Data Protection & Privacy Director

About the Role

Hays is seeking a Data Protection & Privacy Director to lead enterprise-wide privacy and data protection programs. This contract position is based in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, and requires a professional with over 10 years of experience in the field. The role focuses on ensuring compliance with data privacy regulations and managing privacy risks across the organization.

Role Overview

The Data Protection & Privacy Director will be responsible for overseeing governance frameworks, regulatory compliance, incident response, and privacy awareness initiatives. This position involves developing and implementing strategies to protect sensitive data and maintain adherence to global privacy standards within the organization.

Key Responsibilities

• Develop and maintain data protection policies, standards, and procedures.
• Lead Privacy Impact Assessments (DPIAs) and maintain Records of Processing Activities (ROPA).
• Design and implement privacy and data governance frameworks.
• Ensure compliance with PDPL, GDPR, CCPA, and other applicable regulations.
• Conduct privacy audits, risk assessments, and compliance reviews.
• Lead response activities for data breaches and privacy incidents.
• Manage Data Subject Access Requests (DSARs).
• Collaborate with Legal, IT, Security, and business teams on privacy initiatives.
• Drive privacy awareness and training programs across the organization.

Qualifications and Experience

• Bachelor's degree in Cybersecurity, Information Technology, Risk Management, or a related field. A Master's degree is preferred.
• A minimum of 10 years of experience in Data Protection, Privacy, Governance, Risk, or Cybersecurity.
• Strong knowledge of privacy regulations including PDPL, GDPR, and CCPA.
• Demonstrated experience in developing and implementing privacy governance frameworks.
• Expertise in privacy risk assessments, audits, and compliance activities.

Required Skills

• Strong stakeholder management skills.
• Proven leadership abilities.
• Excellent communication and collaboration skills.

Application Process

Candidates meeting the specified requirements are invited to apply for this Data Protection & Privacy Director position. The salary for this role will be discussed during the interview process.