Knowledge and Information Management Lead and Data Protection Officer – The Fair Work Agency

Job summary

The Fair Work Agency (FWA) launches in April 2026 as part of the Government’s Plan to Make Work Pay, delivering the reforms introduced through the Employment Rights Act 2025. The FWA will bring together the enforcement of key employment rights into a single organisation, creating a clear, accessible place where workers and employers can get support, guidance and, when needed, action.

The Agency will oversee protections such as the National Minimum Wage, holiday pay, statutory sick pay, and wider safeguards against labour exploitation. With strong powers to inspect workplaces, review records and take action on behalf of workers, the FWA will play a central role in raising employment standards across the UK.

Joining us now means becoming part of an organisation as it is being built. You will help shape how the Agency operates, influence its culture, and contribute directly to improving fairness, compliance and outcomes for millions of workers and responsible employers across the UK.

Job description

This is a unique opportunity to join the Fair Work Agency at formation stage as our Knowledge and Information Management (KIM) Lead and Data Protection Officer (DPO). You will play a critical role in building the Agency’s information governance framework from the ground up, ensuring that knowledge, information and data are managed effectively, securely and in line with statutory requirements.

In this leadership role, you will set the strategic direction for knowledge and information management across the organisation, embedding best practice in records management, data governance, transparency and information rights.

In your capacity as Data Protection Officer, you will fulfil the statutory DPO role for the Agency, providing independent oversight and expert advice on data protection compliance, privacy risk and accountability. You will work closely with senior leaders to ensure the Agency meets its obligations under UK data protection legislation and relevant public sector standards.

Reporting to the Director of strategy and Impact (or equivalent), you will operate with a high degree of autonomy, influencing at senior levels and shaping organisational culture in relation to information stewardship, transparency and trust.

Part time working hours are available for this role. We can accept part time applicants who can commit to working a minimum of 30 hours over 4 days per week.

Key Responsibilities

Knowledge and Information Management Strategy

• Develop and implement a comprehensive Knowledge and Information Management strategy aligned to organisational priorities and Cabinet Office standards.
• Establish policies and frameworks covering records management, information lifecycle management, retention and disposal, and knowledge sharing.
• Embed effective information governance practices across operational and corporate functions.
• Overseeing the Freedom of Information Requests (FoIR) processes and associated escalations
• Lead the design and implementation of systems and controls to ensure accurate, accessible and secure information management.
• Promote a culture where knowledge is captured, shared and used to improve delivery and decision-making.

Data Protection Officer Responsibilities

• Act as the Agency’s designated Data Protection Officer in line with UK data protection legislation.
• Provide independent advice and oversight on compliance with data protection law, including UK GDPR and the Data Protection Act 2018.
• Monitor organisational compliance and report on data protection performance and risk to senior leadership.
• Advise on and review Data Protection Impact Assessments (DPIAs), high-risk processing and privacy by design approaches.
• Serve as the primary point of contact for the Information Commissioner’s Office (ICO) and for data subjects in relation to data protection matters.
• Oversee the management of personal data breaches, ensuring appropriate investigation, mitigation and reporting.

Information Rights and Transparency

• Lead the Agency’s approach to Freedom of Information (FOI), Subject Access Requests (SARs) and other information rights requests.
• Establish governance arrangements to ensure timely, compliant and high-quality responses.
• Provide strategic advice to senior leaders on transparency, reputational risk and public accountability.
• Monitor trends and risks in information rights handling and drive continuous improvement.

Risk, Assurance and Governance

• Identify and manage information and data-related risks, ensuring appropriate mitigations are in place.
• Develop and maintain information asset registers and support Information Asset Owners (IAOs) in fulfilling their responsibilities.
• Lead internal assurance activity and contribute to audit processes relating to information governance and data protection.
• Ensure alignment with wider departmental and cross-government standards and frameworks.

Leadership and Capability Building

• Provide visible leadership for knowledge, information and data governance across the Agency.
• Build capability by developing guidance, delivering training and supporting senior leaders to act as effective information stewards.
• Line manage and develop staff as required, fostering a high-performing and collaborative team culture.
• Influence at senior levels to ensure information governance is embedded in organisational design, policy and operational decision-making.

Person specification

Essential

The below criteria are essential and will be assessed at application stage;

• Significant experience leading knowledge and information management or information governance functions in a complex organisation.
• Strong working knowledge of UK data protection legislation and practical experience of applying it in an organisational setting.
• Experience of operating at a senior level, advising and influencing executive or board-level stakeholders.
• Demonstrable experience managing information risk and embedding governance frameworks.
• Experience overseeing information rights processes (e.g. FOI, SARs) and ensuring statutory compliance.
• Excellent analytical and communication skills, with the ability to translate complex legal and technical requirements into practical guidance.

Desirable

The below criteria are desirable only. These will not be assessed throughout the recruitment process, but will be used in the event of tied scores between candidates;

• Experience of formally holding or deputising as a Data Protection Officer.
• Professional qualification in data protection, information governance or records management (e.g. ISEB/CIPP/E or equivalent).
• Experience establishing KIM or information governance frameworks in a new or transforming organisation.
• Experience working within the Civil Service or wider public sector regulatory environment.

