Senior Privacy Counsel

Coursera and Udemy have combined to create one of the world’s most comprehensive skills development platforms for the AI era. Coursera was launched in 2012 with a mission to provide universal access to world-class learning, partnering with leading universities and industry experts to offer courses, Specializations, Professional Certificates, and degrees. The platform’s AI-powered innovations—including personalized learning guides, role-based solutions, and tools like Role Play and Course Builder—enable scalable, verified learning experiences for institutions and learners globally.

About the role

Coursera is seeking a Senior Privacy Counsel to serve as a privacy subject-matter expert (with an initial focus on Udemy) to support compliance with global privacy laws. This role partners closely with Privacy, Product, Engineering, and Information Security teams to strengthen the combined company’s privacy program and embed privacy into products and services. The ideal candidate is passionate about education and business growth, thrives in a fast-paced global environment, and has strong communication and relationship-building skills.

Responsibilities

• Serve as the primary legal advisor on U.S. privacy laws, including federal and state frameworks (e.g., CCPA/CPRA), and provide guidance on global privacy laws such as EU/UK GDPR and key APAC/Latin American frameworks.
• Advise the business on legal and regulatory developments and their practical impact.
• Help develop, implement, and scale Coursera and Udemy’s global privacy program, including standardized privacy notices, internal policies, tools, processes, playbooks, and training.
• Support and advise stakeholders on complex privacy, AI, and cyber issues, delivering pragmatic, risk-based solutions aligned with global privacy laws.
• Investigate and manage security incidents involving personal information in collaboration with Engineering, InfoSec, and other stakeholders.
• Respond to requests and inquiries from individuals and privacy regulators.
• Act as a trusted advisor to senior leadership on privacy risk and strategy, and mentor members of the Privacy and broader Legal and Compliance teams.

Qualifications

• Juris Doctor (JD) from an accredited law school and active membership in at least one U.S. state bar.
• 8+ years of legal experience, including at least five years advising on privacy matters in a law firm, in-house legal department, or both.
• Demonstrated experience advising on U.S. privacy laws (e.g., CCPA/CPRA) and global frameworks (e.g., GDPR).
• Experience implementing and maintaining foundational aspects of a global privacy compliance program, including working with privacy compliance tools and developing internal processes.
• Proven ability to work autonomously, exercise sound judgment, and deliver practical, business-focused outcomes for complex privacy issues.
• Excellent written and verbal communication skills, with the ability to explain complex concepts clearly to stakeholders at all levels.

Nice to haves

• Prior in-house experience at a technology company serving users across consumer, enterprise, or education verticals in multiple international jurisdictions.
• Experience counseling global, cross-functional teams on privacy and AI, particularly in APAC and EMEA.
• Privacy certifications such as CIPP/US, CIPP/E, CIPM, or AIGP.
• Experience using and implementing privacy compliance software.

Pay

This role is available in U.S. Pay Zone 4: $152,000 – $190,000. Coursera offers competitive, zone-based pay aligned to location, experience, and role level across four U.S. pay zones. Total rewards include comprehensive health and wellness benefits, bonus and RSU equity programs, and global perks designed to support growth and well-being.

U.S. Pay Zones:
Zone 1: Bay Area
Zone 2: NYC and Seattle Metro
Zone 3: CA, WA, NY, NJ, CO, CT, DC, GA, IL, MA, MD, OR, RI, TX, VA
Zone 4: AK, AZ, DE, FL, HI, ID, IN, IA, KS, KY, MI, MN, MO, MT, NC, NV, NH, OH, OK, PA, SC, TN, UT, VT, WI

Benefits

Coursera’s total rewards package includes comprehensive health and wellness benefits, bonus and RSU equity programs, and global perks designed to help employees grow and thrive from anywhere.