Job Location: Milton Keynes, Remote/Hybrid
Department: Information Rights
Closing Date: 25th October 2024
Weekly Working Hours: 37
Contract Type: Permanent
Welsh Language Standard: Not Applicable
About the Role
We believe that where you start in life shouldn’t limit where you go. The Open University is a unique institution created 50 years ago to open up education for all. We are open to anyone, anywhere, changing millions of lives across the world and always looking for new ways to help people succeed. Our pioneering use of innovative methods, such as our BBC partnership, means we reach more people than any other university.
We work across all four nations of the UK and we are the most popular choice for online, distance, flexible study.
We have 2 openings for an Information Rights Manager to join our expanding Information Rights Team. Both are full-time, permanent positions with the first post focused on providing advice concerning Data Protection Impact Assessments (DPIAs). This will include monitoring new processing activities to ensure necessity, proportionality, and appropriate safeguards (technical and organisational) have been applied to mitigate any risks to the rights and freedoms of data subjects. The second Information Rights Manager post will focus on the assessment and management of Data Protection breaches under the direction of the Senior Manager, Data Breaches and Issues, and in collaboration with members of the Information Rights team and other units as needed (including working with the Data Protection Officer and the senior managers to notify the Information Commissioner’s Office of reportable personal data breaches).
The postholder will carry out a range of duties to improve the University’s compliance with Data Protection legislation following the implementation of the Data Protection Act 2018 and the General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR).
The successful candidate will have an excellent opportunity to experience data compliance activities across a University in an evolving regulatory environment.
Key Responsibilities
* Provide advice concerning Data Protection Impact Assessments (DPIAs). Monitor new processing activities to ensure necessity, proportionality, and appropriate safeguards (technical and organisational) have been applied to mitigate any risks to the rights and freedoms of data subjects. Escalate unmitigated risks to the DPO as appropriate.
* Implement the Open University’s obligation to provide a Record of Processing Activity (ROPA) and supporting documentation. Embed the operation of third-party compliance questionnaires across the University, providing expert advice and guidance, and ensuring that a consistent and comprehensive record of personal data is retained.
* Assessment and management of Data Protection breaches under the direction of the Senior Manager, Data Breaches and Issues, and in collaboration with members of the Information Rights team and other units as needed (including working with the Data Protection Officer and the senior managers to notify the Information Commissioner’s Office of reportable personal data breaches).
* Support the University’s Data and Information Governance framework. This may include participation in meetings, providing regular updates, writing guidance or policies, preparing research, and implementing agreed actions from relevant governance groups.
* Support the Data Protection Officer (DPO) and senior managers in pro-actively ensuring data protection compliance through audit and assurance activities across the University, identifying any deficiencies and working with colleagues to ensure that they are addressed.
* Identify data protection issues and collaborate with other units in follow-up actions and remediation.
* Work as part of the Information Rights Team by responding, within statutory deadlines, to requests from data subjects exercising their rights, responding to a wide range of data protection and information management enquiries from across the University, and providing compliance advice and guidance for the network Information Governance Liaison Officers.
* Stay up to date with the latest developments in relevant regulatory data compliance requirements to enable the most up-to-date specialist expertise, advice, and guidance to be provided to stakeholders across the University.
* Any other duties commensurate with the role.
Skills and Experience
Essential:
* Education to degree level or equivalent
* Experience of applying the key concepts and principles of data protection and compliance legislation in a practical context
* Practical experience of providing data protection guidance to staff with differing levels of understanding
* Experience in the creation of relevant policies, guidance, and reports
* Proven time management skills and ability to effectively prioritise tasks and activities
* Flexible and adaptable, able to work to deadlines
* Excellent oral and written skills
* An ability to deliver guidance in an engaging and participative way
* A team player, able to work collaboratively within a small dedicated team and willing to support colleagues when necessary
* Proficient in the use of general office ICT systems
* Highly developed interpersonal skills, including persistence, diplomacy, and tact, with a proven understanding of the need for confidentiality
Desirable:
* Qualification(s) in information compliance/records management/data protection
* Understanding of higher education, its data processing operations, policies, and culture
* Understanding of information technologies and data security
Essential Requirements
As part of the application process, you will be expected to submit your CV and a Supporting Statement (maximum of 1000 words) that demonstrates how you meet the essential criteria listed above. Please outline in your Supporting Statement which of the roles you are interested in (DPIAs or Data Breaches), or whether you are happy to be considered for both positions. Flexible working patterns will be considered.
It is anticipated that a hybrid working pattern can be adopted for this role, where the successful candidate can work from home and the office. However, as this role is contractually aligned to our Milton Keynes office, it is expected that some attendance in the office will be required when necessary and in response to business needs.
*Early Close: We reserve the right to close adverts sooner than the closing date.
If you have any queries or questions about the recruitment process, or regarding your application, please contact: Careers@open.ac.uk.
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The Open University is committed to equality, diversity and inclusion which is reflected in our mission to be open to people, places, methods, and ideas. We aim to foster a diverse and inclusive environment so that all in our OU community can reach their potential. We recognise that different people bring different perspectives, ideas, knowledge, and culture, and that this difference brings great strength. We strive to recruit, retain and develop the careers of a diverse pool of students and staff, and particularly encourage applications from all underrepresented groups. We also aspire to make The Open University a supportive workplace for all through our policies, services, and staff networks.
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