The Deputy Director Data Protection Officer is part of the senior leadership team in the Security and Data Protection Directorate of Finance Group. It is a role required by law and the DPO has a responsibility not just to the Executive Team and Permanent Secretary within DWP to advise on issues relating to data protection risk and compliance but also to play a key part in enabling delivery of the Department’s future strategy by ensuring that new initiatives are legally compliant and appropriately protect the privacy of our customers and employees as well as enhance trust.
The DPO leads a team of Information Rights specialists, who provide advice and guidance on data protection issues to colleagues and customers and monitor the Department’s compliance and risk. The team conducts over 300 Data Protection Impact Assessments a year, often involving complex and cutting-edge data protection issues.
A key part of the role is forming a constructive working relationship with senior stakeholders within DWP and the Information Commissioner’s Office. Communication skills are key here and the postholder will often have to exercise excellent judgement as to how to present often difficult issues in the clearest and most helpful way.
In DWP the post holder will also have responsibility for the central Information Management Team, responsible for the Department’s compliance with the Public Records Act and the central Freedom of Information Team, who look after monthly FOI performance and ensure DWP’s performance meets ICO expectations despite the very large volume of FOI requests the Department receives.
What are my responsibilities?
* To provide the Department advice with its obligations under the UK GDPR and Data Protection Act 2018.
* To independently monitor the Department’s compliance with those obligations and raise issues, risks and concerns.
* To act as the first point of contact for DWP’s customers (over 20 million) and employees (approximately 90,000) for Data Protection matters.
* To provide advice on Freedom of Information requests (approx. 3,000 pa), and oversee DWP’s overall FOI performance.
* To be the point of contact between DWP and the Information Commissioner’s Office (ICO) in relation to Data Protection and FOI matters.
* To lead a team of some 40 Information Rights specialists (including the Departmental Information Management Team).
* As part of the Security and Resilience SLT to provide leadership and support to the Directorate and SLT colleagues and to ensure integration between our teams.