Lead Compliance Advisor

Job summary

Are you passionate about helping organisations achieve compliance and manage risk effectively?

Can you identify compliance risks, provide practical advice and drive continuous improvement?

Do you have experience using audits, assurance and governance activities to strengthen organisational performance?

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.

Monitor compliance. Reduce risk. Build assurance.

Help the Department for Transport strengthen governance, improve compliance and protect information by delivering audits, assurance activities and practical advice that supports informed decision-making.

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

Join the Department for Transport's Digital, Information and Security Directorate and help ensure the department meets its legislative, regulatory and security obligations. As a Lead Compliance Advisor, you'll play an important role in delivering compliance monitoring, assurance and audit activities that support effective governance and risk management across the organisation.

Working within the Assurance, Compliance and Controls function, you'll support the delivery of an annual programme of compliance activity, helping to assess adherence to legislation, policies, standards and best practice. You'll conduct audits, gather and review evidence, identify risks and provide practical recommendations that support continuous improvement.

You'll work closely with policy, legal, digital, data and security teams, building strong relationships and providing advice that helps colleagues understand and meet compliance requirements. You'll support internal audits, monitor management actions and contribute to strengthening governance across the wider DfT Group.

This is an excellent opportunity for someone with audit experience who wants to make a tangible impact in a complex and evolving environment.

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

• Supporting the G7 Principal Compliance Manager in delivering the department’s programme of internal compliance monitoring activity.
• Liaising with stakeholders and G7 Principal Compliance Manager to agree scope and recommendations arising.
• Conducting fieldwork and interviewing staff/suppliers, based on the scope, to monitor compliance and identify any risks arising.
• Supporting internal audits by collating accurate, well-managed records and evidence.
• Monitoring and reporting on the implementation of agreed management actions .

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:

1. Lead audit qualification such as ISO27001 or similar

You will be required to provide evidence that you hold any essential qualifications 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:

• Experience of FOI/EIR, Data Protection legislation and Public Records Act with a willingness to work towards a foundation certificate in data protection law.
• Knowledge of Protective Security, Risk & Mitigation, Threat Assessment
• Experience of working in the field of governance, risk and compliance within a large organisation.
• Experience of internal auditing/compliance monitoring
• BCS Certificate in Information Security Management Principles, or willing to work towards.

Additional Information

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
• Managing a Quality Service
• Making Effective Decisions
• Changing and Improving

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 range of fantastic benefits:

• 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).
• 8 Bank Holidays plus an additional Privilege Day to mark the King’s birthday.
• Access to the staff discount portal.
• Excellent career development opportunities and the potential to undertake professional qualifications relevant to your role paid for by the d