At a Glance
- Tasks: Lead data protection initiatives and develop privacy governance frameworks in a fast-paced environment.
- Company: Join a rapidly growing tech platform revolutionising the car industry.
- Benefits: Competitive salary, generous holiday, share options, and wellness support.
- Why this job: Be a key player in shaping privacy strategies while working with cutting-edge technology.
- Qualifications: Experience in data protection and strong communication skills are essential.
- Other info: Diverse and inclusive culture with excellent career growth opportunities.
The predicted salary is between 48000 - 84000 £ per year.
OUR MISSION
To become the car-changing destination of choice. By combining technology, media and deep automotive expertise, we’ve turned how people buy, sell, advertise and lease cars on its head. What started as a simple reviews site is now one of the largest online car-changing destinations in Europe. Last year alone we grew over 50% with nearly £3bn worth of cars bought on site, while £1.8bn of cars were listed for sale through our Sell My Car service.
In the last couple of years we have gone big and acquired both Carwow Leasey, a leasing broker and Autovia, creators of AutoExpress and Evo magazines, doubling our audience overnight. Together we now have one of the biggest YouTube channels in the world with almost 10m subscribers and over 1.1 billion annual views, while we sell 1.2 million print copies of our magazines and have an annual web content reach over 350 million. We also launched our successful Sell My Car business in Germany. We are continually driving to make Carwow the go-to destination for people looking to change their car.
LEGAL & COMPLIANCE @CARWOW
Our fantastic legal team has been compared to a set of high-performance tyres, enabling Carwow to drive and corner at high speeds whilst keeping Carwow firmly on the road in all conditions. As the business pushes forward with bold ambitions, the legal team’s purpose is clear: to drive Carwow’s growth with integrity and confidence and that’s where you come in!
YOUR MISSION
We are a platform who sits right in the middle between consumers and OEMs/Dealers in the car-changing journey. We sit on a gold mine of data and we want to commercialise it. As Senior Data Protection Manager at Carwow, you’ll play a pivotal role in enabling the business to grow and scale at pace with integrity. This is an exciting opportunity to develop your career at a complex high-growth data thirsty marketplace business.
We are looking for a Senior Data Protection Manager who wants to do more than just maintain a register and policies. This is a rare opportunity to join a high-performing legal function as our first dedicated privacy hire and be a strategic advisor to the business as it sharpens its privacy governance programme steering the business towards further growth and an exit.
We are not at "Day Zero"; we currently have an external DPO, we have established policies, templates, a RoPA, and a risk register. We need a tech-fluent practitioner who can bridge the gap between Legal and our Product, Engineering and Marketing Teams. You will have the mandate to lift the lid on our technology stack, validate our data flows, and build the practical mechanisms that keep our business safe and moving fast.
KEY RESPONSIBILITIES
- Framework development: develop and maintain a comprehensive enterprise privacy governance framework, encompassing internal policies, ROPAs, privacy notices, risk registers, and retention schedules.
- Culture & Training: create a strong internal perception of privacy as a "trust builder." Design and deliver role-specific training that is engaging, commercially relevant, and free of legal jargon.
- Business Partnering: develop appropriate business partnering relationships across the Marketing and Media teams and across other parts of the business and proactively take steps to support their understanding of privacy matters and their compliance.
- Breach response: play a key role in leading the investigation of data breaches and liaising with regulators as appropriate.
- DPAs/DSAs: support the legal team to draft and negotiate appropriate DPAs and DSAs for commercial deals.
- DSARs: set the business up to be able to respond to DSARs when necessary in the most streamlined and least disruptive manner.
- Retail Media and Ad Tech: work on new commercial propositions looking to leverage our data for 3rd party audience targeting and segmentation helping us to answer DDQs and design safe data sharing mechanisms.
- Corporate work: support the legal team in DD exercises for M&A and during funding exercises.
- Technical Integration: work closely with Data and Insights/IT/Engineering/Product teams to embed "Privacy by Design" principles.
- Operationalise Compliance: look for ways to integrate standard compliance processes into business workflows with an eye always on streamlined automation where possible.
- Multi-Jurisdictional: support our businesses in the UK, Germany, Spain and Portugal.
KEY REQUIREMENTS
- Passionate about the intersection of AI and privacy, focusing on how to safeguard the organization during tech adoption while leveraging AI to enhance and automate privacy operations.
- A team player with a growth mindset, high EQ and low ego, excited to be part of a scale-up high growth company.
- Significant experience of working in-house balancing privacy compliance with commercial objectives.
- Ability to understand the law and grasp new data protection concepts quickly and to distil and explain them in a clear and easy to understand way.
