Senior Privacy Counsel

About the role

Coursera is seeking a Senior Privacy Counsel to integrate into the Legal and Compliance team, where the primary ownership lies in steering global privacy law compliance initiatives with an initial concentration on Udemy's platform ecosystem. The hired individual will act as the central legal authority on privacy matters, forging strategic partnerships with product, engineering, and security functions to embed privacy-by-design principles into the core of Coursera and Udemy services and products. This role requires a proactive stance in anticipating and shaping the company's response to the evolving landscape of data protection regulations worldwide. The Senior Privacy Counsel will be instrumental in translating complex legal requirements into actionable business strategies that enable growth while rigorously safeguarding user information. Success in this position will be measured by the effective management of privacy risks across jurisdictions and the cultivation of a strong privacy culture within the organization. The hire will also own the oversight of critical privacy documentation and operational processes that ensure consistency and compliance at scale.

Key facts

What you'll do

• Assume the role of the principal legal authority on US privacy statutes, conducting in-depth analysis of federal and state regulations such as CCPA/CPRA and aligning global frameworks like EU/UK GDPR and APAC/Latin American laws to ensure operational conformity.
• Serve as the vital link between the business and legal domains by interpreting emerging legal trends and regulatory shifts, articulating their practical impacts on product development and strategic initiatives.
• Drive the evolution and scalability of Coursera and Udemy's global privacy program, architecting and sustaining privacy notices, internal policies, operational tools, procedural playbooks, and comprehensive training resources.
• Provide sophisticated legal counsel to cross-functional stakeholders on intricate privacy, artificial intelligence, and cybersecurity subjects, formulating pragmatic, risk-optimized solutions that are consistent with international privacy standards and business objectives.
• Lead the investigation and management of personal data security incidents, coordinating efforts with engineering, information security, and allied teams to mitigate risk and ensure timely regulatory reporting.
• Act as the official liaison for individual data subject requests and inquiries from privacy regulators, managing communications and responses in a timely and accurate manner.
• Guide senior leadership in evaluating privacy risk exposure and long-term strategy, leveraging expertise to influence decision-making at the highest levels of the organization.
• Mentor and develop the capabilities of other members within the Privacy and Legal and Compliance teams, fostering a collaborative environment that enhances collective expertise and performance.
• Establish and maintain robust workflows for privacy compliance activities, ensuring that processes are efficient, auditable, and aligned with best practices across the enterprise.
• Evaluate third-party vendors and partners from a privacy perspective, providing due diligence and recommendations to protect Coursera's data assets and reputation.

Requirements

• Possess a Juris Doctor (JD) degree earned from an institution accredited by a recognized law school body.
• Hold active membership in at least one bar association within the United States, demonstrating current good standing and legal eligibility to practice.
• Bring a cumulative total of 8+ years of professional legal experience to the role, with at least 5 years dedicated specifically to privacy law advisory roles within law firms, corporate legal departments, or a combination of both environments.
• Show a strong track record of advising on US privacy legislation, including CCPA/CPRA and other state-specific privacy statutes, complemented by a functional understanding of GDPR and other major global privacy regimes.
• Demonstrate prior involvement in the creation, execution, or oversight of core components of a global privacy compliance program, including hands-on experience with privacy compliance technologies and the formulation of internal privacy protocols.
• Exhibit a history of autonomous and efficient work habits, making high-quality judgments on complex and ambiguous legal issues while consistently producing practical solutions that support business needs.
• Maintain exceptional written and verbal communication skills, with meticulous attention to detail and the capacity to deliver clear, concise, and innovative guidance to internal clients across all levels of the organization.

Nice to have

• Possess previous in-house experience at a technology company where you have handled products serving users across at least two of the following international verticals: consumer, enterprise, or education sectors.
• Have a background in counseling global, cross-functional teams regarding privacy and artificial intelligence challenges, particularly within the APAC and EMEA geographical regions.
• Hold recognized privacy certifications such as CIPP/US, CIPP/E, CIPM, or AIGP, demonstrating a commitment to professional specialization in the field.
• Have direct experience with the implementation and utilization of privacy compliance software platforms to streamline governance and reporting functions.

Practical notes

This position is classified under US Pay Zone 4, which dictates the geographic compensation range. Coursera provides a comprehensive suite of benefits including competitive pay structures, robust health benefits packages, performance-based bonus structures, restricted stock unit equity programs, and a variety of global employee perks designed to support work-life integration. The role requires a standard full-time schedule and is not eligible for remote work arrangements that fall outside the specified United States locations. There are no business travel requirements or visa sponsorship considerations mentioned for this specific opening. The application period is strictly defined, opening on 7/15/2026 and closing on 8/28/2026, after which the review of applications will commence.