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Information and Data Protection Manager

  • Public sector
  • Bristol
  • 29/05/2025
  • £42,382.00 - £50,062.00 /yearly
  • Full Time & Permanent
Job expired!

Job Overview

Location

Bristol

Job Type

Full Time & Permanent

Salary

£42,382 - £50,062 yearly

Date Posted:

29/05/2025

Expiration date:

15/06/2025

Additional Detail

Job ID

27801

Work Location

Remote and/or Onsite

Job Description

Bristol, London, Manchester

Job summary

The Government Digital Service (GDS) is the digital centre of government. We are responsible for setting, leading and delivering the vision for a modern digital government.

Our priorities are to drive a modern digital government, by:

  1.  Joining up public sector services
  2. Harnessing the power of AI for the public good
  3. Strengthening and extending our digital and data public infrastructure
  4. Elevating leadership and investing in talent
  5. Funding for outcomes and procuring for growth and innovation
  6. committing to transparency and driving accountability

We are home to the Incubator for Artificial Intelligence (I.AI), the world-leading GOV.UK and at the forefront of coordinating the UK's geospatial strategy and activity. We lead the Government Digital and Data function and champion the work of digital teams across government.

We're part of the Department for Science, Innovation and Technology (DSIT) and employ more than 1,000 people all over the UK, with hubs in Manchester, London and Bristol.

The Government Digital Service is where talent translates into impact. From your first day, you'll be working with some of the world's most highly-skilled digital professionals, all contributing their knowledge to make change on a national scale.

Join us for rewarding work that makes a difference across the UK. You'll solve some of the nation's highest-priority digital challenges, helping millions of people access services they need.

Job description

The Data Governance Team, as part of the Product Strategy, Planning and Performance directorate, provides specialist expertise and leadership across the Government Digital Service. GDS has specialist data protection and information management requirements and requires extensive data governance controls to be designed and incorporated into product development. Strong privacy controls designed and built from the outset will improve users' confidence in the digital services delivered by GDS. 

GDS is seeking to recruit an Information and Data Protection Manager to deliver information management and data protection excellence across GDS. You will play a critical role in ensuring that knowledge, information management and data protection principles are embedded into GDS's activities to protect public data whilst enabling innovative digital solutions. Reporting to the Information Management and Data Protection Leads, you will build outstanding relationships with stakeholders to manage information appropriately and embed privacy by design. You will be involved in providing support to cutting edge technologies such as the use of biometrics and AI. This role provides an exciting opportunity to become a key part of one of the most impactful programmes in government. 

Now is an exciting time to join GDS as it transitions from Cabinet Office to the Department for Science, Innovation & Technology. The postholder will have the opportunity to support the IM lead in the data migration.

As Information and Data Protection Manager, you will deliver:

  • Records and Data Management: oversee the effective management of records and data within a digital environment, and migration as GDS transitions to DSIT. Monitor and constantly seek to improve the compliant use of GDS's digital document management system. Support the Information Management Lead to deliver a mature information management regime across the organisation
  • Data Protection and Privacy: support the Data Protection Lead to ensure that GDS complies with data protection law by delivering flexible and pragmatic governance practices that enable delivery at pace
  • Risk Management: lead and deliver high quality Data Protection Impact Assessments (DPIAs), Privacy Notices and Records of Processing Activities for new projects at pace. Support other key processes including delivering data subject rights and managing personal data incidents. Identify, assess and manage information governance risks
  • communication and relationship management: provide an approachable and professional service for all staff. Communicate clear, pragmatic information governance guidance to GDS staff to promote awareness of good practice and build strong relationships
  • Training and Awareness: design and deliver training to ensure GDS staff understand their information governance obligations and best practices, fostering a strong culture of information management and data privacy at all levels of the programme
  • Workload Management and Prioritisation: prioritise effectively to manage a high volume, fast paced and frequently evolving workload. Manage workload to ensure that priorities align with programme and team objectives and deadlines are met
  • Support Cutting Edge Technologies: provide expert advice and direction on complex and novel forms of processing, especially on AI and biometrics. Balance legal requirements against the need to deliver innovative solutions to benefit the public, supporting timely delivery of demanding GDS targets

These responsibilities require a well organised, adaptable approach to meet organisation and team needs. 

Person specification

We're interested in people who have experience in these areas:

  • Information Management: experience of delivering information management within a digital environment. Qualifications such as an MA in Archives and Records Management or similar would be an advantage
  • Data Protection: experience of delivering data protection in practice. Qualifications such as IAPP (CIPP/E, CIPM) or PDP would be an advantage
  • Workload Management and Prioritisation: proven experience in managing multiple complex tasks simultaneously, prioritising workload and meeting challenging deadlines in a fast paced environment. Ability to work under pressure and adjust priorities where necessary
  • Risk Management: experience of delivering Data Protection Impact Assessments which enable delivery and mitigate risks through pragmatic solutions
  • Communication and Stakeholder Management: proven experience of using excellent verbal and written communication skills to build strong relationships and influence good data practices. Skilled in translating information management and data protection requirements into clear, practical advice
  • Teamwork: strong experience of working as part of a team, collaborating effectively with colleagues to achieve collective goals and enhance team performance

The benefits of working at GDS.

