Data Protection Lead

Job summary

Under the UK General Data Protection Regulation (UK GDPR), every public body that acts as a data controller or processes personal data is required to appoint a Data Protection Officer (DPO).

The Data Protection Officer’s team supports DWP in its mission to improve people’s day to day lives, helping them to build financial resilience and a more secure and prosperous future. We do this by applying effective and proportionate data protection, information rights, and information management practices that comply with legal requirements and enable the delivery of DWP and wider government objectives.

Job description

The successful candidate will be posted to one of four teams whose main responsibilities include but not limited to:

• Building strong working relationships with stakeholders, acting as the single point of contact for strategic activity, and leading teams to deliver objectives and continuous improvement.
• Developing, reviewing, and maintaining relevant policies, standards, guidance, and operational processes, ensuring they reflect legislative and ICO updates.
• Providing expert advice to the organisation on data protection, information rights, and information management, managing enquiries from citizens and staff.
• Ensuring that responses to data subject requests and complaints are handled consistently across DWP, providing clear guidance to operational teams.
• Leading training, communications, and awareness activity, maintaining accurate and accessible content on internal and external websites.
• Managing the DPIA process, assessing data protection risks, monitoring compliance and manage responses to potential or actual personal data breaches, including notifications to the ICO and affected individuals.
• Providing compliance reporting, assurance and governance updates to senior leaders and departmental boards.
• Delivering business management for the DPO function, including workforce planning, recruitment, service improvement, and support to senior leadership.
• Leading development and maintenance of information and records management policies, retention schedules, and corporate recordkeeping, including engagement with The National Archives.
• Managing the Department’s FOI function, ensuring legal compliance, providing strategic advice, overseeing complex cases, and representing DWP in Tribunal matters.

Person specification

The post-holder will need to demonstrate strong leadership, communication, analytical and stakeholder management skills, have the ability to operate within a complex environment, be able to brief senior leaders clearly and confidently, and lead a team to deliver a high-quality professional service.

Essential Criteria

• You have proven experience of working in a data protection, data privacy, information rights or information management role or a closely related and comparable profession, and have demonstrated the ability to identify, prioritise, and resolve issues promptly and effectively in a practical manner.
• Awareness of the legal and regulatory framework in which DWP operates, with experience of one or more of the following:

o Working in data protection, information management, or information rights.
o Data processing and sharing within the context of a legal framework.
o The Data Protection Act 2018 and the UK GDPR.
o The Freedom of Information Act 2000 and the Environmental Information Regulations 2004.
o The Public Records Act 1957 / 1958.

• You have strong people management skills, with the ability to co-ordinate the activities of others and inspire and motivate teams to be fully engaged in their work and dedicated to their role, ensuring they deliver to the highest professional and quality standards.
• You communicate with others in a clear, honest, and enthusiastic way in order to build trust. You can understand and explain complex issues clearly and provide direction for discussions on technical and procedural matters. You monitor the effectiveness of your own and team communications and take action to improve where necessary.
• You have proven experience of prioritising a large and varied workload, taking decisions under pressure on your own initiative and meet challenging deadlines to ensure the delivery of quality outcomes that meet customer needs and expectations.
• You encourage, recognise, and share innovative ideas from a diverse range of colleagues and stakeholders and create an environment where people feel safe to challenge and know their voice will be heard.
• You have the ability and willingness to obtain and maintain Security Check (SC) clearance.

Applicants are required to meet the UK residency requirements so that National Security Vetting (NSV) checks can be conducted.

You must have resided continuously in the UK for at least 3 of the last 5 years, 2 of which must have been the immediately preceding years from the point of applying for this job.

Behaviours

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

• Leadership
• Communicating and Influencing
• Making Effective Decisions
• Managing a Quality Service

Technical skills

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

• If you achieve an interview, candidates will be required to deliver a 5-minute technical presentation. Details of the topic will be issued ahead of the interview.

Benefits

Alongside your salary of £57,946, Department for Work and Pensions contributes £16,786 towards you being a member of the Civil Service Defined Benefit Pension scheme. Find out what benefits a Civil Service Pension provides.

DWP have a broad benefits package built around your work-life balance which includes:

• Working patterns to support work/life balance such as job sharing, term-time working, flexi-time and compressed hours.
• Generous annual leave – at least 23 days on entry, increasing up to 30 days over time (pro–rata for part time employees), plus 9 days public and privilege leave.
• Support for financial wellbeing, including interest-free season ticket loans for travel, a cycle to work scheme and an employee discount scheme.
• Health and wellbeing support including our Employee Assistance Programme for specialist advice and counselling and the opportunity to join HASSRA a first-class programme of competitions, activities and benefits for its members (subscription payable monthly).
• Family friendly policies including enhanced maternity and shared parental leave pay after 1 year’s continuous service.
• Funded learning and development to support progress in your role and career. This includes industry recognised qualifications and accreditations, coaching, mentoring and talent development programmes.
• An inclusive and diverse environment with opportunities to join professional and interpersonal networks including Women’s Network, National Race Network, National Disability Network (THRIVE) and many more.
• DWP Employee Benefits: Discover what we offer
• Buddion Gweithwyr y DWP: Darganfod beth rydym yn ei gynnig.

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, Strengths, Experience and Technical skills.

Application:

• Provide a CV covering work history, achievements in the role and qualifications.

• Personal Statement (maximum 1250 words) detailing how you meet the personal specification and essential criteria.

Interview:

Successful candidates will be invited to a interview. Candidates will be assessed on all 4 Behaviours and there may also be some Strength related questions.

Candidates will be required to deliver a 5-minute technical presentation at interview. Details of the topic will be issued ahead of the interview.

