Data Protection Legal Counsel (12-month FTC)

Role Responsibility

As Data Protection Legal Counsel, you will understand Selfridges and it’s vision of being the destination for extraordinary customer experience. You understand and embrace Selfridges as a whole, from the customer facing front-of-house teams to the back-of-house functions and project teams that are needed to run a truly omni-channel, global, luxury retailer.

As Legal Counsel you will be impactful, building strong relationships and bringing a positive, pragmatic decision making focus to a fast-paced environment, identifying risk and balancing common sense with legal expertise. Outgoing, curious, naturally intuitive and empathetic, you place value in people, demonstrating a passion for the Selfridges’ business. They will be comfortable in questioning colleagues and external advisors to gain understanding and offer challenge, to advise and support colleagues within the business.

This is a 12-month FTC opportunity.

As Data Protection Legal Counsel you will:

- Provide expert data protection advice, supporting the DPO and the business. In all matters, ensure the business is advised promptly, proactively, commercially and pragmatically to help Selfridges be as effective as possible in achieving its strategy, vision and purpose

- Advise key stakeholders on legal issues affecting the business in a commercially savvy way, taking into account the nature of the business, its risk appetite, providing a steer and offering a view

- Keep colleagues and key stakeholders up to date on relevant law, compliance, legal requirements and best practice

- Provide sound legal advice to the business, in plain English and without jargon; sometimes using and managing advice and support from external advisors

- Assist with legal documents, contracts/deals, process, disputes/litigation or any investigations e.g. from a regulator. Draft, review, negotiate and administer contracts, and other legal, transactional, compliance or other documentations. Support on business projects. Analyse and identify legal risks, data protection requirements and implications for Selfridges

- Support the legal team to be a high performing team; inspiring, supporting, coaching, supervising and leading, as required, to help the legal team get to the core of a problem quickly, to navigate legal requirements and issues whilst supporting colleagues to achieve their goals to drive the business forward

The Ideal Candidate

- An enthusiastic lawyer with specific data protection expertise and qualifications (likely a UK qualified solicitor with up to 5 years post-qualification experience)

- With excellent academics and great legal experience, relevant to this data protection focused role and this business

- Experienced in working in-house; able to demonstrate an understanding of the in-house role, its pace, demands and requirements

- Someone with a proven track record as a lawyer, including depth of experience on data protection matters, drafting and negotiating contracts; and someone who can demonstrate their ability to translate complex data protection and legal matters into straightforward, pragmatic and user-friendly advice

- Experienced in supporting on other aspects of data protection work and compliance, such as data mapping and governance documentation and reporting

- Solutions focused and analytical. You are excellent at seeing through a problem and finding a solution, with strong organisational skills and a keen eye for detail. Able to manage deadlines and a complex workload, able to adjust pace or direction

- A great communicator. With sound interpersonal skills and strong written and verbal  communication, you are able to challenge and influence business stakeholders

- You are an ambassador for the legal team, the DPO team and their roles

- Able to manage budgets, consider financial implications and plan resource

- Able to distil complex legal issues into concise and user-friendly advice or documents, a good listener, a good leader when required

- Understanding of excellent customer service from the customer and service provider’s perspective

- An example of our values, a trusted and respected colleague

About the Company

Our Creative Spirit 

We are more than a shop. We are a social space where culture and commerce collide to release an energy that we call the Selfridges spirit. We are here to make our world brighter, and everyone is welcome. 

Our Awards Cabinet 

We’re not ones to brag, but since you asked...Selfridges has won the award for The World’s Best Department Store an unprecedented four times at the IGDS awards, with an additional award for the Best Sustainability Campaign. We were also recognised as a ‘Best 25 Big Company to Work For 2020’ as awarded by The Sunday Times.

Our Future 

Since 1909 we have been at the forefront of retail and today our stores in London, Manchester and Birmingham – alongside selfridges.com and the Selfridges App – continue to redefine the way we shop and socialise. As a Selfridges team member, you will learn what it takes to consistently drive innovation, success and amazing customer experiences. 

Everyone is welcome

We are committed to a diverse and inclusive working culture, and we see this as key to our success and our working culture. Here at Selfridges, everyone is welcome - irrespective of race, gender, ethnicity, sexuality, age or disability, we stand by equal opportunities for all. We are diverse, we are inclusive, we are Selfridges.

The Fun Stuff  

There are lots of reasons to be excited about joining Team Selfridges – from our fantastic team member communities to volunteer days and behind-the-scenes Selfridges experiences throughout the year. 

Other benefits and rewards include:

• Generous bonus and/or commission scheme 
• Discounted gym memberships 
• Pension contributions  
• Annual travel pass and cycle to work schemes 
• Up to five paid volunteering days
• Access to a wide range of training programmes to help your career development

Selfridges