Workday

Data Privacy and Security Counsel (US Federal)

Workday$208K — $313K *
Legal & Accounting
8 - 10 years of experience
Job Overview by Ladders

Qualifications

  • J.D. Degree and active membership in at least one state bar
  • 8+ years of experience as a practicing attorney focusing on data privacy and cybersecurity law
  • Experience advising on FedRAMP authorization processes
  • Direct knowledge of DoD Impact Levels (IL2 through IL6) and Cloud Computing SRG
  • Strong understanding of U.S. federal privacy and security frameworks, such as FISMA and NIST 800-53

Responsibilities

  • Lead counsel on data privacy and cybersecurity, guiding compliance across the data lifecycle
  • Own legal strategy for FedRAMP authorization and partner with teams for ATO process
  • Advise on DoD Cloud Computing Security requirements, ensuring proper data handling
  • Draft, review, and negotiate contracts that align with federal privacy laws
  • Monitor legal and regulatory developments in privacy and cybersecurity, providing practical guidance
  • Lead response efforts for data breaches, managing legal risk and obligations
  • Advise executive leadership on data governance and risk management

Benefits

  • Flexibility to create a schedule that balances office presence and remote work
  • Opportunities for substantial bonuses and stock grants as part of compensation
  • Comprehensive benefits package that supports work-life balance
Full Job Description

About the Role

This role will support one or more direct or indirect contracts with the U.S. Federal Government which, due to federal government security requirements, mandates that all Workday personnel working on the contracts be United States citizens (naturalized or native).

This role may require a security clearance at the TS/SCI w/CI Poly level. Applicants must have the ability to obtain and maintain a U.S. government issued security clearance. An active TS/SCI w/CI Poly is preferred.


Employees may be required to be on site at client locations in the DC, MD, and VA (DMV) area.


Responsibilities include

  • Serve as lead counsel on data privacy and cybersecurity matters, and advise business, product, and engineering teams on compliance obligations across the data lifecycle

  • Own the legal strategy for achieving and maintaining FedRAMP authorization and partner with security, compliance, and engineering teams throughout the assessment and Authority to Operate (ATO) process

  • Advise on requirements associated with Department of Defense (DoD) Cloud Computing Security Requirements Guide (SRG) Impact Levels (IL2, IL4, IL5, and IL6), including data segregation, personnel screening, and physical/logical separation requirements

  • Draft, review, and negotiate contracts, data processing agreements, and government contract vehicles (including FAR/DFARS clauses) that reflect current federal, state, and international privacy and security law

  • Monitor and interpret emerging legal and regulatory developments in privacy and cybersecurity law, including CMMC, NIST 800-53, NIST 800-171, FISMA, and state and international privacy statutes, and translate them into practical guidance

  • Lead incident response efforts for data breaches and security incidents, coordinating with security, communications, and outside counsel to manage legal risk and notification obligations

  • Act as a trusted advisor to executive leadership on data governance, risk management, and the legal implications of new products, features, and government contracting opportunities

About You

You are a seasoned data privacy and cybersecurity attorney who thrives at the intersection of law, technology, and national security compliance. You bring deep, hands-on experience guiding organizations through FedRAMP authorization and DoD Impact Level accreditation, and you are comfortable translating complex technical security requirements into clear legal and business guidance. You are a pragmatic risk-manager who can move quickly in a fast-paced environment while maintaining rigorous attention to regulatory detail, and you enjoy building scalable processes that let compliance and business goals move forward seamlessly.


Basic Qualifications:

  • J.D. Degree and active membership in at least one state bar

  • 8+ years of experience as a practicing attorney, with a substantial focus on data privacy and cybersecurity law

  • Demonstrated experience advising on or supporting FedRAMP authorization processes (Low, Moderate, or High)

  • Direct experience with Department of Defense Impact Levels (IL2 through IL6) and the DoD Cloud Computing SRG

  • Strong working knowledge of U.S. federal privacy and security frameworks, including FISMA, NIST 800-53, NIST 800-171, and CMMC

Other Qualifications:

  • Experience advising cloud service providers or government contractors on compliance with federal acquisition regulations (FAR/DFARS) related to data security

  • Familiarity with state, federal, and international privacy laws (e.g., CCPA/CPRA, state privacy statutes, GDPR) and their intersection with government contracting requirements

  • Experience leading or supporting data breach and security incident response, including regulatory notification analysis

  • Excellent contract drafting and negotiation skills, particularly for data processing agreements, security addenda, and government contract vehicles

  • Ability to communicate complex legal and technical concepts clearly to both technical and non-technical stakeholders

  • Strong project management skills with the ability to manage multiple compliance workstreams simultaneously

  • Active or the ability to obtain a security clearance is a plus


Workday Pay Transparency Statement

The annualized base salary ranges for the primary location and any additional locations are listed below.  Workday pay ranges vary based on work location. As a part of the total compensation package, this role may be eligible for the Workday Bonus Plan or a role-specific commission/bonus, as well as annual refresh stock grants. Recruiters can share more detail during the hiring process. Each candidate’s compensation offer will be based on multiple factors including, but not limited to, geography, experience, skills, job duties, and business need, among other things. For more information regarding Workday’s comprehensive benefits, please .

Primary Location: USA.VA.RestonPrimary Location Base Pay Range: $208,700 USD - $313,100 USD


 

Additional US Location(s) Base Pay Range: $188,900 USD - $335,500 USD



Our Approach to Flexible Work
 

With Flex Work, we’re combining the best of both worlds: in-person time and remote. Our approach enables our teams to deepen connections, maintain a strong community, and do their best work. We know that flexibility can take shape in many ways, so rather than a number of required days in-office each week, we simply spend at least half (50%) of our time each quarter in the office or in the field with our customers, prospects, and partners (depending on role). This means you'll have the freedom to create a flexible schedule that caters to your business, team, and personal needs, while being intentional to make the most of time spent together. Those in our remote "home office" roles also have the opportunity to come together in our offices for important moments that matter.

About Workday

Workday, Inc. is a provider of enterprise cloud applications for finance and human resources. The Company delivers financial management, human capital management and analytics applications designed for various companies, educational institutions and government agencies. As part of its applications, the Company provides embedded analytics that capture the content and context of everyday business events, facilitating informed decision-making from wherever users are working. Its applications include Workday Financial Management, Workday Human Capital Management (HCM) and Other Applications. It also provides open, standards-based Web-services application programming interfaces, and pre-built packaged integrations and connectors. Workday, Inc. is headquartered in Pleasanton, California.
Learn more about Workday
Size
15,932 employees
Market Cap
$42.2 billion
Industry
Net Income
-$282.4 million
Founded
2005
5 Year Trend
+26.7%
Revenue
$4.3 billion
NASDAQ

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