At Leonid, we work with a wide range of companies hiring Chief Privacy Officers, Data Protection Officers, Privacy Managers, Analysts and legal counsel. Over the years, we’ve identified the key experiences and soft skills that consistently set the best privacy professionals apart.
If you’re hiring in this space, here’s what to look for beyond the CV.
✅ 1. Broad privacy fluency, not just regulatory knowledge
Yes, knowledge of the GDPR, CCPA or the AI Act is vital, but a great privacy hire goes further. They understand how privacy fits into the broader context of data governance, security, risk management and business strategy.
What to look for:
- Experience of collaborating with tech, legal and compliance teams
- Expertise in navigating overlapping frameworks (e.g., ISO 27001, NIST, etc.)
- A strong understanding of data life cycles and information architecture
✅ 2. Stakeholder management skills
Privacy professionals are constantly engaging with product teams, marketers, engineers, and senior leadership and often with conflicting priorities. The most effective candidates can translate legal or policy requirements into practical guidance and win buy-in from diverse stakeholders.
What to look for:
- Experience running privacy impact assessments (PIAs/DPIAs)
- Examples of cross-functional project leadership
- Communication skills that are clear, concise and audience-sensitive
✅ 3. Business acumen
Data privacy is no longer just a compliance issue, there’s reputation, trust and revenue at stake. The best privacy hires understand the commercial implications of their work and how to balance risk with opportunity.
What to look for:
- Time spent in business-facing or client advisory roles
- A track record of embedding privacy in product development or marketing
- Understanding of how privacy impacts brand, user experience, and trust
✅ 4. Adaptability in a fast-changing landscape
Privacy professionals must stay on top of rapidly changing global laws, technologies (AI, biometrics, tracking tools) and digital business models. Those who succeed tend to be lifelong learners; curious and quick to adapt.
What to look for:
- Ongoing CPD (e.g., IAPP certifications, privacy communities, legal updates)
- Experience adapting to new tools (e.g., OneTrust, TrustArc, BigID)
- Insight into upcoming regulatory changes and their implications
✅ 5. Cultural fit and personal integrity
Given the ethical dimension of privacy, organisations increasingly want professionals who not only know the rules but who also demonstrably believe in the principles of transparency, fairness and accountability.
What to look for:
- Examples of raising or resolving ethical concerns
- Experience fostering a “privacy by design” culture
- A values-driven mindset
Hiring for data privacy isn't just about ticking technical boxes. It’s about finding individuals who can navigate complexity, influence others and most crucially, act as trusted advisors across the business.
At Leonid, we help organisations build privacy teams that are confident, forward-thinking and capable of leading in the digital age. If you’d like to find out more about current trends in the data privacy hiring market, please get in touch with Phil Redhead for an informal chat.
