SAR Administrator - Internal Applicants Only in Walthamstow

Organisation: London Borough of Waltham Forest

Salary: SO1 £38,256 - £39,276

Contract Type: Full-time Permanent

Working hours per week: 36

Application Deadline: 31/07/2026

Proposed Interview Date(s): TBC

Reference: 2206

About Us: Bursting with culture, energy, and opportunity, the London Borough of Waltham Forest is a fantastic and exciting place to work. We are a highly ambitious borough. Driven by culture and the innate creativity of our residents, we have developed new and innovative ways to build our communities. Our Council is relentlessly resident-focused, insight-led, digitally driven and commercially minded; a Council focused on meeting the needs of our existing and future residents. London Borough of Waltham Forest is one of the Mayor of London’s Good Work Standard employers. This accreditation is proof of our commitment to creating a healthy, fair and inclusive workplace.

About the role: We are seeking a highly organised and detail‑focused SAR Administrator to join our Information Governance and Complaints service. This is a specialist role responsible for managing Subject Access Requests (SARs) and other statutory information rights requests, ensuring compliance with UK GDPR, the Data Protection Act 2018, and associated legislation. You will play a vital role in safeguarding personal data while ensuring individuals receive timely, accurate, and transparent access to their information. In this role, you will manage requests end‑to‑end—from initial receipt and identity verification through to information retrieval, redaction, and final disclosure. You will handle complex and sensitive cases, including those within Children’s Social Care, requiring sound judgement, resilience, and a strong understanding of data protection principles. Working closely with internal teams and external partners, you will coordinate responses across services, manage deadlines, and ensure high‑quality, lawful outcomes are delivered. You will also be responsible for reviewing large volumes of sensitive information, applying appropriate exemptions, and ensuring that disclosures are accurate, proportionate, and secure. As a key point of contact for requesters, you will provide clear and compassionate communication, helping to build trust and minimise escalations or complaints. Your ability to manage competing priorities and maintain high standards under pressure will be essential to success. This is an excellent opportunity for someone with extensive experience in SAR case handling who is looking to develop their expertise in a dynamic and high‑impact environment. If you have strong analytical skills, excellent attention to detail, and a commitment to compliance and customer service, we would welcome your application.

Key Responsibilities:

• Manage Subject Access Requests end‑to‑end
• Handle SARs and other information rights requests from receipt through to disclosure, ensuring all actions are completed within statutory deadlines.
• Log, triage, allocate, and monitor requests, proactively tracking progress and escalating risks to ensure timely delivery.
• Retrieve and review information from multiple systems and sources, including large volumes of complex and sensitive records.
• Confirm identity, consent, and legal authority prior to releasing information, ensuring full compliance with GDPR and data protection legislation.
• Accurately redact personal, sensitive, and third‑party data and apply appropriate legal exemptions in line with ICO guidance.
• Work with internal teams and external partners to manage complex or multi‑service SARs, ensuring consistent and consolidated responses.
• Act as the main point of contact for requesters, providing clear, professional, and empathetic updates throughout the process.
• Keep detailed audit trails and support performance monitoring, data quality, and reporting requirements.
• Provide evidence and case records for internal reviews, complaints, and regulatory or Ombudsman enquiries.
• Contribute to improving processes, templates, and guidance, while supporting team resilience and service delivery during peak demand.

Qualifications and Requirements:

• GCSEs (or equivalent) in English and Maths
• A relevant professional qualification in information governance, data protection, or a related field (desirable)
• Strong knowledge of UK GDPR, the Data Protection Act 2018, and ICO guidance
• Experience of handling Subject Access Requests, including complex or sensitive cases
• Understanding of information governance principles and statutory compliance requirements
• Excellent written and verbal communication skills, with the ability to explain complex information clearly
• High attention to detail and strong analytical skills, particularly when reviewing large volumes of data
• Ability to manage a high workload, prioritise effectively, and meet strict statutory deadlines
• Experience using case management systems (e.g. iCasework) and records systems (e.g. Mosaic)
• Proficient in Microsoft Office (Word, Excel, Outlook) and collaboration tools such as Teams
• Professional judgement and integrity when handling sensitive and confidential information
• Resilient and able to work with complex, emotive, or high‑risk cases
• Strong interpersonal skills, with the ability to build effective working relationships across services and with external partners

Terms and conditions:

• Satisfactory employment references
• Satisfactory declaration of interest
• Satisfactory DBS check

How to Apply: Interested candidates are invited to submit their applications online by pressing the ‘Apply’ button below. This includes a supporting statement that outlines how your skills and experience make you a good candidate for this vacancy. We reserve the right to close this vacancy early if we receive sufficient applications for the role. Therefore, if you are interested, please submit your application as early as possible.

Equal Opportunity Employer: Waltham Forest is a diverse borough where diversity is valued and is integral to both service delivery and employment of its staff. The Council is committed to meeting its equality objectives.

Contact Information: If you have any questions about this vacancy or the application process, please contact Jo Tanner, Interim Head of Complaints at jo.tanner@walthamforest.gov.uk or 07817 953939.