with offices in Denver, New York, London, and Berlin and teammates working globally.

Check out our careers site to find a hub near you!

What we offer

At Handshake, we'll give you the tools to feel healthy, happy and secure.

Benefits below apply to employees in full-time positions.

• 💰 Equity and ownership in a fast-growing company.
• 🍼 16 Weeks of paid parental leave for birth giving parents & 10 weeks of paid parental leave for non-birth giving parents.
• 💝 Comprehensive medical, dental, and vision policies including LGTBQ+ Coverage. We also provide resources for Mental Health Assistance, Employee Assistance Programs and counseling support.
• 💻 Handshake offers $500/£360 home office stipend for you to spend during your first 3 months to create a productive and comfortable workspace at home.
• 📚 Generous learning & development opportunities and an annual $2,000/£1,500/€1,850 stipend for you to grow your skills and career.
• 💰 Financial coaching through Origin to help you through your financial journey.
• 🛜 Monthly internet stipend and a brand new MacBook to allow you to do your best work.
• 🚃 Monthly commuter stipend for you to expense your travel to the office (for office-based employees).
• 🥗 Free lunch provided twice a week across all offices.
• 🤝 Referral bonus to reward you when you bring great talent to Handshake.

(US-specific benefits, in addition to the first section)

• 🏦 401k Match: Handshake offers a dollar-for-dollar match on 1% of deferred salary, up to a maximum of $1,200 per year.
• 🏝 All full-time US-based Handshakers are eligible for our flexible time off policy to get out and see the world. In addition, we offer 8 standardized holidays, and 2 additional days of flexible holiday time off. Lastly, we have a Winter #ShakeBreak, a one-week period of Collective Time Off.
• 🍼 Lactation support: Handshake partners with Milk Stork to provide a comprehensive 100% employer-sponsored lactation support to traveling parents and guardians.

(UK-specific benefits, in addition to the first section)

• 🏦 Pension Scheme: Handshake will provide you with a workplace pension, where you will make contributions based on 5% of your salary. Handshake will pay the equivalent of 3% towards your pension plan, subject to qualifying earnings limits.
• 🏝 Up to 25 days of vacation to encourage people to reset, recharge, and refresh, in addition to 8 bank holidays throughout the year.
• 🤝 Regular offsites each year to bring the team together + opportunity to travel to our HQ in San Francisco.
• 🛍️ Discounts across various high street retailers, cinemas and other social activities exclusively for Handshake UK employees.

(Germany-specific benefits, in addition to the first section)

• 🏝 25 days of annual leave + we have a Winter #ShakeBreak, a one-week period of Collective Time Off across the company.
• 🤝 Regular offsites each year to bring the team together + opportunity to travel to our HQ in San Francisco once a year.
• 🧘 Urban sports club membership offering access to a diverse network of fitness and wellness facilities.
• 🛍️ Discounts across various high street retailers, cinemas and other social activities exclusively for Handshake Germany employees.

For roles based in Romania: Please ask your recruiter about region specific benefits.

Looking for more? Explore our mission, values and comprehensive US benefits at joinhandshake.com/careers.