Senior Privacy & Ethics Attorney in Cambridge

What if the work you did every day could impact the lives of people you know? Or all of humanity? At Illumina, we are expanding access to genomic technology to realise health equity for billions of people around the world. Our efforts enable life-changing discoveries that are transforming human health through the early detection and diagnosis of diseases and new treatment options for patients. Working at Illumina means being part of something bigger than yourself. Every person, in every role, has the opportunity to make a difference. Surrounded by extraordinary people, inspiring leaders, and world-changing projects, you will do more and become more than you ever thought possible.

As Senior Attorney, Privacy and Ethics here at Illumina in Cambridge, you will work closely with the Global Head of Privacy and Ethics as a trusted legal advisor and strategic partner on privacy, data protection, and ethics matters across the business. In this role, you will help Illumina innovate with purpose by enabling responsible use of data and ethical decision-making that supports human health globally. You will collaborate with cross-functional teams and external counsel to deliver practical, business-focused advice while shaping and evolving Illumina’s global privacy and ethics framework. Acting with integrity and accountability, you will play a key role in building trust with internal stakeholders and supporting Illumina’s mission.

Illumina's employee benefits are industry-leading and include flexible time off, private medical insurance, compassion and care time off, leisure travel insurance, pension, employee stock purchasing program, volunteer time off, and much more!

WHY YOU

You are a qualified lawyer in the UK or another European jurisdiction with at least 5+ years’ post-qualification experience and a strong academic background. You bring deep expertise in GDPR, CCPA, and other major global privacy frameworks, along with a solid understanding of evolving privacy, security, and ethics-related legislation worldwide. Your experience may come from a multinational organisation, ideally within medical device, pharmaceutical, or healthcare sectors, or from a global top-tier law firm. You are motivated by Illumina’s values, particularly Be Accountable and Win Together, and you take ownership for delivering high-quality outcomes while collaborating effectively across global teams. You are comfortable operating independently, exercising sound judgment, and influencing stakeholders at all levels with clarity, confidence, and respect. You combine strong drafting, organisational, and communication skills with a detail-oriented mindset. Experience developing or enhancing privacy and compliance programmes is important, and knowledge of genetics or biological sciences is beneficial. Multilingual capability is a plus.

Responsibilities

• Acts as key partner and legal privacy and ethics advisor for multiple internal clients across Illumina and, where necessary, collaborates with outside counsel to advise on applicable data privacy law and ethical issues.
• Recommends and implements strategic improvements and provides legal advice to the business on a range of data privacy and ethical issues.
• Leads educational efforts across business on privacy legal matters and ethical issues.
• Applies broad expertise and knowledge to provide solutions to unique privacy legal matters and ethics issues in creative and effective ways.
• Leads and contributes to the development of company privacy and ethics objectives and principles to achieve goals in creative and effective ways.
• Works on highly complex privacy legal issues and ethics assignments where problem solving requires conceptual thinking and an evaluation of enigmatic components.
• Accountable for results which may impact the entire privacy and ethics organization.
• Creates formal networks with key decision makers and recognized as a thought leader to several diverse stakeholders.
• Conveys advanced information which requires persuasion and a deep understanding of the business.
• May direct the activities of others.
• Ability to work independently to determine methods and procedures on new or special privacy legal matters and ethics assignments.
• Exercises independent judgment in methods, techniques, and evaluation criteria for obtaining results.
• Maintains an up-to-date knowledge and understanding of privacy and ethics related legal benchmarks, professional or industry standards, codes and international laws and regulations, and reporting responsibilities.

Listed responsibilities are an essential, but not exhaustive list, of the usual duties associated with the position. Changes to individual responsibilities may occur due to business needs.

Education

Law degree with exceptional academic credentials and qualification to practice in the UK or in another European jurisdiction. Minimum 5+ years' PQE experience.

Work Experience

Strong knowledge of GDPR, CCPA and a good understanding of other major privacy frameworks and evolving legislation, security laws, rules and regulations worldwide, as well as industry leading-practices and standards. Global privacy experience in a multinational company (medical device, pharmaceutical, or healthcare preferred) or a global top tier law firm. Experience working with global teams preferred. Experience in developing privacy and compliance programs.

Skills And Abilities

• Excellent verbal, written, presentation and communication skills.
• Strong organizational and drafting skills.
• Detail-oriented approach.
• Ability to draft and develop policy and procedures.
• Ability to undertake large, long-term projects, and find solutions to complications that arise.
• Ability to handle confidential and sensitive information with the appropriate discretion.
• Promoting effective work practices, working as a team member, and showing respect for co-workers.
• Well-developed and professional interpersonal skills; ability to interact effectively with people at all organizational levels of the company.
• Ability to work unsupervised, exercise leadership, and influence change.
• Ability to use independent judgment and discretion when making decisions.
• Knowledge of genetics and other biological sciences is beneficial.
• Multilingual a plus.

We are a company deeply rooted in belonging, promoting an inclusive environment where employees feel valued and empowered to contribute to our mission. Built on a strong foundation, Illumina has always prioritized openness, collaboration, and seeking alternative perspectives to propel innovation in genomics. We are proud to confirm a zero-net gap in pay, regardless of gender, ethnicity, or race. We also have several Employee Resource Groups (ERG) that deliver career development experiences, increase cultural awareness, and offer opportunities to engage in social responsibility. We are proud to be an equal opportunity employer committed to providing employment opportunity regardless of sex, race, creed, color, gender, religion, marital status, domestic partner status, age, national origin or ancestry, physical or mental disability, medical condition, sexual orientation, pregnancy, military or veteran status, citizenship status, and genetic information.

Illumina conducts background checks on applicants for whom a conditional offer of employment has been made. Qualified applicants with arrest or conviction records will be considered for employment in accordance with applicable local, state, and federal laws. Background check results may potentially result in the withdrawal of a conditional offer of employment. The background check process and any decisions made as a result shall be made in accordance with all applicable local, state, and federal laws. Illumina prohibits the use of generative artificial intelligence (AI) in the application and interview process. If you require accommodation to complete the application or interview process, please contact accommodations@illumina.com.