Vacancy: Data Protection & Information Security Expert (DPO)
IFORI is a niche legal firm specialising in intellectual property law, ICT & privacy law with offices in Ghent, Kortrijk, Antwerp and Tervuren. Our expertise ranges from the strategic management and development of IP portfolios (trademarks, patents, designs) to drafting and negotiating trade contracts, ICT agreements, etc. At the same time, IFORI has a rock-solid reputation and focus in the field of privacy and data protection law.
We have a unique vision of how we address our clients’ problems and opportunities. The result is an exciting array of clients ranging from high-tech startups, over government organizations to listed multinationals and Flemish family SMEs for whom we are a firm long-term trust partner.
We are looking for a data protection & information security expert who can act as DPO for a wide range of clients.
Who are you?
- You are a certified Data Protection Officer (CIPP/E or equivalent)
- You have at least 3 years of relevant experience in data protection law and/or information security
- You have a very good knowledge (at least level C1) of English and/or French; An official language certificate is a plus
- You are willing to work from our offices in Kortrijk, Tervuren, Antwerp or Ghent, as well as in-house at the customer’s premises
- You work with integrity, professionalism and motivation
- You can work independently, accurately and in a structured way
- You use a solution-oriented, no-nonsense approach
- You have an affinity with the business community and/or the public sector
- You function smoothly in a team
- You have excellent verbal and written communication skills
Job description
As a Legal & Compliance Consultant, you will take on a key role in independently managing your own portfolio of client files, which you will follow up from A to Z. You provide substantiated, solid and clearly formulated legal advice, always tailored to the specific needs, context and risks of the organisation involved.
You are responsible for editing and negotiating contracts, policies and procedures and defend your legal vision in a convincing and constructive manner towards the client, whose interests you represent. You analyse risks and liabilities and translate them into conclusive, contractually binding clauses.
In the event of (imminent) disputes, you act proactively and purposefully by drafting notices of default, conducting negotiations aimed at amicable settlements and closely monitoring and coordinating legal proceedings in collaboration with external lawyers. You conduct negotiations, bring them to a successful conclusion and ensure correct execution after signing, with special attention to deadlines and agreements.
In addition, you take on high-quality temporary in-house mandates with clients. You will build authentic and lasting relationships of trust and work closely with colleagues with complementary expertise to ensure excellent all-round service. Thanks to your expertise, commercial alertness and genuine curiosity, you detect opportunities and additional needs with new and existing customers, which you help translate into new assignments for IFORI. Finally, you actively contribute to the further growth of the team by managing, coaching and supervising junior colleagues.
What opportunities do you get?
As an experienced data protection & information security expert, you will independently manage your own portfolio of files. This will be phased according to your knowledge and experience. You report directly to and are in close consultation with the team lead compliance. In doing so, you will have the opportunity to manage entire trajectories from A to Z. An exciting challenge but also a responsibility.
You have direct contact with the customer and advise him in a substantiated, solid and clearly formulated manner with an eye for the specific needs of the organization involved that you get to know through and through. You are able to think and work tailored to the customer and advise the customers in that way. You know your clients personally and consider it important to develop a professional relationship with them and provide the necessary trust.
We offer a range of data protection services to our clients:
- GDPR Audits
- GDPR implementation projects
- DPO as a Service assignments
Collaboration pays off: together with your team lead, you take care of the exchange of ideas, knowledge transfer within the team and the development of a strategy for your customer(s). In addition, we attach great importance to teamwork: our unique combo of IP lawyers and ICT & privacy specialists guarantees you the multidisciplinary approach you will need to meet the specific needs of your clients.
A nice bonus: helping to expand the office commercially is a challenge that we all take on together and that – if you share those ambitions – can also be an exciting challenge for you.
Offer
A competitive salary in line with the market, in proportion to your experience, expertise and performance, supplemented with an attractive package of fringe benefits.
We offer an excellent work-life balance with a high degree of autonomy and trust: flexible working hours, structural working from home, working from our flex offices in Ghent, Kortrijk, Antwerp or Tervuren, and in-house with customers when this offers added value in terms of content.
You will find yourself in a warm, collegial and ambitious working environment where knowledge sharing, personal growth and continuous development are central. We challenge you to learn, take responsibility and push your limits.
Something for you?
Contact us with no obligation! The contact person for this vacancy is Maxime Westhof-Jacobs (maxime.westhof-jacobs@ifori.be & +32 470 78 76 15) or drop by at Victor Braeckmanlaan 107, 9040 Ghent.
Applications are, of course, treated confidentially.
Not quite a match? Check out our other vacancies … Or feel free to contact us spontaneously.