Senior Legal Counsel – Data Privacy & Compliance
Location: Dunstable, (LU5 5XE) hybrid working (3 days per week in the office)
Salary: £100,000 - £120,000 depending on experience, £5,650 car allowance, plus bonus up to 30%, pension matched to 10%, family health cover, sharesave scheme
Function: Legal
Reports To: Legal Director
About The Role
This role combines data privacy leadership with a broader compliance and AI governance remit, offering real variety and the opportunity to build sustainable, practical frameworks that enable the business to move forward with confidence. Roughly 60% of the role focuses on data protection, with the remaining 40% covering wider legal compliance, governance, and AI related matters. The role could suit a data protection specialist, or a general commercial or regulatory lawyer with demonstrable experience in data protection.
You’ll work closely with colleagues across Legal, Technology, Digital, HR and the wider business, acting as a trusted adviser and practical problem solver.
Flexible Working – The role is advertised as full time but we recognise different working styles and are open to conversations about alternative working patterns, including a 4‑day working week.
What You’ll Be Doing
Data Protection (UK led, with international exposure)
* Lead UK data protection compliance across the full consumer and employee data lifecycle
* Develop, maintain, and embed clear, workable data protection policies and governance frameworks
* Manage Whitbread’s relationship with its outsourced UK DPO
* Provide guidance and support to our teams in Ireland and Germany
* Oversee DPIAs, ROPAs, DSARs and data related disputes
* Advise on CRM, digital marketing, cookies and consent
* Draft and negotiate data processing and data sharing agreements
* Work closely with IT and digital teams to ensure privacy by design is built into new initiatives from the outset
AI, Compliance & Governance
* Act as legal subject matter expert on AI regulation and emerging legal developments
* Play an active role on Whitbread’s AI Governance Forum, supporting responsible and effective decision making
* Advise on AI governance frameworks, including oversight of AI use by third‑party suppliers
* Support the business to enable the safe, compliant, and ethical use of AI, balancing innovation with appropriate safeguards
* Govern code of conduct communications
* Manage competition law risk and provide training
* Maintain anti-bribery and corruption frameworks
* Support compliance reporting to the Audit Committee
What We’re Looking For
Qualifications
* Qualification as a lawyer with around 5+ years’ PQE
* Experience in UK data protection law (EU exposure helpful but not essential)
* Experience working with significant volumes of consumer and/or employee data (B2C experience important)
* An interest in, or exposure to, AI regulation and governance, and a willingness to stay close to emerging developments
* The ability to write clear, practical policies and guidance
* Confidence working with senior stakeholders in a complex organisation
Attributes
* Approachable, positive, and collaborative
* Comfortable taking ownership, while working closely with others
* Commercially minded and practical
* Curious about emerging technologies and how the law can enable responsible innovation
* Motivated by building things that last and make a real difference
Private practice or in‑house backgrounds are welcome.
Our Culture
At Whitbread, people matter – and that includes our lawyers. You’ll be joining a collegiate, pragmatic legal team that works closely with the business, values good judgement over bureaucracy, and gives its lawyers genuine autonomy.
Why Whitbread
* A FTSE 100 company with a strong heritage and clear values
* The largest hospitality company in the UK
* A Top Employer for 14 consecutive years
* Ranked #10 in the Stonewall Workplace Equality Index
* A Top 25 Exemplary Employer in the Investing in Ethnicity Parliamentary Matrix
We believe that everyone is unique and there should be no barriers to entry and no limits to ambition. We are committed to being an inclusive organisation that values diversity and welcomes your application whatever your background or situation. Under‑represented groups such as women, ethnic minorities, people with disabilities & members of the LGBTQIA+ community (those who identify as lesbian, gay, bi, trans and non‑binary or those who use a different LGBTQIA+ term), are strongly encouraged to build a career with us. Speak to us about workplace adjustments, part‑time and flexible working. Where possible we will support this.
Job ref: 138608-4492
Advertised: 06 Feb 2026
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