Further Information​

At the Department for Work and Pensions (DWP) we value diversity and inclusion and actively encourage and welcome applications from everyone, including those that are underrepresented in our workforce.

Find out more about working for DWP on the DWP Careers Hub.

Reserve List

A reserve list may be held for a period of 6 months from which further appointments can be made.

If you are placed on a reserve list but we cannot immediately offer you a post, please note:

• If you are later offered the role you applied for, in a location you have expressed a preference for, and you decline the offer or are unable to take up the post within a reasonable timeframe you will be withdrawn from the campaign and removed from the reserve list, other than in exceptional circumstances (e.g. a contractual Part Time Working Pattern cannot be accommodated in the initial role offered or in cases of serious ill health).
• If DWP makes an offer of an alternative role or location to that which you originally applied for, and you decline that offer, you will be able to remain on the reserve list.

Disability Confident Scheme

If high application volumes are received, the benchmark for candidates to proceed to the next stage may be raised. In line with our commitment to the Disability Confident Scheme (DCS), we aim to advance all candidates applying under the DCS who meet the minimum standard. However, we may only progress those candidates who best meet the required standards.

Reasonable Adjustments

We consider visible and non-visible disabilities, neurodiversity or learning differences, chronic medical conditions, or mental ill health. Examples include dyslexia, epilepsy, autism, chronic fatigue, or schizophrenia.

If you need a change to be made so that you can make your application, you should contact the Government Recruitment Service via DWPRecruitment.grs@cabinetoffice.gov.uk as soon as possible before the closing date to discuss your needs.

Complete the “Reasonable Adjustments” section in the “Additional requirements” page of your application form to tell us what changes or help you might need further on in the recruitment process. For instance, you may need wheelchair access at interview, or if you’re deaf, a Language Service Professional.

If you are experiencing accessibility problems with any attachments on this advert, please contact the email address in the 'Contact point for applicants' section.

Integrity, plagiarism and Civil Service Principles

The Civil Service values honesty and integrity and expects all candidates to abide by these principles.

Please ensure that all examples provided in your application are taken directly from your own experience and that you describe the examples in your own words.

Examples of plagiarism can include:

• Presenting the work, ideas and experience of others as your own
• Copying content or answers from an online or published source that is not your own

Disclosure and Barring Service and Internal Fraud Database Checks

In order to process applications without delay, we will be sending a Criminal Record Check to Disclosure and Barring Service/Disclosure Scotland on your behalf.

However, we recognise in exceptional circumstances some candidates will want to send their completed forms direct. If you will be doing this, please advise Government Recruitment Service of your intention by emailing Pre-EmploymentChecks.grs@cabinetoffice.gov.uk stating the job reference number in the subject heading.

For further information on the Disclosure Scotland confidential checking service telephone: the Disclosure Scotland Helpline on 0870 609 6006 and ask to speak to the operations manager in confidence, or email Info@disclosurescotland.co.uk

Applicants who are successful at interview will be, as part of pre-employment screening, subject to a check on the Internal Fraud Database (IFD). This check will provide information about employees who have been dismissed for fraud or dishonesty offences. This check also applies to employees who resign or otherwise leave before being dismissed for fraud or dishonesty had their employment continued. Any applicant’s details held on the IFD will be refused employment. A candidate is not eligible to apply for a role within the Civil Service if the application is made within a 5 year period following a dismissal for carrying out internal fraud against government.

If successful and transferring from another Government Department, a criminal record check will be carried out.

Important

New entrants are expected to join on the minimum of the pay band.

Before applying for this vacancy, current employees of DWP should check whether a successful application would result in changes to their terms & conditions of employment, e.g. mobility, pay, allowances. If you are a current employee and are successful you must be able to be released from your current post within four weeks.

Those on protected TUPE/ COSoP terms and conditions applying on promotion or voluntary permanent level move will adopt DWP’s Terms and Conditions and this may have a different impact on pay and allowances. Please review this prior to acceptance of a role.

Civil Servants that would transfer into DWP from other government organisations, following successful application, will assume DWP's terms & conditions of employment current on the day they are posted, unless DWP has stated otherwise in writing. Accepting a post will be taken to mean acceptance of revised terms & conditions.

Civil Servants applying on promotion will usually be appointed to the salary minimum or within 10% of existing salary.

Any move to DWP from another employer will mean you can no longer access childcare vouchers. This includes moves between government departments. You may, however, be eligible for other government schemes, including Tax Free Childcare. Determine your eligibility at the Childcare Choices Website.

For further information on National Security Vetting please visit the Demystifying Vetting website.

Feedback

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

Security

Successful candidates must undergo a criminal record check.Successful candidates must meet the security requirements before they can be appointed. The level of security needed is security check (opens in a new window).

See our vetting charter (opens in a new window).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.The Civil Service also offers a Redeployment Interview Scheme to civil servants who are at risk of redundancy, and who meet the minimum requirements for the advertised vacancy.

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 : Karen Andrews
• Email : karen.andrews@dwp.gov.uk

Recruitment team

• Email : dwprecruitment.grs@cabinetoffice.gov.uk

Further information

Appointment to the Civil Service is governed by the Civil Service Commission’s Recruitment Principles. If you feel your application has not been treated in accordance with these principles and you wish to make a complaint, you should in the first instance contact DWP by email: HR.BUSINESSASSURANCE@DWP.GOV.UK.
If you are not satisfied with the response you receive from the Department, you can contact the Civil Service Commission. Click here to visit the Civil Service Commission.

Attachments

CandidatePack Opens in new window (odp, 7096kB)CandidatePack_Welsh Opens in new window (odp, 7177kB)DWP Terms and Conditions January 2024 Opens in new window (docx, 17kB)Success-Profiles-Candidate-Overview-Accessible-Version Opens in new window (docx, 220kB)