There are many benefits including:

  • flexible hybrid working with flexi-time and the option to work part-time or condensed hours
  • a Civil Service Pension with an average employer contribution of 27%
  • 25 days of annual leave, increasing by a day each year up to a maximum of 30 days 
  • an extra day off for The King's birthday
  • an in-year bonus scheme to recognise high performance
  • career progression and coaching, including a training budget for personal development
  • paid volunteering leave 
  • a focus on wellbeing with access to an employee assistance programme
  • job satisfaction from making government services easier to use and more inclusive for people across the UK
  • advances on pay, including for travel season tickets
  • death in service benefits
  • cycle to work scheme and facilities
  • access to children's holiday play schemes across different locations in central London
  • access to an employee discounts scheme
  • 10 learning days per year
  • volunteering opportunities (5 special leave days per year)
  • access to a suite of learning activities through Civil Service learning

Office attendance

The Department operates a discretionary hybrid working policy, which provides for a combination of working hours from your place of work and from your home in the UK. The current expectation for staff is to attend the office or non-home based location for 40-60% of the time over the accounting period.

DSIT does not normally offer full home working (i.e. working at home); but we do offer a variety of flexible working options (including occasionally working from home).

Selection process details

The standard selection process for roles at GDS consists of:

  • a simple application screening process - We only ask for a CV and cover letter of up to 750 words. Important tip - please ensure that your cover letter includes how you meet the skills and experience listed in the "person specification" section above
  • a 60 minute video interview

Depending on how many applications we get, there might also be an extra stage before the video interview, for example a phone interview or a technical exercise.

While we value the use of AI technology to enhance our daily work, we also value the personal touch and urge applicants to write cover letters without the use of AI to emphasise their own unique experiences.

In the event we receive a high volume of applications, we will conduct the initial sift against the lead criteria which is:

Information Management: Experience of delivering information management within a digital environment. Qualifications such as an MA in Archives and Records Management or similar would be an advantage.

In order to assist candidates with this role, we will be holding a virtual recruitment event on Thursday 5th June at 12:00pm - 1:00pm to go through the role in more detail. If you are interested in joining this event please e-mail: [email protected] and a member of the team will send you an invitation to the event.

In the Civil Service, we use Success Profiles to evaluate your skills and ability. This gives us the best possible chance of finding the right person for the job, increases performance and improves diversity and inclusivity. We'll be assessing your technical abilities, skills, experience and behaviours that are relevant to this role.

For this role we'll be assessing you against the following Civil Service Behaviours

  • working together
  • changing and improving
  • communicating and influencing
  • managing a quality service
  • delivering at pace

We are an equal opportunity employer and value diversity at our company. We do not discriminate on the basis of race, religion, colour, national origin, gender, sexual orientation, age, marital status or disability status.

Recruitment Timeline

Sift completion: W/C 16/06/2025

Panel interviews: W/C 30/06/2025

Candidates that do not pass the interview but have demonstrated an acceptable standard may be considered for similar roles at a lower grade.

A reserve list will be held for a period of 12 months, from which further appointments can be made.

Please note that this role requires SC clearance, which would normally need 5 years' UK residency in the past 5 years. This is not an absolute requirement, but supplementary checks may be needed where individuals have not lived in the UK for that period. This may mean your security clearance (and therefore your appointment) will take longer or, in some cases, not be possible.

For meaningful checks to be carried out, you will need to have lived in the UK for a sufficient period of time, to enable appropriate checks to be carried out and produce a result which provides the required level of assurance. Whilst a lack of UK residency in itself is not necessarily a bar to a security clearance, and expectation of UK residency may range from 3 to 5 years. Failure to meet the residency requirements needed for the role may result in the withdrawal of provisional jobs offers.

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 D&I Strategy.

Other information

 In January 2025, it was announced that the Government Digital Service (GDS) will move to the Department for Science, Innovation and Technology (DSIT) as a part of a machinery of government change. This change aims to bring together the digital transformation of public services into one central department, presenting exciting opportunities and positioning DSIT to lead the government's digital agenda.

For meaningful checks to be carried out, you will need to have lived in the UK for a sufficient period of time, to enable appropriate checks to be carried out and produce a result which provides the required level of assurance. Whilst a lack of UK residency in itself is not necessarily a bar to a security clearance, and expectation of UK residency may range from 3 to 5 years. Failure to meet the residency requirements needed for the role may result in the withdrawal of provisional jobs offers.

We encourage you to apply and look forward to reviewing your application. We will keep you updated throughout the process.

Sponsorship

DSIT cannot offer Visa sponsorship to candidates through this campaign. DSIT holds a Visa sponsorship licence but this can only be used for certain roles and this campaign does not qualify.



Feedback will only be provided if you attend an interview or assessment.

Security

Successful candidates must undergo a criminal record check.
Successful candidates must meet the security requirements before they can be appointed. The level of security needed is security check (opens in a new window).

See our vetting charter (opens in a new window).
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) (opens in a new window)
  • 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 (opens in a new window)

Working for the Civil Service

The Civil Service Code (opens in a new window) 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 (opens in a new window).
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 (opens in a new window) and the Civil Service Diversity and Inclusion Strategy (opens in a new window).
This vacancy is part of the Great Place to Work for Veterans (opens in a new window) initiative.
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 :

Recruitment team

Further information

If you feel your application has not been treated in accordance with the Recruitment Principles and you wish to make a complaint, you should contact [email protected] in the first instance.
If you are not satisfied with the response you receive you can contact the Civil Service Commission by email: [email protected] Or in writing: Civil Service Commission, Room G/8 1 Horse Guards Road, London, SW1A 2HQ.

 
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