Deputy Data Protection Officer & Compliance Improvement Manager

Luton Borough Council

United Kingdom

Hybrid

Expires: Expiring in less than 4 weeks

Policy

Full time

About the job

Salary: £60,379 - £63,721 a year plus £3,203 car benefit allowance
Hours per week: 37
Contract type: Permanent

Ready to shape the future of digital governance at Luton Council?

Join us as our Deputy Data Protection Officer & Compliance Improvement Manager—a pivotal role driving our Digital 2040 Agenda. If you’re passionate about embedding a culture of accountability, leading strategic transformation, and ensuring robust data protection across all services, this is your chance to make a lasting impact in a forward-thinking organisation.

About the Job

Step into a pivotal leadership role at Luton Council.

We are looking for a moderniser for our data protection, Freedom of Information and Subject Access Request practice

As our Deputy Data Protection Officer & Compliance Improvement Manager, you’ll be at the heart of driving our Digital 2040 vision—ensuring council-wide compliance with UK GDPR and the Data Protection Act 2018, shaping policy, and embedding a culture of robust information governance.

You’ll lead on data protection performance, respond to subject access requests and data breaches, advise on reporting to the ICO, and deliver expert training across the organisation.

This is your opportunity to influence strategic transformation, guide cross-departmental initiatives, and represent Luton Council in regional and national forums—making a real impact on service delivery, risk management, and our community’s digital future.

Please note this role does not attract sponsorship.

About you

We’re seeking a proactive, influential leader with a passion for data protection and organisational improvement.

You’ll have a proven track record in:

Ensuring compliance with UK GDPR and the Data Protection Act 2018, with the ability to interpret legislation and turn compliance risks into actionable guidance.
Monitoring and reporting on data protection performance, using dashboards and analytics to drive service improvement.
Leading responses to Subject Access Requests (SARs), Freedom of Information (FOI), Environmental Information Regulations (EIR), and data breaches.
Drafting and updating data protection policies and procedures, and delivering engaging training on information governance.
Driving cross-departmental collaboration and representing organisations in external forums.
Supporting organisational change and audit readiness.
Strong team leadership and team management skills are essential to driving our efficiency agenda

You’ll bring:

Clear written and verbal communication skills for reports, policies, and training.
Strong judgement and independence, able to manage competing priorities and deadlines.
Integrity and confidentiality under pressure.
A deep understanding of UK GDPR, DPA 2018, FOI, EIR, and ICO procedures.
A degree or equivalent qualification in a relevant subject, plus a practitioner-level professional qualification.
Demonstrable knowledge of equality issues and legislation.

Experience in the public sector or local government, supporting audits and inspections, and evidence of continuous professional development are highly desirable.

If you’re ready to lead, influence, and make a real impact on Luton’s digital future, we want to hear from you.

Why Luton Council?

At Luton Council, we are committed to delivering excellent services that meet the needs of our diverse community. We believe our people are our greatest asset and we are dedicated to fostering a supportive and inclusive workplace.

In return, we offer:

A competitive salary and benefits package
Opportunities for professional development and career progression
Flexible working arrangements
A chance to make a real difference in the community

Apply Now

If you’re ready to take the next step in your career and want to be part of a forward-thinking local authority, we’d love to hear from you. You can reach out to our Project Lead, Joanne Cumper, to learn more, email her on joanne.cumper@luton.gov.uk and set up a call.

About us

Our ambitious Luton 2040 Vision – that no-one in Luton will have to live in poverty – is at the heart of everything we do. We recognise that our people are remarkable, talented, committed and passionate about serving our residents.

The people of Luton depend heavily on this council – and that means our workforce! Are you ready to realise the remarkable and help us deliver our vision?

We welcome applications from all sections of the community and are committed to developing a workforce that reflects the diversity of our borough

Application Process

Application Process

Please apply via the Luton Website providing an updated CV and Supporting Statement.

Closing date for applications is 1 February 26

Interviews will be held 11 February 26

On occasions, we may close a vacancy early due to a very high number of applications being received.

Benefits

We offer a range of excellent staff benefits which include:

- From 25 to 32 days’ annual leave: linked to length of service and grade
- Buying annual leave scheme: buy up to 20 days additional annual leave
- Career Pathways: step up in your career or move into a specialist area
- Pension scheme: with generous employer contributions of up to 20.2 per cent (at July 2023) and 3x salary death in service grant
- Generous relocation package: up to £8,000 (subject to eligibility)
- Employee Assistance Programme: a free, 24/7 confidential counselling and wellbeing support service available to all employees, their partner or spouse and dependent children over 16 still living at home
- Work/life balance: flexible working options including working from home where possible. We welcome requests for flexible working arrangements including part-time hours and alternative working patterns
- Training and support: unlimited access to development courses, mentoring and support and clear career pathways
- Staff offers: includes discounts on your MOT, gym and fitness, restaurants and salons
- Arriva Travel Club: great value savings on local bus travel

How to apply

We understand that job applications take time and effort, but a high-quality application shows that you are professional with a good attention to detail. The recruiting manager may receive a number of applications for each job advertised so you want yours to stand out!

Available documents

Attached documents are available under links. Clicking a document link will initialize its download.