Legal Counsel and UK Data Protection Officer

Overview

In this role you will serve as Data Protection Officer for the UK, guiding privacy strategy and handling data breaches and DSARs while ensuring compliance. You will also provide commercial legal support across Kao’s UK business, collaborating with multiple stakeholders within a fast-paced, luxury-focused brand environment. You’ll shape data protection and confidentiality practices, working with product teams to mitigate privacy risks in digital initiatives. This role offers the chance to influence how data is used responsibly in a global beauty group.

Pay / Benefits

• flexible working
• health and wellbeing offers
• pension schemes
• insurance options
• learning and development opportunities
• competitive salaries

Responsibilities

• Manage data protection queries from stakeholders and employees
• Provide expert UK and European privacy guidance and strategic direction
• Advise on data-driven advertising within compliant frameworks
• Support technology projects for privacy and information security compliance
• Provide legal input on data protection and confidential information security matters
• Collaborate with digital/mobile product teams on risk mitigation strategies
• Coordinate investigations of data protection breaches and security incidents
• Manage Data Subject Access Requests (DSAR)
• Liaise with ICO as Kao’s point of contact on data protection matters
• Review and negotiate data processing agreements and various commercial contracts
• Draft/ review marketing materials, terms, and conditions for campaigns and competitions
• Conduct training on Data Protection, Anti-trust, Social Media and Marketing
• Interact with global management and UK/European entities on privacy compliance

Key requirements

• Qualified Solicitor with in-house experience in beauty, fashion, retail or FMCG preferred
• Excellent knowledge of data privacy, commercial, contract, consumer and competition law
• Strong business acumen and ability to handle complex matters
• Technical understanding of cosmetic industry regulations
• Ambition to work with luxury global brands and build industry networks
• Proactive problem-solver with ability to drive issues to resolution
• Strong communication and relationship-building skills

• proactive
• commercial mindset
• communication skills
• data privacy
• data protection law (UK/European)
• contract law and negotiations

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