Senior Associate/Privacy Specialist (Forensic Services practice)

About Charles River Associates

CRA is a leading global consulting firm that provides independent economic and financial analysis behind litigation matters, guides businesses through critical strategy and operational issues to become more profitable, and advises governments on the economic impact of policies and regulations. Our two main services – economic and management consulting – are delivered by practice groups that focus on specific areas of expertise or industries. Click here to learn how CRA can help you launch your career.

Position Overview

CRA’s Forensic Services practice supports companies’ commitment to integrity by assisting them and their counsel in independently responding to allegations of fraud, waste, abuse, misconduct, and non-compliance. We are noted for deploying cross-trained teams of forensic professionals to assist our clients in gaining deeper insights and greater value more quickly. We provide accounting and forensic services as well as cybercrime investigation services.

As a Senior Associate Privacy Specialist, you will help clients assess, design, and implement privacy programs that align with global data protection regulations and client business objectives. You will contribute technical and regulatory expertise across consulting engagements, with a focus on practical, build-centric solutions that integrate privacy into product and data workflows. You will also help define internal tools, frameworks, and client deliverables, serving as a key link between project work streams.

Your responsibilities as a Senior Associate may include (but are not limited to): 

• Advise clients on the design and implementation of privacy controls, privacy-by-design practices, AI use case governance, and data protection strategies.
• Perform privacy and data protection assessments based on industry-standards and established compliance frameworks (CCPA/CPRA, GDPR, HIPAA, NIST, etc.)
• Translate regulatory requirements into clear technical and operational specifications.
• Support internal and external privacy program builds, including policy design, process automation, and system integration.
• Conduct privacy impact assessments, data flow audits, and risk analysis across digital and technical ecosystems.
• Partner across engineering, legal, and product teams to develop scalable, compliant solutions.
• Assist in the development of reusable templates, internal guidance, and frameworks that improve delivery efficiency.
• Support implementation of industry-standard privacy and data protection management technologies (e.g. OneTrust, TrustArc, Securiti.ai)
• Participate in client meetings, working sessions, and the drafting of reports, strategy decks, and presentations.
  

Desired Qualifications

• Bachelor’s or Master’s degree in Computer Science, Information Systems, Law, Public Policy, or a related field.
• 5 – 7+ years of experience in privacy, data protection, or compliance, ideally within consulting, tech, or legal environments.
• Strong understanding of U.S privacy regulations and common technical mitigation approaches.
• Demonstrated experience supporting or leading the buildout of privacy programs or technical privacy solutions.
• Familiarity with tools and frameworks such as data inventory systems, consent management platforms, and privacy-enhancing technologies.
• Ability to communicate complex issues to technical and non-technical audiences.
• Excellent written and verbal communication skills; experience drafting documentation for legal, product, or engineering stakeholders.
• Collaborative mindset with the ability to work across teams and delegate work to internal and external contributors as needed.
• Demonstrated ability to thrive in fast-paced environments with a mix of strategic thinking and hands-on execution.

To Apply

To be considered for a position in the United States, we require the following:

• Resume – please include current address, personal email and telephone number;

If you are interested in applying for one of our international locations, please visit our Careers site to view and apply for available jobs.

Work Location Flexibility

CRA creates a work environment that enables our colleagues to benefit from being together in the office to best deliver on our promise of career growth, mentorship and inclusivity. At the same time, we recognize that individuals realize a range of benefits when working from home periodically. We currently expect that individuals spend at least 3 to 4 days a week working in the office (which may include traveling to another CRA office or to client meetings), with specific days determined in coordination with your practice or team.

Our Commitment to Equal Employment Opportunity

Charles River Associates is an equal opportunity employer (EOE). All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, national origin, age, disability, status as a protected veteran, or any other protected characteristic under applicable law.

Salary and other compensation

A good-faith estimate of the annual base salary range for this position is $130,000 - $152,500. Stating pay within this range may vary based on factors such as education level, experience, skills, geographic location, market conditions, and other qualifications of the successful candidate. This position may be eligible for additional bonus incentive compensation.

CRA offers a comprehensive benefits package, subject to eligibility requirements, which may include: medical, dental, and vision insurance; 401(k) retirement plan with employer match; life and disability insurance; paid time off (vacation, sick leave, holidays); paid parental leave; wellness programs and employee assistance resources; and commuter benefits.