Privacy Officer & Senior Legal Counsel

FortisBC

• $126K — $148K *
Legal & Accounting
Less than 5 years of experience
Job Overview by Ladders

Qualifications

  • Bachelor of Law or Juris Doctor degree with 8+ years post-call experience
  • Minimum 3 years of experience as a compliance or privacy professional
  • Certification in Privacy (CIPP/C, CIPM) or equivalent is preferred
  • Experience providing legal/privacy advice in a regulated or public sector is an asset
  • Understanding of cybersecurity and data governance principles

Responsibilities

  • Lead FortisBC's privacy management program and serve as the primary liaison with privacy regulators
  • Implement and enhance the privacy governance framework, policies, and procedures
  • Provide oversight for Privacy Advisor and approve privacy impact assessments
  • Manage the privacy incident response process and respond to breaches
  • Advise on legal matters related to privacy, AI, and data governance
  • Draft and negotiate information systems agreements and monitor legal developments

Benefits

  • Flexible work program allowing up to 85 days of remote work per year
  • Opportunities for lifelong career development
  • Support for volunteerism and community involvement
  • Comprehensive benefits package including short-term incentive eligibility
  • Engaging workplace that promotes inclusivity and diversity
Full Job Description
Branch: Non-Regulated
Affiliation: Management & Exempt
Employment Status: Full-Time Regular
Expected Hiring Range: $126,100.00 to $148,300.00
Short-term Incentive Eligible: Yes
Workplace Flexibility: Yes
Posting End Date: Open until filled

Position Overview

This position leads FortisBC's privacy management program, ensuring compliance with privacy legislation and regulatory requirements. The position is part of the FortisBC legal department and will be responsible for providing legal advice on privacy, AI, cybersecurity, data governance, and providing contract support for the Information Systems business unit. It is accountable for privacy program oversight, risk management, privacy impact assessments, data storage assessments, breach response, and serving as a regulatory liaison with privacy regulators.

In this role, you will:
• Act as the organization's designated privacy authority to lead and maintain FortisBC's privacy program and be the primary liaison with privacy regulators as required under applicable legislation.
• Lead the implementation and continuous improvement of the organization's privacy governance framework, policies, and procedures. Collaborates with business units to embed privacy and related compliance controls into operational processes.
• Provide strategic oversight to the Privacy Advisor role and exercise final review and approval authority for privacy impact assessments and data storage assessments. Oversee the handling of access requests from employees, customers, and external agencies, ensuring compliance with data storage location requirements as required by BCUC.
• Oversee the privacy incident response process, including investigation, documentation, containment, remediation, and reporting. Respond to privacy incidents, breaches and cybersecurity incidents.
• Provide legal counsel on privacy, AI, cybersecurity, information systems, and data governance matters, while delivering privacy training and awareness programs.
• Draft and negotiate information systems agreements, monitor emerging legal and regulatory developments, and manage external legal counsel as required.

What it takes:
• A Bachelor of Law or Juris Doctor degree plus a minimum of eight years of post-call experience in a corporate legal department or law firm, and good standing membership with the Law Society of B.C.
• Minimum of three (3) years' experience as a compliance or privacy professional.
• Completion of or eligible to complete an Information Access & Protection of Privacy program or certification as a Certified Information Privacy Professional (CIPP/C, CIPM) or other Canadian recognized privacy certification.
• Experience providing legal and privacy advice within a regulated or public sector environment would be an asset.
• Understanding of cybersecurity principles, data governance, and records management.

In this role, you will have the option to participate in a flexible work program, enabling you to work from an approved flex location in British Columbia up to 85 days a year (equivalent to approximately two days a week), subject to business or operational needs.

Our engaging workplace offers a wide range of challenging opportunities, while being safe, inclusive, and diverse. We offer a competitive salary and benefits package, while supporting life-long career development. We also encourage volunteerism and nourish the need to give back to your community.

To learn more about the recruitment process with FortisBC, please visit the You're Applying. What now? page for additional information.

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