Senior Director, Chief Privacy Officer

Choice Hotels International • North Bethesda, MD

3d

About The Position

The Sr. Director, Chief Privacy Officer, serves as the strategic leader responsible for designing, advancing, and governing Choice Hotels’ global privacy program. This role safeguards the trust of guests, franchisees, associates, and partners by embedding privacy, responsible data handling, and regulatory compliance into business decision-making. The CPO partners closely with Legal, Technology, and business leaders to establish enterprise privacy strategy, oversee risk and compliance, and ensure consistent execution of data protection practices. This position leads a privacy team, drives cross-functional influence, and plays a key role in shaping organization-wide policies and standards.

Requirements

• Minimum 10 years of experience in privacy, data protection, compliance, or related regulatory leadership roles, including significant executivelevel and global exposure.
• Minimum 5 years of experience leading privacy or compliance teams, including at least 4 years working directly on privacy/data protection initiatives.
• Demonstrated experience advising senior leadership and influencing cross-functional teams, consistent with Senior Director-level management criteria.
• Proven success managing large-scale, concurrent initiatives and driving programs with enterprise impact.
• Deep knowledge of U.S. and international privacy laws and regulatory frameworks (e.g., GDPR, CCPA, global data transfer requirements).
• Understanding of technologies used to protect sensitive data and monitor compliance.
• Proficiency in privacy program governance, risk assessments, and third-party oversight tools.
• Excellent verbal, written, and interpersonal communication skills; strong stakeholder management capabilities.
• Strong analytical reasoning, problem-solving, and decision-making skills.
• Effective presentation, facilitation, organization, and project leadership skills.
• Ability to lead and motivate teams, drive accountability, and foster collaboration across all levels of the organization. (Senior Director-level competency)
• Ability to operate independently while navigating cross-functional environments and influencing diverse stakeholders.
• Bachelor’s degree required; graduate degree preferred or equivalent combination of education and work experience.

Nice To Haves

• Relevant certifications (e.g., CIPP, CIPM, CISSP) preferred.

Responsibilities

• Build, evolve, and oversee the enterprise privacy program in partnership with Legal, ensuring compliance with internal policies and external regulations such as GDPR, CCPA, and global data transfer requirements.
• Provide consultative guidance to technology and business units on privacy-related implications, data-handling practices, and solution design.
• Strategically partner with Legal to address and resolve privacy inquiries from both internal and external stakeholders, ensuring alignment with organizational objectives and regulatory standards.
• Monitor and evaluate business processes that collect, use, store, or share customer and employee information; recommend enhancements to reduce risk exposure.
• Direct internal and external privacy awareness and training initiatives to strengthen organizational accountability and compliance culture.
• Lead third-party privacy compliance activities, ensuring vendors meet contractual and regulatory obligations and embedding privacy into procurement practices.
• Ensure continuous compliance with evolving U.S. and international privacy laws by assessing regulatory changes and advising senior leadership on required updates.
• Serve as a senior risk advisor by conducting privacy risk assessments, communicating enterprise risk posture, and championing mitigation strategies.
• Provide leadership, direction, and development to the privacy team; establish goals, manage performance, and create a high-accountability, high-impact environment.
• Carry out supervisory responsibilities, including hiring, coaching, training, performance appraisal, and addressing employee concerns in accordance with organizational policies.

Benefits

• Competitive compensation and benefits, including medical, dental, and vision coverage
• Leave and paid time-off for holidays, vacation, personal, family, volunteer, sick, jury duty, bereavement, military, and religious observance
• Financial benefits for retirement and health savings
• Employee recognition programs
• Discounts at Choice hotels worldwide

What This Job Offers

• Job Type: Full-time
• Career Level: Senior