InfoSec & Incident Response Counsel - USDS

Responsibilities
About the Team: The TikTok USDS Legal & Compliance team oversees legal, regulatory, and data protection matters for TikTok's U.S. Data Security operations. We work cross-functionally with technical and business stakeholders to tackle complex issues at the intersection of law, cybersecurity, and national security. We are seeking a senior counsel to lead our legal response to information security incidents and support broader security compliance initiatives. This attorney will work closely with our Product, Privacy, Security, and Public Policy teams to strengthen incident response readiness, ensure regulatory compliance, and safeguard user trust. In order to enhance collaboration and cross-functional partnerships, among other things, at this time, our organization follows a hybrid work schedule that requires employees to work in the office 3 days a week, or as directed by their manager/department. We regularly review our hybrid work model, and the specific requirements may change at any time. Responsibilities: - Serve as the lead attorney for information security incidents impacting USDS, coordinating legal response efforts across internal stakeholders and external partners. - Counsel internal teams through the full incident lifecycle-detection, investigation, containment, remediation, and post-incident review-with a focus on legal risk mitigation and regulatory exposure. - Oversee legal strategy for incident-related communications, including drafting and reviewing breach notifications to regulators and affected users. - Develop and maintain USDS-specific incident response playbooks and escalation pathways in collaboration with Security, Risk, and Executive teams. - Support and lead legal input for incident simulations, tabletop exercises, and after-action reviews. - Advise on privilege considerations and lead efforts to preserve and document incident-related evidence. - Monitor and interpret evolving U.S. and global cybersecurity regulations to inform compliance strategy and incident response protocols. - Partner with Product Legal, Security, and Procurement to identify and mitigate security risks in contracts, vendor engagements, and product design. - Deliver training to cross-functional teams on legal obligations and best practices related to incident response, regulatory reporting, and privilege. - Support integration of incident data and trends into broader compliance and risk management processes, including third-party risk, audits, and internal controls.
Qualifications
Minimum Qualifications - J.D. from an ABA-accredited law school - Active membership in good standing with a U.S. state bar - 5+ years of legal experience advising on information security or privacy issues, ideally within a technology company or fast-paced in-house environment - Experience leading legal response to security incidents and engaging with regulators on breach reporting obligations - Deep familiarity with U.S. cybersecurity and privacy laws (e.g., GLBA, COPPA, and CCPA/CPRA) and awareness of global frameworks (e.g., GDPR) - Demonstrated ability to work across time zones and functions, including Security, Compliance, and Trust and Safety teams - Strong writing and communication skills, particularly in high-pressure situations requiring precision, speed, and judgment Preferred Qualifications: - 5+ years of management experience in law firm or in-house roles supporting enterprise cybersecurity matters - Background in platform security, content moderation, or user-generated content risk - Experience with regulatory enforcement, audits, or litigation related to cybersecurity or privacy - Familiarity with technical concepts relevant to platform architecture, threat detection, and digital forensics - Ability to manage high-stakes, time-sensitive matters while balancing legal risk with practical considerations - Experience closely partnering with business stakeholders and operationalizing legal frameworks through playbooks, training, and controls
Job Information
(For Pay Transparency) Compensation Description (Annually) - Washington, DC
The base salary range for this position in the selected city is - annually.
Compensation may vary outside of this range depending on a number of factors, including a candidate's qualifications, skills, competencies and experience, and location. Base pay is one part of the Total Package that is provided to compensate and recognize employees for their work, and this role may be eligible for additional discretionary bonuses/incentives, and restricted stock units.
Benefits may vary depending on the nature of employment and the country work location. Employees have day one access to medical, dental, and vision insurance, a 401(k) savings plan with company match, paid parental leave, short-term and long-term disability coverage, life insurance, wellbeing benefits, among others. Employees also receive 10 paid holidays per year, 10 paid sick days per year and 17 days of Paid Personal Time (prorated upon hire with increasing accruals by tenure).
The Company reserves the right to modify or change these benefits programs at any time, with or without notice.
About USDS
TikTok is the leading destination for short-form mobile video. Our mission is to inspire creativity and bring joy. U.S. Data Security ("USDS") is a subsidiary of TikTok in the U.S. This new, security-first division was created to bring heightened focus and governance to our data protection policies and content assurance protocols to keep U.S. users safe. Our focus is on providing oversight and protection of the TikTok platform and U.S. user data, so millions of Americans can continue turning to TikTok to learn something new, earn a living, express themselves creatively, or be entertained. The teams within USDS that deliver on this commitment daily span across Trust & Safety, Security & Privacy, Engineering, User & Product Ops, Corporate Functions and more.
Data Security Statement
This role requires the ability to work with and support systems designed to protect sensitive data and information. As such, this role will be subject to strict national security-related screening.
Why Join Us
Inspiring creativity is at the core of TikTok's mission. Our innovative product is built to help people authentically express themselves, discover and connect - and our global, diverse teams make that possible. Together, we create value for our communities, inspire creativity and bring joy - a mission we work towards every day.
We strive to do great things with great people. We lead with curiosity, humility, and a desire to make impact in a rapidly growing tech company. Every challenge is an opportunity to learn and innovate as one team. We're resilient and embrace challenges as they come. By constantly iterating and fostering an "Always Day 1" mindset, we achieve meaningful breakthroughs for ourselves, our company, and our users. When we create and grow together, the possibilities are limitless. Join us.
Diversity & Inclusion
TikTok is committed to creating an inclusive space where employees are valued for their skills, experiences, and unique perspectives. Our platform connects people from across the globe and so does our workplace. At TikTok, our mission is to inspire creativity and bring joy. To achieve that goal, we are committed to celebrating our diverse voices and to creating an environment that reflects the many communities we reach. We are passionate about this and hope you are too.
USDS Reasonable Accommodation
USDS is committed to providing reasonable accommodations in our recruitment processes for candidates with disabilities, pregnancy, sincerely held religious beliefs or other reasons protected by applicable laws. If you need assistance or a reasonable accommodation, please reach out to us at