Investigation Support Officer

Information Commissioner's Office

Wilmslow SK9 5AF, UK

Hybrid

Expires: Expiring in less than 3 weeks

Administration

Full time

£27,785 - £31,137 per year

Job summary

Investigation Support Officer

Fixed term until end November 2026

Full time / Part time

Salary: £27,785 - £31,137, with potential for further progression to £35,061pa with our pay progression scheme.

Location: Hybrid

Contracted to our Wilmslow office, however, we offer flexible home and office-based working opportunities. There will be times when you will be expected to attend the office to collaborate with colleagues or travel due to business need. Please note, from Autumn 2026 our head office will relocate from Wilmslow to Manchester city centre.

Why work for the ICO?

Pay progression scheme.
Hybrid and flexible working options.
25 days paid holiday per year, plus privilege and public holidays.
Flexi leave (up to 26 additional days leave per year).
Pension
Online discount scheme to save money at major supermarkets, retailers, gyms, restaurants, insurance providers and many more.
Health Cash Plan.
Fantastic development opportunities to learn and progress.

Further details can be found on the benefits section of our website

Job description

The Investigations department take risk-based, proportionate and effective regulatory action under the Data Protection Act (DPA), General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR) and Privacy and Electronic Communications Regulations (PECR).

The Information Commissioner’s Office (ICO) is the independent regulator of information rights. In a data-driven world, we provide advice, guidance, and support to organisations enabling compliance with their obligations, as well as protecting individuals and their personal data.

As an employer, we are passionate about making a positive difference to the lives and careers of our people, and we empower you to be curious, impactful, collaborative and respectful.

Job description

As the Investigation Support Officer you will primarily be responsible for providing support to teams across the directorate, with a particular focus on the privacy and digital marketing investigation team. This team has responsibility for investigations targeting individuals and organisations causing harm to the general public through nuisance calls and messages.

The role of Investigation Support Officer is varied and you will be responsible for a wide range of duties required to support the work of all members of the investigation team in order to help with the achievement of ICO objectives.

Key responsibilities:

To provide general investigative and administrative support for the core functions of the Investigation teams, including through project and case planning, case research and enquiries, preparing requests for information from third parties, analysis of data, and assisting with preparation for operational activity such as the execution of search warrants.
Administer the case management systems and conduct Quality Assurance activities ensure records, access controls and supporting policies meet agreed quality standards and are up to date.
To act as Directorate Secretariat providing support to ICO Senior Management, Private Office and Team Management.
To assist team management through the development and drafting of case specific briefings, reports and through the compilation of timely and accurate management information.
Act as secretariat and minute taker for high profile meetings, including regulatory action meetings and those held with external stakeholders including law enforcement agencies and other regulatory bodies.
Provide good customer service to all parties, managing expectations sensitively and communicating clearly, regularly and at an appropriate level, in writing, face to face and over the telephone.
Develop and maintain up to date knowledge of relevant UK legislation particularly the Data Protection Act (DPA), General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR) and Privacy and Electronic Communications Regulations (PECR).

Person specification

Essential criteria assessed at application stage:

Experience relevant to the role requirements, as described in the role responsibilities and person specification, and accumulated through any combination of academic or vocational qualifications or experience.
Experience of applying DPA, GDPR or similarly complex legislation (also measured at interview).
Excellent intellectual ability in order to be able to analyse complex legislation and to apply it to particular cases, and to understand the business of organisations across the public sector (also measured at interview).
Strong interpersonal skills, including the ability to negotiate and maintain good relationships with officials in all areas of public life; (also measured at interview).

Essential criteria assessed during interview:

Ability to rapidly assimilate and digest large volumes of information.
Ability to prepare/present briefings/reports. Production of statistics, management information, charts etc.
Ability to work under pressure, manage actions and activity and prioritise key work-streams.
Good judgement and ability to take high profile decisions.
Strong communication skills including excellent written skills.

Equality, diversity, and inclusion

The ICO is committed to promoting and enhancing equality, diversity, and inclusion. We are focused on developing a workforce that is representative of the communities we serve and together we are building an inclusive workplace where all of our colleagues have the opportunity to make a real difference. We are championing this through our Equality Diversity and Inclusion Board together with a number of staff networks. Read more about our commitment on our website.

Candidates with a disability who meet the minimum criteria for this vacancy will be invited to interview as part of the ICO’s commitment to the Disability Confident Scheme.

As part of the ICO’s commitment to our EDI objectives and creating a workplace that represents the communities and societies we serve, we guarantee an interview to candidates who declare they identify as belonging from an ethnic minority background and who meet the minimum criteria for this vacancy

If you are disabled or have an impairment and require an alternative application method, please email the HR team at recruitment@ico.org.uk

Benefits

Alongside your salary of £27,785, Information Commissioner's Office contributes £8,049 towards you being a member of the Civil Service Defined Benefit Pension scheme. Find out what benefits a Civil Service Pension provides.Please visit ico.jobs for full details, including salary and benefits.

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

Please submit your CV by 23:59, 8 February.

We may close this vacancy early if we receive a high volume of applications. To ensure your application is considered, we encourage you to apply as soon as possible. If you require any reasonable adjustments to support your application, please contact us at recruitment@ico.org.uk.

In the event of a high volume of applications, we may not be able to invite all candidates who meet the minimum criteria to interview. However, we encourage you stay in touch and apply for future roles that match your interests.

All candidates who meet the minimum criteria and apply in-line with our guaranteed interview scheme for disabled and ethnic minority applicants will be interviewed.

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.

Medical

Successful candidates will be expected to have a medical.

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

Salary range

£27,785 - £31,137 per year