Head of Compliance & Data Governance – Senior Manager, Kia Europe GmbH, Frankfurt, Germany

Job Overview

Kia Europe GmbH is looking for a Senior Manager to head its Compliance & Data Governance function at the company’s European headquarters in Frankfurt am Main. The vacancy is full-time, senior level, and advertised as open to applicants of all genders.

The post-holder leads the European Data Governance & Compliance Team and supports equivalent staff in Kia’s National Sales Companies and other subsidiaries. Responsibilities span privacy law, corporate compliance programmes, internal investigations and company-wide training, making this a role that combines legal specialism with regional leadership.

EUJOBHUB publishes this summary for jobseekers looking for senior legal and compliance work in Germany. The vacancy itself is owned and managed by Kia Europe GmbH.

About the Role

The position sits within Kia Europe’s Legal Department and operates as a regional centre of gravity for data protection and compliance matters. The employer describes the job as a point of escalation for complex questions, a central contact for local Data Protection Officers across the region, and an adviser to senior executives on legal risk and regulatory change.

Kia Europe frames the Senior Manager level as leading and influencing through specialist advisory or commercial work, as well as through oversight of larger programmes made up of several projects. That includes shaping the medium-term plan, defining resourcing and KPIs, setting the team’s place within that plan on a horizon of up to twelve months, and coaching the team with a management style adapted to each individual.

Job Summary

Key Responsibilities

Leadership and strategic advice

• Lead and coordinate the European Data Governance & Compliance Team and take decisions on escalated, complex matters.
• Supervise and support compliance and data governance colleagues in National Sales Companies and other Kia subsidiaries.
• Serve as the central contact for local Data Protection Officers so that policies and legal frameworks are applied consistently.
• Harmonise legal strategies, templates and internal governance policies across the region.
• Advise senior executives and cross-functional teams on legal risk, business practice and regulatory questions.

Risk management

• Identify, assess and reduce legal, compliance and privacy risk across the region.
• Design risk-based compliance controls and track how they are implemented.
• Give early advice on emerging regulatory trends and business risks.

Data privacy and protection

• Oversee GDPR and wider EU privacy law compliance across all business units.
• Supervise local DPOs and keep their work aligned with corporate privacy policy.
• Maintain Records of Processing Activities and coordinate Data Protection Impact Assessments.
• Guide the business on data subject access requests, breach notification duties and international data transfers.
• Work with IT, cybersecurity and business stakeholders on data protection infrastructure.
• Ensure compliance with the ePrivacy Directive and developing digital regulation.

Compliance and internal controls

• Develop, roll out and monitor internal compliance policies across jurisdictions.
• Run regular compliance risk assessments and recommend remedial action.
• Oversee conflict-of-interest management, whistleblowing channels and non-retaliation enforcement.
• Manage compliance systems, reporting frameworks and internal investigations.
• Support local teams on compliance queries and strategic initiatives.

Training and awareness

• Design and deliver legal and compliance training across business units, covering anti-bribery and corruption, anti-harassment and anti-discrimination, anti-money laundering, the Code of Conduct for employees and third parties, conflicts of interest, whistleblowing policy, and data protection and AI.
• Lead awareness campaigns that build a culture of integrity and ethical business conduct.

Candidate Requirements

Education

• Qualified lawyer; bar admission in an EU jurisdiction is required.

Professional Experience

• More than eight years of post-qualification experience in a multinational corporation or a leading international law firm.
• Background in compliance work, internal investigations and international data transfer mechanisms.
• Experience supporting local subsidiaries or business units on data protection and regulatory compliance is treated as an advantage.

Technical Skills

• Detailed knowledge of GDPR, CCPA/CPRA and other major data privacy frameworks.
• Familiarity with the EU regulatory and digital compliance landscape, especially as it applies to data-driven sectors such as automotive, mobility and connected services.
• Commercial acumen, with the ability to convert legal requirements into pragmatic business solutions.

Language Skills

• Fluent written and spoken English; additional suitable languages are an advantage.

Other Qualifications

• Professional certifications such as CIPP/E, CIPP/US or CIPM are described as a strong asset.

Salary

Not publicly specified by the employer.

International Candidates

Candidates should independently verify work authorization, visa, and relocation requirements with the employer.

How to Apply

Applications go through Kia Europe’s online recruitment portal, with a LinkedIn application route offered alongside the standard form. The employer invites interested candidates to apply online. The original posting is available here: Head of Compliance & Data Governance – Senior Manager, Kia Europe GmbH.

Frequently Asked Questions

What seniority is this role?

It is advertised at Senior Manager level and requires more than eight years of post-qualification experience.

Does the role involve managing people?

Yes. The position leads the European Data Governance & Compliance Team and supervises compliance and data protection colleagues in Kia’s National Sales Companies and other subsidiaries.

Which privacy frameworks should candidates know?

The employer names GDPR and CCPA/CPRA, along with other major data privacy frameworks, plus the ePrivacy Directive and wider EU digital regulation.

Are privacy certifications necessary?

They are not listed as mandatory, but certifications such as CIPP/E, CIPP/US and CIPM are described as a strong asset.

Where would the successful candidate work?

At Kia’s European headquarters in Frankfurt am Main, Germany, with regional responsibility across Kia’s European entities.

Is the salary published?

No salary figure is given in the employer’s advertisement.

EUJOBHUB Disclaimer

EUJOBHUB is an independent jobs website. We are not a recruitment agency and we are not affiliated with, nor do we represent, Kia Europe GmbH. This article is an original editorial summary of a vacancy published by Kia Europe GmbH on its own careers portal. Applications, selection and all candidate communication are handled solely by the employer, and listing details may change or be withdrawn without notice. Please verify the current requirements on the employer’s official page before applying.