Data Protection Specialist (Hybrid)

About the job

About Us

At Selective, we don't just insure uniquely, we employ uniqueness.

Selective is a midsized U.S. domestic property and casualty insurance company with a history of strong, consistent financial performance for nearly 100 years. Selective's unique position as both a leading insurance group and an employer of choice is recognized in a wide variety of awards and honors, including listing in Forbes Best Midsize Employers in 2025 and certification as a Great Place to Work® in 2025 for the sixth consecutive year.

Employees are empowered and encouraged to Be Uniquely You by being their true, unique selves and contributing their diverse talents, experiences, and perspectives to our shared success. Together, we are a high-performing team working to serve our customers responsibly by helping to mitigate loss, keep them safe, and restore their lives and businesses after an insured loss occurs.

Overview

The Data Protection Specialist leads the organization’s data protection strategy and operating direction across the full information lifecycle. This role is centered on protecting sensitive data through classification, labeling, data loss prevention, encryption, retention, monitoring, and governance practices across hybrid environments. The specialist partners with IT, data governance, privacy, legal, and business stakeholders to strengthen how data is identified, handled, protected, and monitored in alignment with enterprise priorities. The role provides strategic leadership, practical guidance, and subject matter expertise to shape data protection roadmaps, standards, and control patterns that improve resilience, reduce exposure, and support responsible data use. Experience with Microsoft-oriented platforms is valuable, but comparable experience with similar enterprise data protection and cloud security solutions is also highly relevant. This individual is expected to bring senior-level judgment, cross-functional influence, and a practical balance of strategic leadership, technical depth, and governance awareness to advance enterprise data protection maturity.

Responsibilities

• Lead enterprise data protection strategy across classification, labeling, data loss prevention, encryption, retention, and lifecycle governance in hybrid environments
• Define and mature data protection standards, reference architectures, and roadmaps aligned to business priorities, regulatory expectations, and risk reduction goals
• Serve as the senior subject matter expert for enterprise data protection capabilities across Microsoft 365, Azure, on-premises platforms, and comparable technology environments
• Lead evaluation, selection, and integration of data protection technologies, including DSPM, information protection, data loss prevention, and similar security capabilities across relevant platforms
• Drive enterprise practices for data minimization, masking, tokenization, anonymization, test data management, and secure data handling
• Partner with security, privacy, legal, governance, IT, and business stakeholders to improve data handling practices and communicate data risk clearly
• Establish metrics and reporting to measure control effectiveness, adoption, data protection coverage, and program maturity
• Promote least-privilege and access governance principles as they relate to sensitive data access, usage, and oversight
• Monitor emerging data protection risks, technologies, and industry practices to continuously evolve the program

Qualifications

• Advanced experience designing and implementing enterprise data protection capabilities, including DSPM, data classification, labeling, data loss prevention, encryption, and lifecycle controls
• Strong expertise with enterprise data protection and cloud security platforms. Experience with Microsoft Purview, Microsoft 365 Information Protection, and Azure data security services is highly valued, but comparable experience with similar solutions is also relevant
• Deep understanding of data lifecycle management, retention, records considerations, and governance requirements for sensitive information
• Hands-on knowledge of masking, tokenization, anonymization, and test data protection strategies across structured and unstructured data
• Ability to assess data exposure risks and translate them into practical control strategies, architecture guidance, and measurable improvements
• Strong working knowledge of privacy, regulatory, and data governance considerations that influence enterprise data protection programs
• Demonstrated ability to influence cross-functional stakeholders, communicate clearly with technical and business audiences, and operate effectively in regulated, matrixed environments

Preferred Qualifications

• Professional certifications in information security, privacy, cloud security, or data protection disciplines
• Experience supporting data protection programs in highly regulated industries or complex enterprise environments
• Direct experience with Microsoft security and data protection technologies is preferred, though experience with comparable enterprise platforms is also valuable
• Familiarity with automation or scripting used for data discovery, reporting, control validation, or operational support
• Exposure to legal, privacy, records management, or compliance collaboration models that shape enterprise data protection decisions
• Awareness of emerging data security technologies and modern governance practices that can further mature enterprise protection capabilities

Total Rewards

Selective Insurance offers a total rewards package that includes a competitive base salary, incentive plan eligibility at all levels, and a wide array of benefits designed to help you and your family stay healthy, achieve your financial goals, and balance the demands of your work and personal life. These benefits include comprehensive health care plans, retirement savings plan with company match, discounted Employee Stock Purchase Program, tuition assistance and reimbursement programs, and 20 days of paid time off. Additional details about our total rewards package can be found by visiting our benefits page.

The actual base salary is based on geographic location, and the range is representative of salaries for this role throughout Selective's footprint. Additional considerations include relevant education, qualifications, experience, skills, performance, and business needs.

Pay Range

USD $116,000.00 - USD $157,000.00 /Yr. Additional Information

*Selective is an Equal Employment Opportunity employer. That means we respect and value every individual’s unique opinions, beliefs, abilities, and perspectives. We are committed to promoting a welcoming culture that celebrates diverse talent, individual identity, different points of view and experiences – and empowers employees to contribute new ideas that support our continued and growing success. Building a highly engaged team is one of our core strategic imperatives, which we believe is enhanced by diversity, equity, and inclusion. We expect and encourage all employees and all of our business partners to embrace, practice, and monitor the attitudes, values, and goals of acceptance; address biases; and foster diversity of viewpoints and opinions.

For Massachusetts Applicants

It is unlawful in Massachusetts to require or administer a lie detector test as a condition of employment or continued employment. An employer who violates this law shall be subject to criminal penalties and civil liability.*