Head Counsel, Sky

• UK or equivalent qualified lawyer with minimum 10 years’ experience advising on complex UK and EU data protection matters
• Deep expertise in GDPR, ePrivacy and strong familiarity with AI and wider digital regulatory frameworks
• Experience advising senior stakeholders on high-risk or strategically sensitive issues
• Strong regulatory judgment and the ability to articulate clear, defensible positions
• Experience designing or strengthening governance frameworks
• Commercial awareness and confidence operating in innovation-led environments
• A collaborative leadership style and commitment to operational partnership
• Have a positive, collaborative approach and enjoy working closely with team members, stakeholders and the wider Sky Legal community

Desirable

• This is a legal leadership role within Sky’s Group Data Privacy function. As one of two Head Counsels in the team, you will act as a principal legal authority on complex UK and EU data protection matters, ensuring Sky’s data strategy, commercial innovation and operational practices are underpinned by clear, defensible and strategically aligned legal frameworks
• Reporting to the Group Director – Data Protection & Privacy, you will lead the identification of applicable regulatory requirements alongside interpretation underpinning the Group’s privacy governance framework, supporting delivery of the enterprise strategy set by the Director
• You will combine deep technical expertise with sound judgment and commercial insight to lead on high-impact and emerging issues across data, AI and digital regulation, influencing strategy across Sky’s diverse products and services
• You will also provide strategic counsel on data privacy matters impacting our internal operations, including the deployment of AI in the workplace
• Full JD available upon request but below are some of the key responsibilities across these areas
• Provide authoritative interpretation of UK GDPR, EU GDPR, ePrivacy and emerging digital regulation in the context of data privacy rights, such as the EU AI Act and EU Omnibus Directive
• Provide pragmatic, risk-based legal advice on BAU matters and strategic commercial initiatives, including high-value transactions, partnerships and product development/launches, enabling the business to deliver growth in a compliant and commercially sound manner
• Take ownership of complex, high-risk and precedent-setting data protection issues. Deliver clear, defensible legal advice to senior stakeholders and governance forums. And deputise for the Group Director on strategic matters as required
• Support the Group Director with defining and maintaining the legal architecture underpinning Sky’s data governance operating model, ensuring that legal standards are clear, consistent and defensible across markets
• Oversee legal standards for DPIAs, LIAs, international transfers, retention, data sharing and high-risk processing
• Work collaboratively with the DPO & Group DP Operations lead to align legal risk frameworks with operational delivery
• Alongside the Data Privacy leadership team, define legal guardrails, escalation thresholds and risk tolerances
• Act as a senior legal partner to local market teams in Ireland and Italy
• Support an aligned and consistent application of the data protection framework across jurisdictions
• Provide balanced legal guidance that recognises both Group standards and local regulatory expectations
• Support EU-facing regulatory developments and cross-border consistency where required
• Lead legal readiness for the EU AI Act and other emerging digital regulation, operating within and supporting the Group’s AI governance framework
• Provide structured legal analysis of AI-enabled products, automated decision-making and data-driven innovation, working collaboratively with other members of the Legal team
• Provide senior legal oversight of consent frameworks and customer preference management
• Advise on digital advertising, adtech and data monetisation initiatives
• Support engagement with supervisory authorities including the ICO and DPC
• Oversee legal responses to investigations, regulatory queries and consultations
• As a member of the Group Data Privacy Leadership Team and the wider Legal Leadership Team, you will role model enterprise leadership and visibly champion Sky’s Values: being Welcoming, Creative, Simplifying and Doing the Right Thing. You will set the tone for an inclusive, high-performing culture across Data Privacy and Legal, where diverse perspectives are actively sought, innovation is encouraged, complexity is reduced and decisions are grounded in integrity. You will hold yourself and others accountable for creating an environment where our people feel empowered, supported and able to thrive
• Provide senior technical mentorship and coaching within the Data Privacy team
• Support the Group Director of Data Privacy, the Assistant General Counsel (Product, Technology, Data, Contentious and News), and the Group General Counsel in delivering the Legal department’s and the Data Privacy team’s objectives

• Just so you know: if your application is successful, we’ll ask you to complete a criminal record check. And depending on the role you have applied for and the nature of any convictions you may have, we might have to withdraw the offer