The Deputy Director, Information Rights and Data Protection will have accountability for: Acting as the Departments Data Protection Officer. Providing the Department with advice with its obligations under the UK GDPR and Data Protection Act 2018. Independently monitoring the Departments compliance with those obligations and raising issues, risks and concerns. Acting as the first point of contact for DWPs customers (over 20 million) and employees (approximately 90,000) for Data Protection matters. Providing advice on Freedom of Information (FOI) requests (approx. 3,000 pa) and overseeing DWPs overall FOI performance. Being the point of contact between DWP and the Information Commissioners Office (ICO) in relation to Data Protection and FOI matters. Leading a team of some 40 Information Rights specialists (including the Departmental Information Management Team). As part of the Security and Resilience Senior Leadership Team (SLT), providing leadership and support to the Directorate and SLT colleagues and to ensure integration between our teams. Person specification The successful candidate must be able to demonstrate their knowledge, experience and skills against the following essential criteria: Experience leading a data protection function to deliver high-quality, efficient, and cost-effective data protection and FOI services, in compliance with legal, regulatory, and security standards, within an organisation that processes significant volumes of personal data. Evidence of proactively identifying and addressing emerging data privacy challenges. A strategic thinker and pragmatic problem-solver, capable of balancing regulatory requirements with organisational goals. Demonstrable ability to lead, inspire and manage a team (40 people), ensuring performance is aligned with strategic goals, setting clear expectations, monitoring outcomes, and fostering a culture of innovation, continuous improvement and an environment where people feel safe to challenge. Experience building relationships with a broad range of internal and external stakeholders, with a focus on establishing trust and ensuring clear, honest, and engaging communication. Ability to navigate sensitive issues and build consensus while addressing complex data protection challenges. Influential communication skills with the ability to simplify complex data protection concepts for diverse audiences, including senior leadership, stakeholders, and team members. Desirable Criteria: Hold a recognised Data Protection qualification or willingness to work towards once appointed e.g. an IAPP certification. Behaviours We'll assess you against these behaviours during the selection process: Leadership Communicating and Influencing Seeing the Big Picture Managing a Quality Service Benefits Alongside your salary of 76,000, Department for Work and Pensions contributes 22,017 towards you being a member of the Civil Service Defined Benefit Pension scheme. Find out what benefits a Civil Service Pension provides. DWP have a broad benefits package built around your work-life balance which includes: Working patterns to support work/life balance such as job sharing, term-time working, flexi-time and compressed hours. Generous annual leave at least 23 days on entry, increasing up to 30 days over time (prorata for part time employees), plus 9 days public and privilege leave. Support for financial wellbeing, including interest-free season ticket loans for travel, a cycle to work scheme and an employee discount scheme. Health and wellbeing support including our Employee Assistance Programme for specialist advice and counselling and the opportunity to join HASSRA a first-class programme of competitions, activities and benefits for its members (subscription payable monthly). Family friendly policies including enhanced maternity and shared parental leave pay after 1 years continuous service. Funded learning and development to support progress in your role and career. This includes industry recognised qualifications and accreditations, coaching, mentoring and talent development programmes. An inclusive and diverse environment with opportunities to join professional and interpersonal networks including Womens Network, National Race Network, National Disability Network (THRIVE) and many more. Things you need to know Selection process details This vacancy is using Success Profiles (opens in a new window), and will assess your Behaviours and Experience. To apply for this post, you will need to complete the online application process outlined below via GatenbySanderson at https://www.gatenbysanderson.com/job/GSe119276 no later than 17:00pm on Friday 14 March 2025. A CV setting out your career history, with key responsibilities and achievements. Please ensure you have provided reasons for any gaps within the last two years; A supporting statement (maximum 1250 words) explaining why you want to work for DWP in this role; how you consider your personal skills, qualities, and experience providing evidence of your suitability for the role, with particular reference to the essential criteria in the person specification (page 10).Failure to submit both documents will mean the panel only have limited information on which to assess your application against the criteria in the person specification. As part of the online application process, you will be asked a number of diversity-related questions. If you do not wish to provide a declaration on any of the particular characteristics, you will have the option to select 'prefer not to say. All monitoring data will be treated in the strictest confidence and will not be provided to the selection panel. The information you provide when submitting your application will help us monitor our progress towards the Civil Service becoming the most inclusive employer. Help with your application GatenbySanderson will be available throughout the process to advise and support candidates. All shortlisted candidates receive preparatory support before assessments and final interview. Feedback will only be provided if you attend an interview or assessment. This role has a minimum assignment duration of 3 years. An assignment duration is the period of time a Senior Civil Servant is expected to remain in the same post to enable them to deliver on the agreed key business outcomes. The assignment duration also supports your career through building your depth of expertise. As part of accepting this role you will be agreeing to the expected assignment duration set out above. This will not result in a contractual change to your terms and conditions. Please note this is an expectation only, it is not something which is written into your terms and conditions or indeed which the employing organisation or you are bound by. It will depend on your personal circumstances at a particular time and business needs, for example, would not preclude any absence like family friendly leave. It is nonetheless an important expectation, which is why we ask you to confirm you agree to the assignment duration set out above. 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 developed vetting (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. The Civil Service also offers a Redeployment Interview Scheme to civil servants who are at risk of redundancy, and who meet the minimum requirements for the advertised vacancy. 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) .