Head of Information Governance

Job summary

About the Electoral Commission

The Electoral Commission is the UK’s independent body overseeing elections and regulating political finance. Everything we do is about ensuring trust, participation, and integrity in the democratic process.

As we enter a bold new chapter under our five-year Corporate Plan, we are increasing our workforce and transforming how we plan and deliver core services. This post plays a central role in that journey.

Job description

About the role

We are seeking a strategic and authoritative leader to shape and deliver the Commission’s Information Governance (IG) strategy across the UK.

As Head of Information Governance, you will act as the Commission’s statutory Data Protection Officer, serving as the independent corporate authority on data protection, records management, Freedom of Information and information compliance. You will advise the Executive Team and Board level advising on enterprise risk, regulatory obligations and emerging threats in a fast-evolving environment.

Key responsibilities include:

• Developing and delivering a Commission-wide Information Governance strategy aligned to our Corporate Plan and risk framework

• Acting as the independent statutory Data Protection Officer under UK GDPR and the Data Protection Act 2018

• Serving as primary contact with the Information Commissioner’s Office

• Strengthening FOI performance, ensuring legally robust and proportionate responses in complex or high-profile cases

• Owning enterprise-level information governance risks and advising on regulatory, technological and reputational developments

• Embedding privacy-by-design safeguards within digital transformation, AI-enabled systems and data analytics initiatives

• Ensuring compliance with the Equality Act 2010 and Welsh Language Standards in the handling of personal and public information

• Leading and developing a professional IG function, building capability and driving continuous improvement

This is a high-impact leadership role with significant exposure to senior decision-makers and Commissioners. You will influence corporate direction while strengthening organisational resilience and safeguarding public trust.

About the team

The Information Governance function sits within Corporate Services and plays a critical role in protecting the Commission’s information assets and ensuring lawful, transparent and accountable use of data.

The team includes senior managers and specialist professionals responsible for data protection, records management, access to information and compliance activity across UK-wide and devolved operations.

There is a clear opportunity to:

• Strengthen organisational capability

• Improve FOI performance and maturity

• Shape the long-term structure and positioning of the function

• Embed best practice across digital and transformation programmes

You will join a collaborative leadership environment and work closely with the Executive Team, Senior Information Risk Owner, and senior colleagues across technology and corporate services.

Person specification

Who we’re looking for

We are looking for an experienced Information Governance leader who combines deep technical expertise with strong strategic judgement and influencing skills.

You will bring:

• Significant experience leading an Information Governance or Data Protection function within a complex organisation

• Experience acting as a statutory Data Protection Officer or equivalent senior role

• Demonstrable experience advising senior leadership on regulatory compliance and enterprise risk

• Experience managing professional teams and developing organisational capability

• Expert knowledge of UK GDPR, Data Protection Act 2018, FOIA, EIR and Public Records legislation

• Strong strategic thinking and the ability to influence senior stakeholders

• Excellent written and verbal communication skills, including experience handling regulatory correspondence

You will be comfortable operating at Board level, navigating complex and high-profile issues, and balancing compliance obligations with enabling innovation and effective information use.

Benefits

Alongside your salary of £71,618, The Electoral Commission contributes £20,747 towards you being a member of the Civil Service Defined Benefit Pension scheme. Find out what benefits a Civil Service Pension provides.

Why work for us?

This is a rare opportunity to shape information governance at the heart of the UK’s democratic infrastructure. As Head of Information Governance, you will influence strategic decision-making at Executive and Board level while strengthening the Commission’s resilience, transparency and public accountability. Your expertise will directly contribute to safeguarding public trust in how information is handled and protected.

You will lead governance in a context that is evolving rapidly, particularly as digital transformation and AI-enabled technologies become more prominent across public life. The role offers both strategic breadth and regulatory depth, enabling you to balance statutory compliance with enabling effective and innovative use of information.

We offer a strong total reward package, including:

• Flexible working and hybrid model (40% office minimum)
• 28 rising to 30 days annual leave + bank holidays
• Civil Service pension scheme (28.97% employer contribution)
• Study support for professional qualifications
• Ongoing learning and development opportunities
• Ride2Work, eye care vouchers and more

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

How to apply

We are committed to fair and inclusive recruitment. To help reduce unconscious bias and ensure all applicants are assessed solely on their skills, knowledge and experience, we use an anonymous recruitment process.

When applying, please provide an anonymised CV which omits your protected characteristics and any personally identifiable information:

Do not include:

• Your name, address, phone number, email or other contact details
• Your date of birth or age
• Gender, ethnicity, nationality or other personal identifiers
• A photo of yourself
• Educational dates (as these indicate age)
• Primary education details

Do include:

• Your employment history including employers and dates of employment
• Explanation for gaps in your history
• Your duties, responsibilities and achievements

If your CV contains personal details (such as your name or contact information), we will be unable to consider your application. Please double-check your documents before submitting, including the file name you use to save and upload your CV.

Supporting disabled applicants

The Electoral Commission is proud to be a Level 2 Disability Confident Employer. As part of this commitment, we aim to prioritise interviews for disabled applicants who meet the essential criteria listed in the job description.

There may, however, be occasions where it is not practicable or appropriate to interview all disabled applicants who meet the essential criteria. For example, during periods of exceptionally high application volumes or seasonal recruitment activity, the Commission may need to limit the overall number of interviews offered to both disabled and non-disabled applicants.

If you have a disability and would like to be considered under this commitment, please indicate this when you apply. We also welcome requests for reasonable adjustments at any stage of the recruitment process or within the workplace.

Key dates

• Application deadline: 24th March 2026 (23:59)
• Interviews (1st stage): 15th April 2026 TBC
• Interviews (2nd stage): 22nd April 2026TBC
• Anticipated start date: 4th August 2026

Applicants applying for a London-based role should expect to attend interviews in person. For applicants in devolved nations, interviews may be conducted virtually via Microsoft Teams.

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

Security

Successful candidates must undergo a 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

Please note this Post is NOT regulated by the Civil Service Commission.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

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 : Talent Acquisition Team
• Email : recruitment@electoralcommission.org.uk

Recruitment team

• Email : recruitment@electoralcommission.org.uk

Further information

Raising a Concern About the Recruitment Process

At the Electoral Commission, we are committed to delivering fair, inclusive, and transparent recruitment. Our recruitment practices are guided by Civil Service values and comply with the Equality Act 2010 and other relevant legislation.

If you have concerns about the way a recruitment process has been conducted, we encourage you to raise them with us.

How to Make a Complaint

If you are dissatisfied with any aspect of our recruitment process, you can contact us directly by email:

recruitment@electoralcommission.org.uk

Please include the following information:

The job title or reference number

A clear explanation of your concern

Any relevant supporting information

Your preferred contact details

We aim to respond to all complaints within two working days.

Our Commitment

All complaints are treated seriously and in confidence. They are handled in line with our Recruitment Policy and the relevant provisions of the Equality Act 2010, Employment Rights Act 1996, and the Data Protection Act 2018.

If you require this information in an alternative format, or need additional support, please contact us at recruitment@electoralcommission.org.uk or call 020 7271 0500.

https://www.electoralcommission.org.uk/working-us