Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation

Principal Counsel, Data & Privacy

Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation$285K — $442K *
Legal & Accounting
11 - 15 years of experience
Job Overview by Ladders

Qualifications

  • JD degree and current bar membership in good standing.
  • At least 15 years' legal experience, primarily in data privacy.
  • Extensive experience leading or advising global data privacy programs.
  • Deep familiarity with GDPR/UK GDPR and at least one major US data protection framework (e.g., HIPAA or FERPA).
  • Proven track record in negotiating complex data transactions and agreements.
  • Experience managing outside counsel and translating legal advice into practical guidance.
  • Skillful in developing and delivering training across diverse functions and cultures.

Responsibilities

  • Support a global data privacy program with compliance, policy, and assessments.
  • Identify and implement improvements for data privacy program efficiency.
  • Provide legal guidance on various data privacy issues.
  • Guide processing of personal data, ensuring compliance and governance.
  • Translate legal requirements into accessible policies and procedures.
  • Review and negotiate data-related agreements and develop templates.
  • Deliver training on data privacy principles to all foundation levels.

Benefits

  • Comprehensive medical, dental, and vision coverage with no premiums.
  • Generous paid time off and paid family leave.
  • Foundation-paid retirement contributions.
  • Regional holidays and engagement in employee communities.
  • Commitment to creating a thriving workplace environment.
Full Job Description
Your Role

We are seeking a seasoned privacy attorney to support our enterprise data privacy program and provide legal guidance across the foundation and its subsidiaries (currently, Gates Medical Research Institute, Gates Philanthropic Partners, and Gates Agricultural Innovations) on processes, transactions, and initiatives relating to personal data, data access and sharing, information management, and data governance. This position supports teams as they develop and implement strategies and technologies to achieve operational effectiveness and enable charitable impact.

What You'll Do
  • Support a global data privacy program, including global compliance, policy and guidance, notice and legal bases, data subject requests, agreements, records of processing activities, data impact assessments, and transfer impact assessments.
  • Continuously identify and implement process and tooling improvements to enhance data privacy program maturity and efficiency.
  • Provide legal guidance regarding a variety of enterprise data privacy issues.
  • Provide tactical and strategic legal guidance regarding the processing of personal data, including compliance, data classification, data protection, lifecycle management, and data governance.
  • Translate legal requirements into plain language policies, processes, and guidance that are risk-based, practical, and scalable.
  • Review, draft, and negotiate data-related agreements and terms, and develop related templates, playbooks, guidance, and processes.
  • Develop and deliver effective training across all functions, offices, and levels of the foundation and its subsidiaries.
  • Collaborate with technical, operational, and programmatic teams to translate privacy principles and responsible AI principles into pragmatic solutions.
  • Work with colleagues, outside counsel, and third parties across jurisdictions, cultures, time zones, and collaboration tools.
  • Integrate AI/ML tools into daily work to streamline research, drafting, and collaboration.


Your Experience
  • JD degree and current bar membership in good standing.
  • At least 15 years' legal experience, with a primary focus on data privacy.
  • Extensive experience with leading or advising global data privacy programs.
  • Extensive experience with GDPR/UK GDPR and at least one major US data protection framework (e.g., HIPAA or FERPA).
  • Demonstrated experience with negotiating simple to complex transactions involving data, including data licenses, data protection addendums, and data sharing agreements.
  • Demonstrated experience with managing outside counsel across jurisdictions and translating legal advice into practical, operational, risk-based guidance.
  • Proven ability to develop and deliver engaging and accessible training across subject matter expertise, cultures, time zones, functions, and levels.
  • Proven ability to translate legal requirements into practical guidance and processes to improve efficiency, scalability, and self-service while appropriately managing risk and enabling innovation and impact.
  • Highly skilled in advising on legal risk, collaborating across functions at all levels, and influencing senior leaders.


Other Attributes
  • Ability to work with flexibility, efficiency, enthusiasm, and diplomacy both individually and collaboratively as part of a team effort and effortlessly transition between leading and supporting roles as required.
  • Quickly grasp and embrace new and rapidly evolving subject areas, demonstrating intellectual curiosity and excitement to engage proactively and confidently with unfamiliar topics.
  • Strong interpersonal skills, maturity, sound judgment, and ability to communicate in a clear and compelling manner with internal and external audiences across a variety of tools and forums.
  • Self-motivated and with a strong sense of ownership and urgency; able to take initiative (identify problems that need solving) and independently drive work forward and deliver high-quality results in a fast-paced environment where individuals manage their own portfolios and priorities.
  • Proficient in core and emerging productivity and collaboration platforms, including MS 365, Adobe Acrobat, Salesforce, Smartsheet, and Mural.
  • Eager to leverage emerging technology, including AI and ML tools, to enhance productivity.
  • Willing to perform administrative tasks as needed and be self-sufficient.
  • Strong commitment to the mission of the foundation and its subsidiaries.
  • Highest standards of ethics and integrity.
  • Sense of humility, curiosity, and perspective


*Must be able to legally work in the country where this position is located without visa sponsorship.

The salary range for this role is $261,700 to $405,700 USD. We recognize high-wage market differences in Seattle and Washington D.C., where our offices are located. The range for this role in these locations is $285,300 to $442,100 USD. As a mission-driven organization, we strive to balance competitive pay with our mission. New hires salaries are typically between the range minimum and the salary range midpoint. Actual placement in the range will depend on a candidate's job-related skills, experience, and expertise, as evaluated during the interview process.

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About Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation

The Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation is a private foundation founded by Bill and Melinda Gates. The foundation was launched in 2000 and is based in Seattle, Washington. The primary goals of the foundation are to enhance healthcare and reduce extreme poverty, and to expand educational opportunities and access to information technology. The foundation is one of the largest charitable organizations in the world, with an endowment of over $50 billion. The foundation has made significant contributions to global health, including the eradication of polio in India and the development of new vaccines for malaria and tuberculosis. The foundation also supports a variety of educational initiatives, including the development of new technologies for teaching and learning.
Learn more about Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation
Size
1,600 employees
Industry
Founded
2000

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