Assistant General Counsel, Data Strategy & Security at Guardian in New York, NY

Job description

Guided by our company Purpose of “Inspiring well-being for our colleagues, consumers, and communities,” we are committed to building a best-in-class Law Department. We drive a high-performance culture across our Legal, Compliance, and Government Affairs functions. That culture is aligned to “what” we deliver (our goals) and “how” we deliver it (the values and behaviors we demonstrate in achieving those goals). We do this by leveraging a set of core capabilities: interpersonal effectiveness , business savvy , subject matter expertise in your practice area, and leading people and teams where applicable. Our colleagues and the candidates we hire are key to the continued success of our department. Position Summary As Assistant General Counsel, Cybersecurity, Data Governance & Privacy, you will join a multidisciplinary team of attorneys and paraprofessionals that combines our privacy, cybersecurity, data governance, artificial intelligence, and intellectual property practices. You will help Guardian’s businesses navigate business-critical issues and counsel first-line professionals who are focused on innovative opportunities to improve our customers’ experiences. You will advise business leaders on cybersecurity issues and partner with Law colleagues on regulatory inquiries and civil litigation, providing strategic advice that combines legal and technical guidance. You will also support business partners across all areas of data risk and governance and help shape how Guardian governs its use of artificial intelligence. You are A trusted legal advisor with strong expertise in cybersecurity, data governance, and privacy. You bring sound judgment and a practical, business-focused approach to navigating evolving risks and complex challenges. You build strong relationships, influence and empower leaders, and translate legal requirements into clear guidance and actionable solutions. You have Required: A Juris Doctor degree. Three to five or more years of relevant professional legal experience in corporate data security/cybersecurity. Industry knowledge across a broad range of insurance and investment products, platforms, and trends. Strong oral and written communication skills, as well as outstanding organizational and analytical skills. Strong negotiation skills and business acumen. Ability to work independently and collaboratively in a team setting, with a high level of self-direction and sound judgment. A self-starter with a proactive approach to addressing issues before they create legal exposure, and the ability to handle a wide range of complex and challenging situations. Demonstrated AI literacy, including using AI-enabled legal tools (such as Harvey) for research and drafting, with the judgment to critically evaluate and verify AI-generated output against primary sources. Working knowledge of U.S. and global privacy laws, cybersecurity regulations (including NYDFS Part 500), and emerging AI laws and regulations. Preferred: New York State bar admission, or eligibility to practice under New York’s registered in-house counsel program. Experience in the life insurance industry, financial services, or another highly regulated industry. Proficiency in Westlaw and Harvey, and general desktop computer competency. You will Help Guardian’s businesses navigate business-critical issues. Counsel first-line professionals pursuing innovative opportunities to improve customers’ experiences. Advise business leaders on cybersecurity issues, including incidents, breach notification obligations, and cyber regulations (e.g., NYDFS Part 500), so the business can demonstrate that its controls are defensible. Provide legal counsel and practical support to the Privacy team on privacy-related business initiatives, applying U.S. and global privacy laws to how personal data is collected, used, shared, and deleted, including through privacy impact assessments (PIAs) and privacy by design. Partner with Law colleagues on regulatory inquiries and civil litigati