Privacy Program Manager Jobs in Fremont, CA (NOW HIRING)

About Intuitive Surgical

It started with a simple idea: what if surgery could be less invasive and recovery less painful? Nearly 30 years later, that question still fuels everything we do at Intuitive. As a global leader in robotic-assisted surgery and minimally invasive care, our technologies, such as the da Vinci surgical system and Ion, have transformed how care is delivered to millions of patients worldwide.

We’re a team of engineers, clinicians, and innovators united by one purpose: to make surgery smarter, safer, and more human. Every day, our work helps care teams perform with greater precision and patients recover faster, improving outcomes around the world.

The problems we solve demand creativity, rigor, and collaboration. The work is challenging, but deeply meaningful—because every improvement we make has the potential to change a life.

If you’re ready to contribute to something bigger than yourself and help transform the future of healthcare, you’ll find your purpose here.

The Role

Reporting directly to the Vice President of Privacy and Data Protection (Legal and Operations), the Senior Director of Privacy & Data Protection serves as the second-in-command attorney of Intuitive's global Privacy & Data Protection function. This is a rare opportunity to join one of the world's leading privacy organizations and help shape the strategy, execution, and continued evolution of a sophisticated global privacy program at the forefront of healthcare innovation.

This leader will partner closely with the Vice President to lead a high-performing legal privacy team that advises the business on complex global privacy, data protection, and emerging AI issues, while helping scale the legal function to support Intuitive's continued global growth. Beyond serving as a subject matter expert, this individual will be a trusted strategic advisor, organizational leader, mentor, and cross-functional partner who helps drive thoughtful business decisions across the company.

The role offers exceptional breadth and visibility. The successful candidate will work closely with executive leadership and collaborate daily with Product, Engineering, Research, IT, Human Resources, Security, Marketing, Compliance, and other business leaders to solve novel legal and business challenges. The position combines deep privacy expertise with broad commercial judgment, providing the opportunity to influence product development, global business strategy, AI governance, data commercialization, and enterprise risk management.

This is an ideal opportunity for a collaborative, high-agency leader who enjoys building relationships, mentoring talented professionals, and operating in a fast-paced, intellectually rigorous environment where innovation, accountability, empathy, and teamwork are highly valued.

Responsibilities:

• Serve as a strategic deputy to the Vice President of Privacy & Data Protection, helping lead and evolve Intuitive's global privacy function.
• Partner with the Vice President on organizational leadership, strategic initiatives, team development, and operational excellence across the Privacy & Data Protection organization.
• Counsel executives, business leaders, managers, and cross-functional teams on complex matters in global privacy and data protection laws, AI governance, and digital innovation.
• Build trusted relationships across Product, Engineering, Research, Security, Human Resources, Marketing, IT, Compliance, and other business functions to enable innovation while appropriately managing legal risk.
• Identify strategic opportunities to strengthen and mature Intuitive's global privacy program and data protection framework.
• Advise business leaders on privacy and data protection risks and opportunities using practical, business-oriented, risk-based legal guidance.
• Guide the company's approach to emerging global privacy laws, AI regulation, and evolving regulatory expectations.
• Lead readiness efforts for new privacy and AI legislation across global jurisdictions.
• Advise on data strategy, data commercialization, licensing, and governance matters.
• Support complex data breach investigations, regulator inquiries, and enforcement matters.
• Provide strategic legal support for commercial transactions, including data licensing, research collaborations, M&A, and other sophisticated commercial agreements.
• Mentor, develop, and inspire members of the Privacy Legal team, helping cultivate future leaders while fostering an inclusive, collaborative, and high-performing culture.
• Lead cross-functional initiatives that advance the company's global privacy strategy and operational excellence.
• Manage outside counsel and internal legal resources to deliver high-quality, practical, and efficient legal advice.

