Data Protection Specialist

Job summary

Across government, digital and technology transformation is no longer simply an enabling function; it is central to how public bodies deliver better services, protect resilience, support policy outcomes and respond to the growing expectations of citizens, businesses and colleagues. Ofgem has a vital role in the UK’s energy system, protecting consumers and helping to enable a more secure, fair and sustainable energy future. As the organisation continues to evolve, our newly designed Digital, Data and Security Services (DDSS) team will be critical to how Ofgem modernises its services, strengthens its platforms and supports wider government priorities.

Ofgem is on an exciting transformational journey. Within DDSS, we are strengthening the foundations of both our entire function and all elements of our DDSS estate, building greater internal capability and creating the platforms, services and governance needed to support a modern regulator. In short, this is an opportunity to join Ofgem at a pivotal moment and help shape the next stage of its digital, data, security, and technology maturity.

About the role

Ofgem is seeking a highly capable and motivated Data Protection Specialist (Deputy Data Protection Officer) to play a critical role in safeguarding one of the UK’s most sensitive and complex data environments.

This role will be a senior specialist role working at the heart of Ofgem’s legal and regulatory framework, providing expert advice, overseeing data protection compliance and acting as a key interface across the organisation. You will not only have the opportunity to build your own focused and high performing team, but excel in operating in a fast paced, high demand regulatory environment. Your skills will support the DPO and senior security leadership, while engaging widely across business units, legal teams, delivery functions and government stakeholders.

Job description

Key responsibilities will include:

Legal & Advisory

• Provide expert legal advice on data protection matters across Ofgem, ensuring compliance with UK GDPR, Data Protection Act and related legislation
• Represent the organisation in handling legal and regulatory queries, including engagement with the Information Commissioner’s Office (ICO)
• Support preparation of submissions, reports, and returns to the Cabinet Office and central government bodies

Data Protection & Compliance Oversight

• Lead and support on data protection compliance activities, including:
• Ensure robust governance around highly sensitive datasets, including pricing and market sensitive information

Incident & Risk Management

• Oversee and advise on data breach management
• Support incident response and reporting, ensuring appropriate escalation and regulatory compliance
• Work closely with security teams to ensure alignment with risk mitigation strategies

Freedom of Information & Subject Access Requests

• Provide legal oversight and guidance on FOI requests and Subject Access Requests (SARs)
• Collaborate with FOI teams to ensure responses meet statutory requirements and timelines

Cross Organisation Collaboration

• Operate in a matrix management environment, working with:
• Provide input into project delivery to ensure privacy by design and compliance from the outset

Governance & Sign-Off

• Support the DPO and Deputy CISO in preparing materials for formal sign off and assurance processes
• Contribute to organisational policies and frameworks relating to data protection, AI and emerging technologies

What we are looking for

We’re looking for a highly analytical and resilient professional who thrives in a complex, high-volume regulatory setting. With a legal background (Law degree or equivalent experience), with the ability to interpret and apply data protection legislation. With strong experience in data protection, compliance or information governance.

The role requires strong independence, sound judgement and the ability to influence where no two days are the same, ranging from legal advisory and governance work to urgent incident response and high-profile FOI cases.

This is an opportunity to play a significant role in Ofgem’s journey, as part of a newly formed and high performing team that is shaping a critical government organisation at a time when its work has never been more important.

Person specification

Essential Criteria

• Experience of defining Data Protection incident management, incident investigation and response policy and/or incident management and investigation processes, procedures and systems (Lead Criteria)
• Experience in documented principles and guidelines for Data Protection Act, GDPR (Lead Criteria)
• Experience in using Data Leak Prevention tooling
• Applied knowledge of Data Protections, Freedom of Information and Cyber Security Regulations
• Certified Data Protection Foundation (GDPR)
• Law Degree or equivalent

Desirable Criteria

• Cyber security regulations

Behaviours

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

• Making Effective Decisions
• Working Together
• Delivering at Pace

Technical skills

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

• You will be asked to conduct a presentation during your interview. Details of the presentation will be included in the invitation to interview.

Benefits

Alongside your salary of £49,452, OFGEM contributes £14,326 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).Ofgem can offer you a comprehensive and competitive benefits package which includes; 30 days annual leave after 2 years; Excellent training and development opportunities; The opportunity to join the generous Civil Service pension which also includes a valuable range of benefits; hybrid working (currently 1 day a week in the office but this is kept under review), flexible working hours and family friendly policies. Plus lots of other benefits including clean and bright offices based centrally, engaged networks and teams and an opportunity to contribute to our ambitious and important targets of establishing a Net Zero energy system by 2050. This exciting blend of professional challenge and personal reward identifies career opportunities at Ofgem as something to get excited about.

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.

As part of your application, you will be asked to upload a 2-page copy of your CV and provide a 1250 word ‘personal statement’ evidencing how you meet the essential and desirable skills and capabilities listed in the role profile. Please ensure you demonstrate clearly, within your supporting statement, how you meet each of the criteria listed in the role profile. In the event of receiving a large number of applications, an initial sift may take place on just the lead criteria indicated in the essential criteria.

The personal information we have collected from you will be shared with Cifas who will use it to prevent fraud, other unlawful or dishonest conduct, malpractice, and other seriously improper conduct. If any of these are detected, you could be refused certain services or employment. Your personal information will also be used to verify your identity. Further details of how your information will be used by us and Cifas, and your data protection rights, can be found by [https://www.cifas.org.uk/fpn].

At Ofgem, we expect our staff to carry out their roles with honesty, fairness and openness. They should follow the Civil Service code and be free from any influence or bias. We are committed to making sure interests are recognised, declared and managed appropriately so that we can fulfil our duties as an energy regulator. Our Conflicts of Interest policy outlines the types of interests Ofgem staff must declare before onboarding, and the rules they must follow throughout employment so that we can clearly demonstrate that our decisions are not influenced by private interests.

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.The Civil Service welcomes applications from people who have recently left prison or have an unspent conviction. Read more about prison leaver recruitment (opens in new window).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 : Rob Johnson
• Email : robj@global-resourcing.com

Recruitment team

• Email : ofgem-cto@global-resourcing.com

Further information

Appointment to the Civil Service is governed by the Civil Service Commission’s Recruitment Principles. You have the right to complain if you feel there has been a breach of these Recruitment Principles.

In the first instance, you should raise the matter directly via recruitment@ofgem.gov.uk. If you are not satisfied with the response, you may bring your complaint to the Commission. For further information on bringing a complaint to the Civil Service Commission, please visit their website.

Follow link to apply

ofgem-cto@global-resourcing.com

Attachments

DDSS Candidate Pack, Data Protection Specialist - (468167) Opens in new window (pdf, 3646kB)DDSS Role Profile Data Protection Specialist (2B) Opens in new window (pdf, 117kB)Terms and Conditions Opens in new window (pdf, 335kB)

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