Head of Data Protection and Compliance

Location: Come and join us in Hamburg or Berlin!

At Freenow, we are on a mission to empower smarter mobility decisions, helping people to move freely and cities to thrive. 

We are looking for a Head of Data Protection and Compliance to lead and oversee compliance and data protection efforts across multiple European markets. 

This central and strategic role requires a strong blend of legal expertise, business acumen, and risk management skills to ensure our operations comply with GDPR, CSRD, AI Act, DSA, and other industry regulations.

You will work closely with leadership, product, tech, operations, and external stakeholders to embed a strong compliance culture while supporting our business model, including our new autonomous driving business. Your work will include intensive collaboration with our shareholder Lyft, Inc. as well as support on M&A transactions. 

Are you ready for your next ride?

Please make sure to submit your CV in English

YOUR DAILY ADVENTURES WILL INCLUDE:

• Ensure compliance with data protection laws (B2C focus) and corporate compliance regulations.
• Architect and implement the comprehensive data protection and compliance setup required following the acquisition by the American company.
• Monitor, enhance, and develop the Compliance Management System (CMS) to effectively mitigate risks.
• Stay ahead of regulatory changes (e.g., GDPR, CSRD, AI Act, DSA, autonomous driving) and assess their business impact.
• Advise senior leadership on compliance risks, providing practical and strategic solutions.
• Develop and implement policies, internal controls, and best practices across multiple European markets and the US.
• Lead and oversee audits, risk assessments, and investigations related to compliance and data protection.
• Act as the primary point of contact for data protection and regulatory authorities.
• Design and deliver training programs to educate employees on compliance and ethical business conduct.
• Report on data protection and compliance issues and recommend changes.
• Collaborate cross-functionally with tech, product, people, and information security teams to integrate compliance into business operations.
• Lead and mentor the compliance and data protection team, fostering a culture of accountability and ethical decision-making.

TO BE SUCCESSFUL IN THIS ROLE:

• 8+ years of experience in compliance and data protection leadership, ideally in a tech-driven or regulated environment.
• Deep knowledge of European compliance frameworks, including GDPR, CSRD, AI Act.
• Proven experience in overseeing compliance and data protection across multiple markets.
• Experience with US compliance and privacy aspects is a plus. 
• Strong investigative and analytical skills, with the ability to assess risks and provide actionable insights.
• Exceptional communication and stakeholder management skills, with the ability to influence decision making.
• Hands-on approach, comfortable navigating ambiguity and implementing compliance strategies in an extremely fast-paced environment.
• Ability to multi-task, work independently, and collaborate effectively in a team.
• Ability to work with exceptional speed, managing high-pressure situations and tight deadlines while maintaining total accuracy.
• Professional certification (e.g., CCEP, CIPP/E, CIPM, AIGP or similar) is a plus.
• Fluency in English and German is required; an additional European language is a strong advantage.

BENEFITS & PERKS IN A NUTSHELL:

DIVERSITY, EQUITY & INCLUSION:

Freenow is an equal opportunity employer and we consider qualified applicants regardless of race, religion, national origin, gender, gender identity, sexual orientation, disability or age.
We want you to grow and evolve, bring your true self to work. 

ABOUT FREENOW:

We are Freenow, the European taxi app with the broadest multi-mobility offering, available in 9 markets and over 180 cities. Our app gives millions of passengers the freedom to move with a wide choice of services including taxis, private hire vehicles, carsharing, car rental, e-scooters, e-bikes, e-mopeds and public transport.Headquartered in Hamburg and led by our CEO Thomas Zimmermann, we are on a mission to make urban mobility more efficient, sustainable and inclusive.Since July 2025 we have been part of Lyft, a global mobility platform connecting riders and drivers for billions of rides across North America and Europe. Together we are building a more caring and connected world, creating new opportunities for innovation, growth and impact.