- To be able to work in a fast-paced environment, with teams that move and pivot quickly.
- Fluency in English and strong communication skills are essential.
- To be driven to ensure the Legal and Compliance Team are viewed as genuine partners of the business.
- Ability to lead cross-functional projects.
- To be used to autonomy and independent working and thinking.
- A track record of working with all levels of the organisation, including senior management.
BONUS POINTS
- A CIPP/E and CIPM from the IAPP.
- Experience working in a tech platform/marketplace environment.
- Experience in Mar-Tech/Ad-Tech.
- Experience in the automotive industry.
INTERVIEW PROCESS
- Introductory call with our Talent team
- Interview with our General Counsel and Head of Legal
- Values Interview
- Interview with an external Senior Privacy professional
WHAT’S IN IT FOR YOU
- Competitive comp package
- 28 days' holiday plus bank holidays, increasing to 35 with length of service, plus extras for house moves, weddings and more!
- Employee-friendly share options
- Pension scheme via Royal London - up to 5% company contribution
- Vitality private healthcare insurance
- Life Assurance - 4x annual salary
- Monthly coaching sessions with Spill - our mental wellbeing partner
- Inclusive parental, partner and shared parental leave, including up to 20 weeks' full pay maternity and shared parental leave, and 8 weeks' full partner pay, as well as fertility treatment and pregnancy loss policies
- Bubble childcare support and discounted nanny fees for little ones
- Work from abroad for a month’ annual scheme
- Generous learning and development budget
- £500/€550 home office budget
Diversity and inclusion is an integral part of our culture. We know that diverse teams are strong teams, so we welcome those with alternative identities, backgrounds, and experiences to apply for this position. We make recruiting decisions based on experience, skills and potential, so all our applicants are treated fairly and equally.
Senior Data Protection Manager employer: Carwow Group
Contact Detail:
Carwow Group Recruiting Team
StudySmarter Expert Advice 🤫
We think this is how you could land Senior Data Protection Manager
✨Tip Number 1
Network like a pro! Reach out to people in the industry, attend events, and connect on LinkedIn. You never know who might have the inside scoop on job openings or can put in a good word for you.
✨Tip Number 2
Prepare for interviews by researching the company and its culture. Understand their mission and values, and think about how your skills align with their goals. This will help you stand out as a candidate who truly gets what they’re about.
✨Tip Number 3
Practice your interview skills with a friend or mentor. Get comfortable answering common questions and discussing your experience. The more you practice, the more confident you'll feel when it’s time to shine!
✨Tip Number 4
Don’t forget to apply through our website! It’s the best way to ensure your application gets seen. Plus, we love seeing candidates who are proactive and engaged with our platform.
We think you need these skills to ace Senior Data Protection Manager
Some tips for your application 🫡
Tailor Your Application: Make sure to customise your CV and cover letter to highlight your experience in data protection and how it aligns with our mission at Carwow. We want to see how you can bridge the gap between legal and tech, so don’t hold back!
Show Your Passion: Let your enthusiasm for privacy and technology shine through! We’re looking for someone who’s not just ticking boxes but genuinely excited about safeguarding data while driving growth. Share examples of how you've done this in the past.
Be Clear and Concise: When writing your application, keep it straightforward and jargon-free. We appreciate clarity, especially when it comes to complex topics like data protection. Make it easy for us to see your skills and experience!
Apply Through Our Website: Don’t forget to submit your application through our website! It’s the best way for us to receive your details and ensures you’re considered for the role. Plus, we love seeing applications come directly from our site!
How to prepare for a job interview at Carwow Group
✨Know Your Stuff
Make sure you’re well-versed in data protection laws and how they apply to the automotive industry. Brush up on GDPR, DSARs, and any relevant regulations that could impact Carwow's operations. This will show that you’re not just familiar with the theory but can also apply it practically.
✨Showcase Your Tech Savvy
As a Senior Data Protection Manager, you’ll need to bridge the gap between legal and tech teams. Be prepared to discuss your experience with technology stacks and how you've integrated privacy by design principles in past roles. Highlight specific examples where you’ve successfully collaborated with IT or engineering teams.
✨Demonstrate Your Business Acumen
Carwow is all about growth and innovation, so be ready to talk about how you can balance privacy compliance with commercial objectives. Share examples of how you’ve supported business initiatives while ensuring data protection standards are met. This will show that you understand the bigger picture.
✨Build Relationships
Emphasise your ability to develop strong partnerships across various teams. Discuss how you’ve previously worked with marketing, product, or engineering teams to foster a culture of privacy. Being a team player with high emotional intelligence will resonate well with the interviewers.