31,997 - 43,552
per annum pro rata
A Civil Service Pension with an employer contribution of 28.97%
GBP
Job grade
Higher Executive Officer
Contract type
Permanent
Type of role
Administration / Corporate Support
Analytical
Working pattern
Flexible working, Full-time, Job share, Part-time
Number of jobs available
1
Contents
------------
Location
About the job
Benefits
Things you need to know
Apply and further information
Location
------------
Birmingham, Leeds, Liverpool, London
About the job
-----------------
Job summary
The Data Protection Advice Officer position is an exciting and multifaceted role that offers the chance to work with staff across UKHSA. You will work closely with the UKHSA's Data Protection Officer and Senior Data Protection Advisor to ensure personal information is processed in a manner that is lawful, proportionate and builds public trust.
Our work ranges from preparing for future health security threats, developing tools and insights on how to best protect against them, responding to health threats every day at local, national, and international level as well as building and investing in scientific and public health capabilities to protect the country's health now and in the future. We are in search of an individual with a sound knowledge of data protection rights and obligations under the UK General Data Protection Regulation and Data Protection Act and the ability to apply this knowledge, providing strong data protection advice in a-fast paced, technology rich environment.
Previous experience of advising on data protection matters is essential although this needn't have been in a government setting. Having worked in a regulatory, legal, or Cyber security environment is desirable but not a requirement.
Job description
The Data Protection Advice Officer will lead work to review UKHSA's Data Protection Policy and any supporting standards and processes which support it.
You will report to the Senior Data Protection Advisor (SEO) and work principally with them.
You will also liaise with the UKHSA Data Protection Officer, teams in the Information Management and Privacy division, as well as other teams to identify key requirements and changes, taking forward the development and implementation of UKHSA Data Protection Policy, governance, assurance, and guidance throughout UKHSA.
You will be responsible for the implementation of the Policy throughout UKHSA, leading on the review of legislative and policy requirements for assurance, engaging with other areas and key stakeholders to understand the business needs and the promotion of Data Protection Policy.
The Data Protection Advice Officer will support the development and delivery of data protection training needs to support the Data Protection Security Toolkit (Training Committee, responsible for training and delivery), to co-ordinate the work of this group and support delivery of training requirements to meet data protection and Information Governance (IG) requirements as required under the UK GDPR and other training requirements of that framework.
Person specification
Essential criteria:
a sound knowledge of data protection obligations under the UK GDPR legislation and Data Protection Act and ability to apply this knowledge and provide data protection advice inputting to the development of data protection guidance and policies.
good experience of collaborating with stakeholders; evidence of good communication skills, including building good working relationships
Good organisational skills and ability to prioritise work in a busy environment to meet work deadlines.
good understanding of Information Governance, key data protection principals and how these are applied in a project or non-project environment.
awareness of risk and processing risks within a data protection context
ability to promote diversity, inclusion and equality of opportunity, respecting differences.
experienced and competent in the use of MS Office applications (specifically Word, Excel and PowerPoint) and SharePoint.
ability to interpret legal requirements from GDPR legislation, to analyse and apply to advice requirements.
Desirable criteria:
Experience of working in a Regulatory, Legal or Cyber security environment.
Benefits
------------
Alongside your salary of 31,997, UK Health Security Agency contributes 9,269 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%
Things you need to know
---------------------------
Selection process details
Responsibilities will include
ensure data protection initiatives or processing activities receive the data protection advice and comply with data protection law.
support the development and delivery of key data protection activities including policy review and development, advising, and ensuring supporting activities align with lawful data protection and IG requirements, as required under the UK GDPR.
ensure data protection advice is provided throughout the lifecycle of the activities and all relevant stakeholders are kept updated with progress, lessons learned and outputs.
coordinate outcomes from key data protection activity and data protection initiatives including support to the delivery of the DSPT Training Committee, providing feedback to key stakeholders to implement identified solutions to overcome any shortfalls.
develop network of SMEs across the Information Governance and Cyber functions within UKHSA, DHSC and the wider IG profession.
Other activities as required by business need.
Selection Process Details:
This vacancy is using Success Profiles and will assess your Behaviours
Stage 1: Application & Sift
Please note you will not be able to upload your CV. You must complete the application form in as much detail as possible. Please do not email us your CV.
You will be required to complete an application form. You will be assessed on the listed 8 essential criteria, and this will be in the form of a:
Application form ('Employer/ Activity history' section on the application)
1250-word supporting statement.
This should outline how your skills, experience, and knowledge, provide evidence of your suitability for the role, with reference to the essential criteria.
