Head - Privacy, Responsible AI and Data Regulations

At Vodafone, we’re not just shaping the future of connectivity for our customers – we’re shaping the future for everyone who joins our team. When you work with us, you’re part of a global mission to connect people, solve complex challenges, and create a sustainable and more inclusive world. If you want to grow your career whilst finding the perfect balance between work and life, Vodafone offers the opportunities to help you belong and make a real impact.

Role title: PRADAR Lead - VOIS (Privacy, Responsible AI and Data Regulations)
Function: VOIS
Band: F14
Department: LBI&EA
Reports to: Head of Legal, VOIS    
Location: Pune

Role purpose:  
As a key leader within Vodafone Intelligent Solutions (VOIS), the role holder will be responsible for shaping, implementing, and governing data privacy, data regulations, and responsible AI initiatives globally. This position is pivotal to ensuring VOIS's compliance with evolving global data protection laws, fostering trust, and enabling ethical AI-driven innovations.  PRADAR is a mature area of compliance within Vodafone as a whole and so the requirements on the VOIS business are high.  So this individual must have a very solid substantive background in the SME area as well as excellent leadership and interpersonal skills, who can navigate a demanding and complex brief.  Ideally we would like someone who can bring clarity and simplicity and is able to build strong relationships with key stakeholders such that they can influence the shape of compliance in this area.

Key accountabilities and decision ownership: 

• Lead the development and execution of global data privacy and data regulation strategies, ensuring compliance with GDPR and other regional and international frameworks and Data Regulations across the VOIS organization.
• Advocate for and implement ethical principles and standards for Responsible AI across VOIS operations.  Clearly translate and implement these requirements in a way that helps VOIS to build trust with its customers across related business lines as we offer AI as part of our services.
• Collaborate with cross-functional teams, including legal, cyber, and the business units, to integrate privacy by design and AI ethics into product development and operations. 
• Conduct regular audits, assessments, and reporting to ensure continuous improvement in VOIS Data Privacy program performance.  We need someone who can lead a team to conduct these assessments in an efficient way to meet requirements and over time drive new ways of working with the Group PRADAR team to simplify the approach.
• Provide leadership and guidance on data breach responses and risk mitigation strategies. 
• Develop a clear operations strategy for PRADAR to make best use of technology and processes to enable the team to operate with high impact.
• Develop and deliver training programs to promote a culture of data protection, privacy and ethical AI awareness within VOIS.  Here we need creative flair and leadership.
• Someone with gravitas who has experience of handling investigations and is able to respond to crisis situations, including data breaches etc.  Proven ability to put related risk mitigation strategies in place, learning from the wider Vodafone organization and to manage senior stakeholders in this situation.
   

Core competencies, knowledge and experience:

• Expert legal or regulatory or compliance management skills in privacy and data protection in at least one major geographical VOIS region, and excellent understanding of global privacy landscape in technology and online businesses.  We have a preference for someone with solid experience of advising on and designing compliance programmes around the GDPR.
• Demonstrated ability to identify and solve complex problems in a complex technology and business environment by creating simple, repeatable and actionable solutions and policy positions.  Someone with very solid substantive skills in this SME area.
• Excellent communication, presentation and people leadership skills.  Someone who can cut through complexity and come up with crisp, pragmatic solutions to PRADAR issues that helps VOIS to commercialize and grow.
• Comfortable working in a matrix organization with tolerance for ambiguity.  Persistence to drive change over time.
• Results oriented, proactive, responsible, pragmatic and ethical person with a passion for privacy and interest in technologies and their societal impact.
• Proven leadership and management ability, in an international cross-cultural environment.  Must have a passion for growing talent and supporting learning and development in this area. 
• Appetite and aptitude for driving improved compliance operations in PRADAR, making excellent use of processes, technology and systems to drive efficiencies and inform decision making.

Must have technical / professional qualifications: 

• Degree in law or related area.  
• Relevant postgraduate qualifications (e.g. CIPP and/or CIPM and/or CIPT certified).
• Legal or regulatory background with significant compliance experience and understanding of compliance and risk management procedures and methodologies
• Previous experience within the Tech or Telco industries, within a multinational matrix organization.  

Key performance indicators:

• Achievement of full compliance with applicable data privacy regulations across all regions of operation. 
• Successful implementation of Responsible AI frameworks and principles within VOIS products and services. 
• Improved stakeholder confidence through proactive risk management.
• Increased employee awareness and adherence to data privacy and AI ethics guidelines.
• Effective demonstration of performance in periodic quality reviews, audits, whether internal or external.

Budget owned:  Managed with Head of Legal, VOIS.
Direct reports: Team of approx 12 across VOIS locations.
Dotted reports: No.
 

Worried that you don’t meet all the desired criteria exactly? At Vodafone we are passionate about empowering people and creating a workplace where everyone can thrive, whatever their personal or professional background. If you’re excited about this role but your experience doesn’t align exactly with every part of the job description, we encourage you to still apply as you may be the right candidate for this role or another opportunity.

We want you to feel happy and fulfilled at work, without compromising the other things in life that matter to you. There are lots of ways we support this, including hybrid working and generous parental leave. You'll also get four Spirit Days a year to focus on your personal development and wellbeing, plus a host of other great benefits too.

We are a leading international Telco, serving millions of customers. At Vodafone, we believe that connectivity is a force for good. If we use it for the things that really matter, it can improve people's lives and the world around us. Through our technology we empower people, connecting everyone regardless of who they are or where they live and we protect the planet, whilst helping our customers do the same.

Belonging at Vodafone isn't a concept; it's lived, breathed, and cultivated through everything we do. You'll be part of a global and diverse community, with many different minds, abilities, backgrounds and cultures. ;We're committed to increase diversity, ensure equal representation, and make Vodafone a place everyone feels safe, valued and included.

If you require any reasonable adjustments or have an accessibility request as part of your recruitment journey, for example, extended time or breaks in between online assessments, please refer to https://careers.vodafone.com/application-adjustments/ for guidance.

Together we can.