Information Governance Officer

What you'll work on

To work with colleagues to ensure that all information systems and services across the Council comply with current data protection legislation and are able to effectively provide information linked to Freedom of Information (FOI) requests, subject access requests (SARs), and any other returns.

The role will model the Council’s values and behaviours, working collaboratively with services across the council, partners, and stakeholders to deliver in alignment with the council’s objectives and priorities.

What you'll achieve

• Act as the Deputy Data Protection Officer (DPO) / Deputy point of contact for the ICO for the council
• Support the creation and embedding of policy and standards for compliance with personal data protection legislation to ensure they are fit for purpose, current, and correctly implemented
• Undertake activities linked to the council effectively meeting its obligations in respect of the Freedom of Information Act (FOIA)
• Raise and escalate issues and any risk of non-compliance where required to the DPO, Governance, Reporting & Compliance Manager, Senior Information Risk Officer (SIRO), Caldicott Guardian, Chief Executive, Monitoring Officer, or S151 Officer
• Provide expert advice on anything linked to data protection, freedom of information or related issues to customers and project teams
• Provide guidance and help with, data sharing agreements, data protection impact assessments (DPIAs), contractual clauses, as well as undertaking risk assessments of internal and external systems and of the working practices of 3rd parties
• Provide reporting for senior colleagues and members as required to support the assurance of the level of compliance at the council
• Participate in risk management processes to ensure that the council can mitigate potential issues effectively
• Track the activities linked to complying with Data Subject Access Requests, Freedom of Information requests and any other related processes, and support colleagues to build appropriate returns within the time allowed
• Be accountable for managing and reporting on the council’s data breach register

Where you'll work

Hybrid - 1/2 days each week in office, dependent on business needs

A few things to note

• The rate for this role is £440 per day Umbrella
• The term for this role is 2.5 months initially

Skills you'll need to bring

Qualifications

• Degree / NVQ level 6 education (or equivalent)
• Data Protection qualification (BCS Practitioner in Data Protection, CIPP/E)
• Management of Risk practitioner

Skills and Experience

• 5 years working in the data protection and/or information governance field
• Previous experience of working in data protection in local government or a public authority
• Proven relationship and stakeholder management skills, underpinned by strong written and verbal communication skills to influence and engage others effectively, including experience of senior stakeholder management
• Experienced in managing and mitigating risks, identifying issues, identifying, and documenting dependencies, and communicating clearly within formal governance regimes
• Skilled in negotiating for outcomes that protect the organisation whilst maintaining a focus on delivery and efficiency
• Skilled in time management with an ability to undertake planned work alongside erratic demands linked to legislative compliance
• Skilled in working across multi-disciplinary teams and building effective relationships with colleagues

Knowledge

• Membership of any industry bodies (e.g., BCS), working groups, forums, or committees within the post holder’s area of work
• Effective presentation, communication, and interpersonal skills
• A commitment to equality and diversity.
• Understanding of Health and Safety legislation and good practice and how it relates to themselves and others in the workplace.

Equal Opportunities

Business Smart Solutions are a Recruitment Agency - We hire talented and passionate people from a variety of backgrounds because we want our global worker base to represent the wide diversity of our clients. If you’re excited about a role but your past experience doesn’t align perfectly with every bullet point listed in the job description, we still encourage you to apply. If you're passionate about working for a role in local government and share our company values, we encourage you to apply.

BSS is proud to be an equal opportunity employer. We do not discriminate in hiring or any employment decision based on race, color, religion, national origin, age, sex (including pregnancy, childbirth, or related medical conditions), marital status, ancestry, physical or mental disability, genetic information, veteran status, gender identity or expression, sexual orientation, or other applicable legally protected characteristic. BSS considers qualified applicants with criminal histories, consistent with applicable UK law. If you need assistance or an accommodation made due to a disability, please let your recruiter know.

Job Types: Full-time, Temporary contract
Contract length: 2.5 months

Salary: £440.00 per day

Schedule:

• Monday to Friday

Application question(s):

• Do you have a degree / NVQ level 6 education (or equivalent)?
• Do you have a data Protection qualification (BCS Practitioner in Data Protection, CIPP/E)?
• Are you a management of Risk practitioner?
• Do you have 5 years working in the data protection and/or information governance field?
• Do you have previous experience of working in data protection in local government or a public authority?

Experience:

• Local Government: 1 year (required)

Work Location: One location