Senior Information Rights Advisor

Job summary

Do you thrive on solving complex information rights challenges?

Can you provide trusted, pragmatic, risk based advice that shapes decisions?

Would you like to help build a culture of transparency, compliance and accountability?

If so, we’d love to hear from you!

This is an exciting time to join the Digital, Information and Security Directorate within the Department for Transport as we restructure our directorate to ensure we are ready for future challenges, building a more sustainable, skilled and in-house capability.

Protect information. Influence decisions. Build public trust. Play a leading role in data protection, information rights and transparency across the Department for Transport. In this influential position, you'll use your expertise to shape policy, manage risk, drive compliance and help ensure the highest standards of information governance across the organisation.

Joining our department comes with many benefits, including:

• Employer pension contribution of 28.97% of your salary. Read more about Civil Service Pensions here

• 25 days annual leave, increasing by 1 day each year of service (up to a maximum of 30 days annual leave), plus 8 bank holidays a privilege day for the King’s birthday

• Flexible working options where we encourage a great work-life balance.

Read more in the Benefits section below!

Find out more about what it's like working at Department for Transport Central - Department for Transport Careers

Job description

As a Senior Information Rights Advisor, you will play a key role in helping the Department for Transport manage information responsibly, transparently and in compliance with its legal obligations. Working within the Protect Service Line, you will provide expert advice on data protection, Freedom of Information (FOI) and wider information rights matters, helping to safeguard information and reduce organisational risk.

Working closely with colleagues across the Department, you will support the Data Protection Officer by advising on Data Protection Impact Assessments (DPIAs), data sharing agreements, privacy notices, overseas transfers, contracts and data breaches. You will champion data protection by design, ensuring compliance requirements are embedded into projects and services from the outset.

You will also lead on complex FOI cases, complaints and reviews, working with senior stakeholders, legal advisers and regulators to deliver high-quality outcomes. Alongside this, you will develop guidance and training materials and delivery training to promote best practice and strengthen compliance across the organisation.

This is an excellent opportunity for an information rights professional looking to influence decision-making, lead a team, and help build a culture of transparency, accountability and trust across DfT.

Your responsibilities will include, but aren’t limited to:

• Supporting the Data Protection Officer in carrying out their statutory tasks by providing expert, timely, risk-based advice to business areas and risk owners on DPIAs, privacy notices, data sharing, data processing contracts, overseas transfers and all other aspects of data protection compliance.
• Being an enthusiastic advocate for data protection by design and default and proactively engaging with project teams to ensure that data protection requirements are factored into the design of new solutions at the earliest stages.
• Managing the timely maintenance of departmental records to ensure compliance with our accountability obligations.
• Risk-assessing, recording and escalating data breaches, advising the business on steps to contain the breach and reduce the impact and likelihood of a recurrence.
• Taking steps to maintain your own expert knowledge of data protection and/or FOI legislation and developing the expertise and capability of your team.

For further information on the role, please read the role profile. Please note that the role profile is for information purposes only - whilst all elements are relevant to the role, they may not all be assessed during the recruitment process. This job advert will detail exactly what will be assessed during the recruitment process.

Person specification

Essential qualifications/certifications:

1. You will have successfully obtained an industry-recognised Data Protection Practitioners Certificate
2. You will have or be prepared to undertake a Freedom of Information practitioner certificate qualification.

You will be required to provide evidence that you hold any essential qualifications/certifications at some point during the recruitment process. If you cannot provide evidence, your application will be withdrawn.

To be successful in this role you will need to have the following experience:

• Expert knowledge and practical experience of data protection law and practices.
• Experience of identifying, assessing and mitigating compliance risks
• Independently leading a small team to deliver at pace.
• Excellent communicator to a range of stakeholders at all levels of seniority with an eye for detail who can support their teams to handle and advise on complex issues.
• Well-organised and great at prioritising multiple demands on their time.
  

Working hours, office attendance and travel requirements

Full time roles consist of 37 hours per week.

Whilst we welcome applications from those looking to work with us on a part time basis, there is a business requirement for the successful candidate to be able to work at least 30 hours per week.

Occasional travel to other offices will be required, which may involve overnight stays.

This role is suitable for hybrid working, which is a non-contractual arrangement where a combination of workplace and home-based working can be accommodated subject to business requirements.

The expectation at present is a minimum of 60% of your working time a month will be spent at either your designated workplace (one of the locations cited in the advert) or, when required for business reasons, in another office/work location/visiting stakeholders. Your designated workplace will be your contractual place of work. There may be occasions where you are required to attend above the minimum expectation.

If you have a question about hybrid working, part time/job share hours, flexible working, travelling for work, or require a reasonable adjustment, please contact the Vacancy Holder during the recruitment process to avoid possible disappointment later in the process should your working arrangements not be compatible with the requirements of the role (see below for contact details).

Visa Sponsorship

DfTc does not offer Visa Sponsorship for this role.

Behaviours

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

• Communicating and Influencing
• Delivering at Pace
• Managing a Quality Service

Benefits

Alongside your salary of £44,241, Department for Transport contributes £12,816 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).

Being part of our brilliant Civil Service means you will have access to a wide r