Deputy Data Protection Officer (Ref: 80541)

We encourage applications from people from all backgrounds and aim to have a workforce that represents the wider society that we serve. We pride ourselves on being an employer of choice. We champion diversity, inclusion and wellbeing and aim to create a workplace where everyone feels valued and a sense of belonging. To find out more about how we do this visit: https://www.gov.uk/government/organisations/ministry-of-justice/about/equality-and-diversity.

The Role

We are recruiting for a Deputy Data Protection Officer, at the Ministry of Justice, to be part of our warm and collaborative Data Protection Team, which sits in the Security and Information Governance Directorate.

Knowledge and information are the lifeblood of the Ministry of Justice (MoJ). They can transform the way we deliver public services as well as the relationship between government and public. It is important for the Department to show that we are capable of handling information lawfully, as well as, making it readily available and widely accessible wherever we can and should.  Managing information well can have a direct impact on our ability to deliver core services to our service users. 

The Data Protection Team is responsible for helping business groups across the Department manage and use personal information in a manner compatible with the law.  Its core function is to promote compliance with the Data Protection Act (DPA) 2018 and the UK General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR) across policies, projects, processes, and services which involve personal data, through the provision of bespoke advice, training, and guidance. 

The role of the Deputy Data Protection Officer is extremely high profile, exciting and pivotal to setting the future direction of data protection within the Ministry of Justice. Good data governance is at the forefront of the Department’s plans to transform. Managing and governing data the right way will have significant financial implications for the Department, generate the best outcomes for service users, and the justice system. The role will give you the opportunity to demonstrate new ways of working and collaborating with a wide range of colleagues. Working across the Security and Information Governance Directorate and the wider Department, you will support the Data Protection Officer, the Chief Security Officer, the Chief Information Security Officer, Senior Information Risk Owners and other senior leaders, to deliver the MoJ’s Data Protection Strategy specifically and its Data and Information strategies more broadly.

You will build relationships and adopt a strategic, forward-looking approach to effectively deliver the Data Protection Team’s objectives. You will help design and shape the data protection programme of work with colleagues across the Department.

Key Responsibilities:

The UK General Data Protection Regulation (UK GDPR) presents an increased burden for the Department to meet legislative requirements in terms of the multi-faceted processing of personal data, ensuring that processing is lawful, demonstrably transparent, and secure through ‘privacy by design and default’.

The role-holder will be expected to:

Deputise for the Data Protection Officer, providing advice and guidance on data protection issues for the MoJ, including decision making responsibilities regarding personal data breaches, considering our obligations on reporting to the Information Commissioner’s Office (ICO).

Regularly contribute to commissions from Government departments, helping shape how these legal instruments will be implemented into UK law, including the legal gateways relied upon by the MoJ family, to identify the most critical activities and most likely risks.

Act as point of contact for several MoJ component agencies/ organisations and the central work-streams, covering commercial and contract management and digital/ technology functions.

Generate a common interpretation of emerging cross-government guidance to provide MoJ Agencies and Arm’s Length Bodies specific interpretations, cultivating a strong MoJ approach towards achieving compliance.

Key tasks 

• Ensure all data protection work programmes support the delivery of the Department’s strategic objectives
• Implement a novel approach to strategic data protection partnering, providing support for our new service model approach to Arm’s Length Bodies, Executive Agencies and Headquarters
• Develop and embed data protection policies and procedures which are consistent with the Department’s values and objectives
• Oversee the development and implementation of plans to nurture and develop talent for future leadership roles
• Implement a formal succession planning framework for critical Information Assurance and data protection posts, to maintain service continuity and effective leadership
• Provide early critical thinking as well as longer term strategic support, to ensure improved understanding of and compliance with data protection laws
• Apply an agile methodology to business change and development, remaining adaptable and fluid in approach, encouraging and enabling this approach in the Data Protection Team, the Arm’s Length Bodies, Executive Agencies and Headquarters
• Foster a culture that empowers the Data Protection Team to meet challenges and builds organisational resilience
• Partner at a senior level across the Department and with other Government Departments to engage leaders in change and development, bringing them and their teams on the journey of change

Person Specification

Essential

• An experienced data protection practitioner
• A current, and constantly renewed, understanding of both UK GDPR and the DPA 2018, especially regarding the processing of data for law enforcement purposes.
• Demonstrable ability to recognise, and advise upon, the potential impacts of data protection laws on MoJ’s existing and emerging technology systems / projects
• A proven track record in developing and leading information assurance strategy in government, including stakeholder engagement
• Proven leadership experience in an information / data management setting
• Experience and knowledge of existing working practices within government, including technical security advice, risk management, off-shoring, data protection impact assessments, governance and compliance
• Proven ability to adapt to changing priorities, and maintain focus and alignment of the team’s activities
• Experience in providing evidence based, risk balanced advice to seniors and presenting complex matters in clear and non-technical terms
• An effective communicator with demonstrable strong written and verbal skills.

Desirable  

• A data protection/GDPR qualification e.g. CIPP/E, CIPM or CC

In the Civil Service, we use Success Profiles, a flexible framework, to assess candidates against a range of elements using a variety of selection methods, therefore giving you the opportunity to demonstrate the various elements required to be successful in the role.

The sift will be based on the following behaviours:

• Leadership (lead behaviour)
• Delivering at pace
• Working together
• Managing a quality service

Leadership will be the lead behaviour, so if there a lot of applicants we will sift solely on this.

How to Apply 

All candidates must submit a CV and Statement of Suitability (of up to 1000 words) which demonstrates the key behaviours required for the role. Your application will not be considered if you have not submitted a CV AND a response to the question. 

Note: due to the volume of applications we receive we are unable to provide feedback after the CV review (sift) stage.

At the interview we will be assessing your technical/specialist skills and experience, testing your ability through relevant assessments and asking you questions around the behaviours we require to be successful in this role.

We’ll assess you against these behaviours during the selection process:

• Leadership
• Delivering at Pace
• Working Together
• Managing a Quality Service

We’ll assess you against these technical skills during the selection process:

• A current, and constantly renewed, understanding of both UK GDPR and the DPA 2018, especially regarding the processing of data for law enforcement purposes.

• Access to learning and development
• A working environment that supports a range of flexible working options to enhance your work life balance
• A working culture which encourages inclusion and diversity
• A Civil Service pension with an average employer contribution of 27%
• Annual Leave
• Public Holidays
• Season Ticket Advance

For more information about the recruitment process, benefits and allowances and answers to general queries, please click the below link which will direct you to our Candidate Information Page.

Link: https://justicejobs.tal.net/vx/candidate/cms/About%20the%20MOJ

Job contact :

• Name : SSCL Recruitment Enquiries Team
• Email : Moj-recruitment-vetting-enquiries@gov.sscl.com
• Telephone : 0845 241 5359

Recruitment team

• Email : Moj-recruitment-vetting-enquiries@gov.sscl.com