Data Protection Advisor

Job summary

The Home Office works to build a safe, fair and prosperous UK. We achieve this through our work on counter-terrorism, policing, crime, drugs policy, immigration and passports.

Home Office Digital designs, builds and develops services for the rest of the department and for government. Every year our systems support up to 3 million visa applications, checks on 100 million border crossings, up to 8 million passport applications and deliver 140 million police checks on people, vehicles and property.

This is an opportunity for an experienced Data Protection professional to join the Office of the Data Protection Officer (ODPO), playing a key role in helping the Home Office meet its objectives while complying with privacy and data protection legislation. You will work on complex and high-profile issues, providing expert advice, guidance and assurance across the Department and its Arm’s Length Bodies.

In return, you will have the opportunity to influence decision-making at senior levels, work with a broad range of stakeholders, including the Information Commissioner’s Office, and contribute to building a strong culture of data protection by design and default across the organisation.

Job description

As a Data Protection Advisor within the Office of the Data Protection Officer (ODPO), you will provide expert advice and support on privacy and data protection compliance across the Home Office and its Arm’s Length Bodies. Working with stakeholders at all levels, including Senior Civil Service colleagues, you will help ensure personal data is processed lawfully, fairly and transparently while supporting the delivery of departmental priorities.

You will advise on complex and high-profile processing activities, helping business areas identify and mitigate privacy risks, meet legal obligations and implement effective safeguards. The role also involves assessing personal data incidents, breaches, complaints and enquiries, providing practical recommendations and assurance to support informed decision-making. Working closely with internal teams, external partners, the Information Commissioner’s Office and civil society groups, you will contribute to improving compliance capability across the Department and embedding the principles of data protection by design and default.

Key Responsibilities

Your main day-to-day responsibilities will be:

• Provide expert advice and guidance on privacy and data protection legislation, compliance obligations and best practice.
• Assess complex and high-profile personal data processing activities and recommend appropriate risk mitigations.
• Support the assessment and management of personal data incidents, breaches, complaints and enquiries.
• Work collaboratively with business areas and stakeholders to develop practical and proportionate privacy solutions.
• Engage with internal and external partners, including regulators and other public sector organisations, on data protection matters.
• Produce clear and accessible guidance, recommendations and assurance products to support decision-making.
• Contribute to the development and delivery of communications, engagement, training, monitoring and assurance activities within the Data Protection Practitioner Network.
• Promote a culture of compliance and support the embedding of data protection by design and default across the Home Office.

Working Pattern

This role is available on a full-time basis with the option of compressed hours working. This role is also suitable for part-time working hours, with a minimum requirement to work [4 days / 29.6 hours] per week due to business requirements.

Training

As part of the development opportunities available within the role, the post holder will be expected, if not already holding it, to work towards achieving the Practitioner Certificate in Data Protection (PC.dp.) within 12 months of taking up post.

Travel

Occasional travel may be required to other work locations within the UK and may include overnight stays. All related costs will be reimbursed in line with Home Office policy.

Person specification

Essential Criteria

• Expert working knowledge of UK and EU privacy and data protection legislation, including the Data Protection Act, UK General Data Protection Regulation, Human Rights Act and Data Use and Access Act.
• Experience of advising on privacy and data protection matters within a complex organisational environment.
• Ability to analyse and interpret complex legal, regulatory and policy requirements and explain them clearly to colleagues and external partners at all levels.
• Experience of identifying privacy risks and recommending practical and proportionate mitigations.
• Ability to manage competing priorities, exercise sound judgement and deliver high-quality outcomes to challenging timescales.
• Excellent written and verbal communication skills, including the ability to influence stakeholders and present complex information in plain English.
• Demonstrable commitment to continuous professional development and maintaining knowledge of emerging data protection issues.

Desirable Criteria

• Experience of working with regulators, public authorities or external partners on data protection matters.

Behaviours

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

• Communicating and Influencing
• Delivering at Pace
• Making Effective Decisions
• Working Together
• Changing and Improving

We only ask for evidence of these behaviours on your application form:

• Communicating and Influencing

Benefits

In addition to your salary, a career with the Home Office offers a range of benefits, including:

• A Civil Service pension with an employer contribution of 28.97%.
• In-year reward scheme for one-off or sustained exceptional personal or team achievements.
• 25 days annual leave on appointment, rising with service to 30 days.
• Eight days of public holidays, plus one additional privilege day.
• Where business needs allow, some roles may be suitable for a combination of office and home-based working. This is a non-contractual arrangement where all employees will be expected to spend a minimum of 60% of their working time in an office.
• See more of our benefits on our careers website.