4177 Head of Information Rights Unit

Job summary

Data and Geography Division sits within Digital, Data and Technology (DDaT) and plays a central role in enabling Welsh Government to use data, information and geographic evidence well. The division provides specialist leadership on data, geography, information rights, information governance and related professional standards. It works across Welsh Government and with partners to ensure that data and geographic information are managed, shared, protected and used responsibly, helping the organisation make better decisions for the people of Wales.

Job description

The role is the Head of the Welsh Government’s Information Rights Unit (IRU). The work of the unit is to ensure the Welsh Government meets its obligations and responsibilities as set out in the Information Rights and Data Protection legislation, specifically:

• The Data Protection Act 2018 (DPA)
• The UK General Data Protection Regulation 2018 (UK GDPR)
• The Data Use and Access Act 2025 (DUAA)
• The Freedom of Information Act 2000 (FOIA)
• The Environmental Information Regulations 2004 (EIR)
• The Privacy and Electronic Communications (EC Directive) Regulations 2003 (PECR)

This role is part of the Government Knowledge and Information Management (GKIM) profession. The profession brings together specialists who support the effective management, protection and use of information across Government.

As a Data Protection Practitioner, you will apply specialist knowledge to help Welsh Government understand and meet its legal obligations, manage privacy risks and maintain public trust. The role requires practical application of data protection expertise across operational, policy and governance contexts

Person specification

The role requires a thorough understanding of the Acts legal obligations as they apply to the Welsh Government, ensuring they are embedded in the business. The role requires being the primary lead and contact for:

• Drafting policy and guidance on Information Rights and Data Protection legislation
• Providing timely advice and guidance on the data protection legislation as it applies to Welsh Government policy, lawmaking and security
• Providing advice and guidance to officials on the handling of Freedom of Information (FOI) requests
• Providing advice and guidance to help WG teams comply with their statutory obligations under information management legislation and the Code of Practice
• Using expert knowledge of the Data Protection Act (DPA), UK General Data Protection Regulation (GPDR), Privacy and Electronic Communications Regulations (PECR), Law Enforcement Directive (LED), FOI Act (FOIA) and Environment Information Regulations (EIR) to steer sensitive or difficult requests to a conclusion, and provide quality assurance on the responses
• Providing advice and guidance to officials on the handling of complaints and internal reviews
• Line management of 2x EO Caseworkers
• Providing advice, guidance and mentorship to IRU team members in their roles and caseloads, ensuring consistency and quality of output
• Keeping abreast of changes to guidance, legislation and case law and ensuring Welsh Government guidance is updated to reflect these

Behaviours

We'll assess you against these behaviours during the selection process:

• Making Effective Decisions
• Communicating and Influencing
• Leadership

Technical skills

We'll assess you against these technical skills during the selection process:

• Detailed knowledge of Freedom of Information, Environmental Information Regulations and UK GDPR legislation, and the ability to apply legal requirements proportionately in complex operational situations

Benefits

Alongside your salary of £47,675, Welsh Government contributes £13,811 towards you being a member of the Civil Service Defined Benefit Pension scheme. Find out what benefits a Civil Service Pension provides (opens in a new window).

• Learning and development tailored to your role
• An environment with flexible working options
• A culture encouraging inclusion and diversity
• A Civil Service pension with an employer contribution of 28.97%

Things you need to know

Artificial intelligence

Artificial intelligence can be a useful tool to support your application, however, all examples and statements provided must be truthful, factually accurate and taken directly from your own experience. Where plagiarism has been identified (presenting the ideas and experiences of others, or generated by artificial intelligence, as your own) applications may be withdrawn and internal candidates may be subject to disciplinary action. Please see our candidate guidance (opens in a new window) for more information on appropriate and inappropriate use.

Selection process details

This vacancy is using Success Profiles (opens in a new window), and will assess your Behaviours, Experience and Technical skills.

• In the event of a large number of applications, an initial sift will be conducted against the assessment criterion: Technical
• A reserve list may be held for this opportunity. Any candidate who is successful in being offered a reserve status, will remain on the reserve list for 12 months.
• Candidates are required to submit a CV as part of their application, CV’s should be of a maximum of 2 sides detailing your work experience and qualifications – CV’s will be scored against experience 1 and 2.
• A presentation of 5 minutes covering the technical skills will be required as part of the interview. More information will be provided in the invitations to that stage. No powerpoint.
• This post will be part of the Knowledge and Information Management (KIM) profession.
• Hybrid working arrangements reflect the current Welsh Government expectation that postholders spend at least 40% of their working time either in a physical office location or meeting face to face with external stakeholders where this supports effective delivery, relationship management and service leadership. This requirement may change in line with future organisational needs.

Feedback will only be provided if you attend an interview or assessment.

Security

Successful candidates must undergo a basic (or equivalent) criminal record check.People working with government assets must complete baseline personnel security standard (opens in new window) checks.

Nationality requirements

This job is broadly open to the following groups:

• UK nationals
• nationals of the Republic of Ireland
• nationals of Commonwealth countries who have the right to work in the UK
• nationals of the EU, Switzerland, Norway, Iceland or Liechtenstein and family members of those nationalities with settled or pre-settled status under the European Union Settlement Scheme (EUSS) (opens in a new window)
• nationals of the EU, Switzerland, Norway, Iceland or Liechtenstein and family members of those nationalities who have made a valid application for settled or pre-settled status under the European Union Settlement Scheme (EUSS)
• individuals with limited leave to remain or indefinite leave to remain who were eligible to apply for EUSS on or before 31 December 2020
• Turkish nationals, and certain family members of Turkish nationals, who have accrued the right to work in the Civil Service

Further information on nationality requirements (opens in a new window)

Working for the Civil Service

The Civil Service Code (opens in a new window) sets out the standards of behaviour expected of civil servants.

We recruit by merit on the basis of fair and open competition, as outlined in the Civil Service Commission's recruitment principles (opens in a new window).The Civil Service embraces diversity and promotes equal opportunities. As such, we run a Disability Confident Scheme (DCS) for candidates with disabilities who meet the minimum selection criteria.

Diversity and Inclusion

The Civil Service is committed to attract, retain and invest in talent wherever it is found. To learn more please see theCivil Service People Plan (opens in a new window) and the Civil Service Diversity and Inclusion Strategy (opens in a new window).

Apply and further information

This vacancy is part of the Great Place to Work for Veterans (opens in a new window) initiative.Once this job has closed, the job advert will no longer be available. You may want to save a copy for your records.

Contact point for applicants

Job contact :

• Name : Data@gov.wales
• Email : Data@gov.wales

Recruitment team

• Email : ResourcingHub@gov.wales

Further information

We recruit by merit on the basis of fair and open competition. Please see the Civil Service Commission's recruitment principles on the Commission's website.

If you feel your application has not been treated in accordance with these principles and wish to make a complaint please email complaints@gov.wales. Please ensure that you refer to the vacancy reference number.

If you are not satisfied with the response you receive from the Welsh Government, you can contact the Civil Service Commission: info@csc.gov.uk.