The Application form and supporting statement will be marked together.
Longlisting:
In the event of a large number of applications we will longlist into 3 piles of:
Meets all essential criteria - these will be taken through to shortlisting
Meets some essential criteria
Meets no essential criteria
Shortlisting:
In the event of a large number of applications we will shortlist on
"a sound knowledge of data protection obligations under the UK GDPR legislation and Data Protection Act and ability to apply this knowledge and provide data protection advice inputting to the development of data protection guidance and policies."
Desirable criteria may be used in the event of a large number of applications / large amount of successful candidates
If you are successful at this stage, you will progress to interview & assessment
Please do not exceed 1250 words. We will not consider any words over and above this number.
Feedback will not be provided at this stage.
Stage 2: Interview (success profiles)
You will be invited to a single remote interview.
Behaviours will be tested at interview.
The Behaviours tested during the interview stage will be
Working Together
Delivering at Pace
Changing and Improving (lead behaviour)
Communicating and Influencing
Interviews will be held week commencing 1st September 2025. Please note, these dates are subject to change.
Eligibility Criteria
External
Open to all external applicants (anyone) from outside the Civil Service (including by definition internal applicants).
Security Clearance Level Requirement
Successful candidates must pass a disclosure and barring security check.
Successful candidates must meet the security requirements before they can be appointed. The level of security needed is Basic Personnel Security Standard
Location
Hybrid any Core HQ
This role is being offered as hybrid working based at any of our Core HQ's. We offer great flexible working opportunities at UKHSA and operate using a hybrid working model where business needs allow. This provides us with greater flexibility about how and where we work, to get the best from our workforce. As a hybrid worker, you will be expected to spend a minimum of 60% of your contractual working hours (approximately 3 days a week pro rata, (averaged over a month) working at one of UKHSA's core HQ's (Birmingham, Leeds, Liverpool, and London).
Our core HQ offices are modern and newly refurbished with excellent city centre transport link and benefit from benefit from co-location with other government departments such as the Department for Health and Social Care (DHSC).
Reasonable Adjustments
The Civil Service is committed to making sure that our selection methods are fair to everyone. To help you during the recruitment process, we will consider any reasonable adjustments that could help you. An adjustment is a change to the recruitment process or an adjustment at work. This is separate to the Disability Confident Scheme. If you need an adjustment to be made at any point during the recruitment process you should contact the recruitment team in confidence as soon as possible to discuss your needs.
You can find out more information about reasonable adjustments across the Civil Service here: https://www.civil-service-careers.gov.uk/reasonable-adjustments/
International Police check
If you have spent more than 6 months abroad over the last 3 years you may need an International Police Check. This would not necessarily have to be in a single block, and it could be time accrued over that period.
Artificial Intelligence (AI)
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 for more information on appropriate and inappropriate use.
Link below:
Artificial intelligence and recruitment , Civil Service Careers
Internal Fraud check
If successful for this role as one aspect of pre-employment screening, applicant's personal details - name, national insurance number and date of birth - will be checked against the Cabinet Office Internal Fraud Hub and anyone included on the database will be refused employment unless they can show exceptional circumstances. Currently this is only for External candidates to the Civil Service.
Careers website
Please visit our careers site for more information https://gov.uk/ukhsa/careers
Feedback will only be provided if you attend an interview or assessment.
Security
Successful candidates must undergo a criminal record check.
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)
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
Working for the Civil Service
The Civil Service Code 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 .
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.
Diversity and Inclusion
The Civil Service is committed to attract, retain and invest in talent wherever it is found. To learn more please see the Civil Service People Plan and the Civil Service Diversity and Inclusion Strategy .
Apply and further information
---------------------------------
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 : Recruitment Team
Email : recruitment@ukhsa.gov.uk
#
Recruitment team
Email : recruitment@ukhsa.gov.uk
Further information
The law requires that selection for appointment to the Civil Service is on merit on the basis of fair and open competition as outlined in the Civil Service Commission's Recruitment Principles. If you feel your application has not been treated in accordance with the Recruitment Principles, and you wish to make a complaint, in the first instance, you should contact UKHSA Public Accountability Unit via email: Complaints@ukhsa.gov.uk If you are not satisfied with the response you receive from the Department, you can contact the Civil Service Commission: Visit the Civil Service Commission website: https://civilservicecommission.independent.gov.uk
Beware of fraud agents! do not pay money to get a job
MNCJobs.co.uk will not be responsible for any payment made to a third-party. All Terms of Use are applicable.