Block is one company built from many blocks, all united by the same purpose of economic empowerment. The blocks that form our foundational teams — People, Finance, Counsel, Hardware, Information Security, Platform Infrastructure Engineering, and more — provide support and guidance at the corporate level. They work across business groups and around the globe, spanning time zones and disciplines to develop inclusive People policies, forecast finances, give legal counsel, safeguard systems, nurture new initiatives, and more. Every challenge creates possibilities, and we need different perspectives to see them all. Bring yours to Block.

Are you passionate about the interplay between technology and privacy? Do you thrive in dynamic environments where law, technology, and business intersect? If safeguarding data privacy and navigating the complex landscape of privacy and data security laws excite you, then we have the perfect opportunity. We are seeking a Privacy Counsel for the APAC region, with a particular focus on Australian privacy law. This role offers the chance to be at the forefront of privacy and data protection issues, influencing how we protect user data and ensure compliance across diverse jurisdictions. 

This role offers a unique opportunity to shape privacy practices and make a significant impact within a leading technology company. If you’re ready to advance your career in a role that blends law, technology, and strategic thinking, we look forward to receiving your application!

As our Privacy Counsel, you’ll play a pivotal role in steering our privacy strategy across the APAC region, including these key responsibilities:

• Develop and implement privacy strategies that comply with Australian privacy law and other relevant APAC privacy laws and regulations, ensuring seamless operation across borders.

• Provide expert legal advice on privacy and data security matters to and in collaboration with all cross-functional partners, including our information security and engineering teams, various business units, product development teams, marketing, and human resources, helping them navigate the complexities of compliance.

• Remain up-to-date on relevant consumer protection, privacy and data security laws and regulations, industry approaches to privacy program management, and on privacy and security technological developments, threat vectors, and evolving industry standards to provide forward-thinking solutions to complex issues.

• Assist in the response to data privacy incidents, including breach notification and mitigation strategies, to minimize impact and maintain trust.

• Collaborate with the global legal team to align privacy practices across the company, ensuring a unified approach to data protection.

• Support creation and implementation of a global AI governance framework, helping the business teams continue to innovate responsibly.

• Work with teams to scope and perform periodic data privacy hygiene assessments, mitigation and remediation, including data privacy by design and default, accountability and compliance monitoring, and the mitigation of privacy and security risks.

• Monitor and analyze changes in privacy laws in the APAC region, particularly Australia, advising the business on necessary adjustments to policies and practices.

• Educate and train employees on privacy and security obligations, fostering a culture of awareness and compliance throughout the organization.

• Update privacy notices and disclosures, and manage/update internal policies and procedures to ensure compliance with global laws bearing on privacy and cybersecurity.

The ideal candidate for this role brings a mix of legal expertise, strategic thinking, and passion for privacy, with qualifications including:

• A law degree with admission to practice in Australia.

• Minimum of 5 years of legal experience in privacy law, data protection, with a strong focus on Australian privacy law.

• Deep understanding of the APAC privacy landscape, including familiarity with cross-border data transfer issues, compliance with financial regulatory requirements, and digital marketing regulations.

• Excellent communication skills, capable of simplifying complex legal concepts for a variety of audiences and influencing decision-making processes.

• Proven track record of successfully managing privacy projects and initiatives in a fast-paced, technology driven environment.

• Certifications such as CIPP/A, CIPM, and/or CIPT are a plus.

• A collaborative mindset and ability to work effectively with teams across different cultures and time zones.

• An interest in and / or experience of advising on data uses in adtech, artificial intelligence and machine learning.

We’re working to build a more inclusive economy where our customers have equal access to opportunity, and we strive to live by these same values in building our workplace. Block is a proud equal opportunity employer. We work hard to evaluate all employees and job applicants consistently, based solely on the core competencies required of the role at hand, and without regard to any legally protected class.

We believe in being fair, and are committed to an inclusive interview experience, including providing reasonable accommodations to disabled applicants throughout the recruitment process. We encourage applicants to share any needed accommodations with their recruiter, who will treat these requests as confidentially as possible. Want to learn more about what we’re doing to build a workplace that is fair and square? Check out our I+D page.

Perks

We want you to be well and thrive. Our global benefits package includes:

• Healthcare coverage
• Retirement Plans
• Employee Stock Purchase Program
• Wellness perks
• Paid parental leave
• Paid time off
• Learning and Development resources

We’ve noticed a rise in recruiting impersonations across the industry, where individuals are sending fake job offer emails. Contact from any of our recruiters or employees will always come from an email address ending with @block.xyz, @squareup.com, @tidal.com, or @afterpay.com, @clearpay.co.uk.

Block, Inc. (NYSE: SQ) is a global technology company with a focus on financial services. Made up of Square, Cash App, Spiral, TIDAL, and TBD, we build tools to help more people access the economy. Square helps sellers run and grow their businesses with its integrated ecosystem of commerce solutions, business software, and banking services. With Cash App, anyone can easily send, spend, or invest their money in stocks or Bitcoin. Spiral (formerly Square Crypto) builds and funds free, open-source Bitcoin projects. Artists use TIDAL to help them succeed as entrepreneurs and connect more deeply with fans. TBD is building an open developer platform to make it easier to access Bitcoin and other blockchain technologies without having to go through an institution.