Behaviours

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

• Leadership
• Communicating and Influencing
• Making Effective Decisions

Benefits

Alongside your salary of £57,511, Department for Business and Trade contributes £16,660 towards you being a member of the Civil Service Defined Benefit Pension scheme. Find out what benefits a Civil Service Pension provides.

• Learning and development tailored to your role
• An environment with flexible working options
• A culture encouraging inclusion and diversity
• A Civil Service pension with an employer contribution of 28.97%

We recognise the challenges that people with (multiple) protected characteristics may experience on the job market and in their career progression. We are fully committed to being an inclusive employer and ensuring equal opportunities. We are keen to make our workforce as diverse as possible, and we hope to attract applications from underrepresented groups, including ethnic minorities, people with a disability, and people with gender diverse identities.

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 and Experience.

Interviews for this vacancy will be conducted virtually. We will, however, consider in-person interviews by exception.

Please ensure that you check your emails regularly as all updates from us will be sent to you this way.

To apply for this post, you will be asked to complete the following as part of the online application:

• A CV setting out your career history, with key responsibilities and achievements. Provide employment history that relates to the essential criteria, and that any gaps in employment history within the last 2 years are explained. The CV should not exceed more than 2 x A4 pages.
  
  
• A Personal Statement of up to 1000 words, explaining how you consider your personal skills, qualities and experience provide evidence of your suitability for the role in reference to the essential criteria.

Your application will be sifted against the Experience criteria of the Civil Service Success Profiles.

It is likely that the sift will take place 1-2 weeks after the closing date and interviews 3-5 weeks after the closing date, though this is subject to change.

We aim to sift both the CV and the Personal Statement but, in the event of a large number of applicants, an initial short sift may be conducted on the CV only. Candidates who pass the initial sift of the CV will either progressed to a full sift where the Personal Statement is then assessed, or progressed straight to further assessment/interview.

Candidates who pass the sift will be invited to interview, where we will assess you on the Success Profiles elements of Behaviours, Experience, and Strengths.

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

• Leadership
• Communicating and influencing
• Making effective decisions

As part of your interview, you will be asked to deliver a short presentation, details will be provided 5-days prior to your interview.

Reasonable Adjustments

We are committed to supporting candidates so they can perform at their best throughout the recruitment process. This includes making reasonable adjustments to our process. In order to request an adjustment:

Complete the ‘Assistance required’ section on the ‘Additional requirements’ page of your application form to tell us what changes or help you might need further on in the recruitment process.

Alternatively contact the Government Recruitment Service at DBTrecruitment.grs@cabinetoffice.gov.uk as soon as possible before the closing date to discuss your needs.

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

Please see attached Candidate Pack for further information on: Diversity and Inclusion; Benefits; Learning and Development; Working Patterns and what we deliver as a department.

Further Information:

• A reserve list may be held for a period of 12 months from which further appointments can be made. Reserve Lists will be for each location and appointments made in merit order based on location preferences.
• Any move to the Department for Business and Trade from another employer will mean you can no longer access childcare vouchers. This includes moves between government departments.
• The Department will not consider sponsoring a visa or issuing a Certificate of Sponsorship. We are unable to offer advice on any Visa and Immigration cases.
• New entrants are expected to join on the minimum of the pay band.
• 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. Any applicant who has 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.
• Terms and Conditions are attached. Please take time to read the document to determine how these may affect you.
• Please note – the successful candidate will be expected to remain in post for a minimum of 18 months before being released for another role.
• Candidates that do not quite meet the standard for this role may be offered a position at a lower grade.

In order to process applications without delay, we will be sending a Criminal Record Check to Disclosure and Barring Service /Disclosure Scotland/Access NI 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

For further information on the Access NI confidential checking service telephone: the Access NI Helpline on 0300 200 7888 and ask to speak to the operations manager in confidence, or email accessni@ani.x.gsi.gov.uk

Vetting

The requirement for SC clearance is to have been present in the UK for at least 3 of the last 5 years. Failure to meet the residency requirements will result in your security clearance application being rejected.

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.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 : ERD People Team
• Email : erdpeopleteam@businessandtrade.gov.uk

Recruitment team

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

Further information

Our recruitment process is underpinned by the principle of appointment on the basis of fair and open competition and appointment on merit, as outlined in the Civil Service Commissioners’ 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 DBT by email: Resourcing@businessandtrade.gov.uk.
If you are not satisfied with the response you receive, you can contact the Civil Service Commission, which regulates all Civil Service recruitment.
For further information on bringing a complaint to the Civil Service Commission please visit their web pages: Click here to visit Civil Service Commission/Complaints.

Attachments

DBT T&Cs 2025-08-18 Opens in new window (doc, 46kB)DBT candidate pack July 2024 (1) Opens in new window (pdf, 943kB)