Description
Mastercard is seeking an experienced and commercially minded Senior Counsel, Regulatory & Privacy to serve as a trusted legal and regulatory advisor to Mastercard Payment Services Norway and Mastercard Payment Services Infrastructure Norway (collectively MPS Norway).
This role offers a unique opportunity to support one of Norway's most critical financial market infrastructures. At the centre of the role is the Norwegian Interbank Clearing System (NICS), a cornerstone of Norway's payment ecosystem that enables the secure and efficient movement of money between banks, businesses, and individuals across the country.
The successful candidate will provide strategic advice on regulatory, privacy, data governance, operational resilience, and payment systems matters, helping ensure Mastercard continues to meet its regulatory obligations while supporting innovation and business growth.
Responsibilities
- Provide legal and regulatory support on matters relating to:
+ Privacy and data protection + Payment data governance + Data sovereignty and localisation requirements + Artificial intelligence and emerging technology regulation
- Serve as a trusted advisor to business leaders on regulatory developments affecting payment systems, financial services, technology infrastructure, privacy, and data governance.
- Analyse new regulatory requirements and assess their impact on Mastercard's products, services, operations, and control environment.
- Provide practical, risk-based guidance on the implementation of regulatory change, including changes to processes, controls, governance, and business models.
- Support MPS Norway in relation to local national security regulation and related requirements applicable to critical infrastructure, including the EU Digital Operational Resilience Act (DORA).
- Partner with commercial and product teams to support strategic initiatives, product launches, and customer engagements.
- Provide regulatory and privacy advice in relation to commercial contracts, customer arrangements, and business opportunities.
- Support contract drafting, review, and negotiation as required.
- Work closely with Mastercard Payment Services teams across Norway, Denmark, and the wider organisation.
- Partner with Legal, Compliance, Risk, Privacy, Technology, Security, and Product functions to ensure consistent and coordinated regulatory support.
- Manage external counsel where appropriate and oversee the delivery of high-quality legal advice.
- Contribute to the ongoing development of Mastercard's Regulatory & Privacy function in Europe and globally.
Requirements
- Qualified lawyer with a law degree and the right to practise in Norway or a comparable legal qualification.
- Post-qualification experience gained within a leading law firm and/or in-house legal department.
- Fluent Norwegian and English, both written and spoken.
- Familiarity with privacy and data protection frameworks.
Preferred Experience
- Understanding of financial services regulation, e.g. operational resilience, outsourcing, technology risk, and third-party risk management requirements.
- Experience supporting commercial contracting and product launch activities.
Skills & Capabilities
- Strong strategic thinking combined with a pragmatic, commercial approach to problem solving.
- Excellent analytical, drafting, communication, and stakeholder management skills.
- Strong project management skills, including the ability to lead regulatory initiatives involving multiple stakeholders.
- Ability to manage competing priorities and work effectively in a fast-paced, evolving environment.
- Collaborative and relationship-oriented, with the confidence to work independently and exercise sound judgement on matters of significant importance.