Requirements:

• Juris Doctorate; membership in at least one U.S. Bar (eligibility for CA bar membership or registered in-house counsel).
• At least one IAPP or privacy certification.
• Minimum of thirteen years’ experience in global Data Privacy legal and compliance matters from both a law firm and an in-house environment.
• Additional experience in commercial, product, AI, IP, M&A, and others is a plus.
• Proven management and leadership experience.
• Extensive International privacy experience is a must; previous experience working with foreign counsel.
• Experience in the health care industry, including direct patient care, life sciences, academic medical research, and/or medical devices.
• Proven experience in identifying and managing privacy risks across multiple jurisdictions.
• Superior interpersonal skills for engaging closely with various executives, managers, employees, and employee teams, making and communicating difficult information/decisions, and inspiring excellence in others.
• Excellent writing, drawing, and oral communication skills; this includes the ability to communicate complex legal issues in clear, concise language, as well as characterize risks in actionable terms.
• Strong contract drafting and negotiation experience, including experience in business associate agreements and/or data protection agreements.
• Ability to assess, prioritize, and manage multiple tasks within a rapidly changing environment in compliance with resource and bandwidth constraints.
• Ability to independently plan, organize, and execute complex, highly strategic assignments involving multiple teams and individuals.
• Superior legal judgment and analytical skills to effectively resolve issues that involve competing priorities and high-level objectives.
• Management skills to effectively guide the work of others to ensure well-integrated, timely, high-quality, and within-budget deliverables.

Location:

• This position is based in Sunnyvale, CA or Peachtree, GA, with at least three days in the office per week.

Additional Information:

• Due to the nature of our business and the role, please note that Intuitive and/or your customer(s) may require that you show current proof of vaccination against certain diseases, including COVID-19. Details can vary by role.
• Intuitive is an Equal Opportunity Employer. We provide equal employment opportunities to all qualified applicants and employees, and prohibit discrimination and harassment of any type, without regard to race, sex, pregnancy, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, color, age, religion, protected veteran or disability status, genetic information or any other status protected under federal, state, or local applicable laws.
• Mandatory Notices
• U.S. Export Controls Disclaimer: In accordance with the U.S. Export Administration Regulations (15 CFR §743.13(b)), some roles at Intuitive Surgical may be subject to U.S. export controls for prospective employees who are nationals from countries currently on embargo or sanctions status.
• Certain information you provide as part of the application will be used for purposes of determining whether Intuitive Surgical will need to (i) obtain an export license from the U.S. Government on your behalf (note: the government’s licensing process can take 3 to 6+ months) or (ii) implement a Technology Control Plan (“TCP”) (note: typically adds 2 weeks to the hiring process).
• For any Intuitive role subject to export controls, final offers are contingent upon obtaining an approved export license and/or an executed TCP prior to the prospective employee’s start date, which may or may not be flexible, and within a timeframe that does not unreasonably impede the hiring need. If applicable, candidates will be notified and instructed on any requirements for these purposes.
• We will consider qualified applicants with arrest and conviction records for employment in accordance with fair chance laws.
• Compensation will be based primarily on the job level at which the role is filled and the candidate’s qualifications, consistent with applicable law.
• We provide market-competitive compensation packages, inclusive of base pay, incentives, benefits, and equity. It would not be typical for someone to be hired at the top end of the range for the role, as actual pay will be determined based on several factors, including experience, skills, and qualifications. The target compensation ranges are listed.

Compensation

• The salary range for this position in the U.S./Region 1 (California) is $265,000 - $375,000 and U.S./Region 2 (Georgia) is $238,500 - $337,500 per year + bonus + equity + benefits. A candidate’s salary is determined by various factors including, but not limited to, relevant work experience, skills, certifications, and location.

Intuitive Surgical has exclusively engaged Kerwin Associates to conduct this search. Any resumes sent directly to Intuitive Surgical will be forwarded to Kerwin Associates. If interested in this role, please contact Anne Kerwin Payne (anne@kerwin.com) and Danielle Ryan (danielle@kerwin.com) at Kerwin Associates.