Principal Corporate Counsel: Data Governance & Regulatory

Cisco•Atlanta, NC

2d•Hybrid

About The Position

Cisco is seeking a strategic, solutions-oriented legal counsel to advise on data governance, data risk management, and regulatory readiness. The role is part of Cisco’s Privacy and Data Regulatory Legal team, which partners with product, engineering, security, public policy, and business leaders to support the company’s global privacy and data governance compliance strategy. The team provides practical, risk-based legal guidance across Cisco’s technologies, services, and data-driven initiatives amid evolving regulations concerning privacy, data, AI, cross-border transfers, cybersecurity, and digital platforms. The counsel will interpret domestic and international laws and regulations, advise on enterprise data governance frameworks and controls, establish legal standards for data use and stewardship, and guide stakeholders on data-related risks and opportunities. The role also involves drafting and reviewing agreements and policies, operationalizing governance requirements with cross-functional teams, supporting regulatory inquiries and investigations, and working with Government Affairs on legislation and standards. Cisco describes the position as highly collaborative and globally connected. Members of the Legal organization at select locations generally follow a hybrid model with two in-office days per week, subject to limited exceptions.

Requirements

Juris Doctor and active bar membership.
At least 8 years of legal experience.
Deep expertise in privacy, cybersecurity, data governance, or technology transactions.
Experience with global privacy and data laws, including GDPR, CCPA/CPRA, and emerging AI regulations.
Experience in a large technology company, cloud company, telecom, SaaS, or cybersecurity business.
Experience leading cross-functional, enterprise-wide governance programs in a multinational technology company.
Familiarity with data and AI governance and responsible data use programs.

Nice To Haves

Professional certification in privacy or AI, such as IAPP CIPP/US, AIG, or CIPE.

Responsibilities

Interpret domestic and international laws and regulations concerning privacy, data protection, and AI governance, and provide specialized, actionable data advice.
Advise on enterprise data governance frameworks, standards, and controls.
Provide leadership and guidance on data classification, data lineage, and information lifecycle governance.
Counsel stakeholders on data classification, data inventories, data stewardship, data minimization, records retention, defensible deletion, and data access governance.
Establish legal standards for data sourcing, use, sharing, aggregation, deidentification, anonymization, and synthetic data initiatives.
Define governance requirements for critical data stewardship and accountability structures across the company.
Review and draft Data Processing Agreements, Data Sharing Agreements, AI-related contractual provisions, and privacy and security terms.
Partner with product, engineering, security, and compliance teams to operationalize governance requirements.
Develop guidelines and criteria for assessing legal risks associated with new uses of data in analytics, AI, agents, and machine learning.
Advise leadership on data-related risk, opportunity, and strategic data utilization initiatives.
Develop data policies, training, and governance guidance.
Lead responses to regulatory inquiries, audits, and investigations, and support litigation readiness.
Work with Government Affairs to influence data legislation, standards, and frameworks.

Benefits

Medical, dental, and vision insurance, subject to plan eligibility.
401(k) plan with a Cisco matching contribution.
Paid parental leave.
Short- and long-term disability coverage.
Basic life insurance.
Potential grants of Cisco restricted stock units, subject to continued employment and vesting terms.
10 paid holidays per full calendar year.
One floating holiday for non-exempt employees.
One paid day off for an employee’s birthday.
Paid year-end holiday shutdown.
Four paid days off for personal wellness, as determined by Cisco.
Non-exempt employees receive 16 days of paid vacation per full calendar year, accrued at 4.92 hours per pay period for full-time employees.
Exempt employees participate in a flexible vacation time-off program with no defined usage limit, subject to availability and business limitations.
80 hours of sick time off provided on hire and each January 1 thereafter, with up to 80 unused hours carried forward.
Additional paid time away may be requested for critical or emergency family-member issues.
Optional 10 paid volunteer days per full calendar year.
Annual bonuses may be available for non-sales roles, subject to Cisco policies.