Data Protection Officer in Bristol

Full Time, Fixed Term - 12 months. Make a real impact with your data protection expertise. We’re looking for a Data Protection Officer to join Bristol City Council’s Information Governance team. This is a great opportunity for an experienced data protection professional who can turn complex legislation into clear, practical advice and help services across the council manage personal data responsibly, fairly and lawfully.

Why this role matters

Good data protection is about more than compliance. It’s about building trust, supporting better services, and ensuring personal information is handled with care. As a Data Protection Officer, you’ll play a key role in helping colleagues across a large and varied organisation navigate data protection confidently.

Responsibilities

• Working as part of a supportive team and reporting to the Data Protection Manager, you’ll advise on compliance, support projects and service developments, identify and manage privacy risks, contribute to policy and guidance development, and help create a culture where good information handling is understood and valued.

About You

• Strong knowledge of UK and EU data protection law, including UK GDPR and the Data Protection Act 2018.
• Degree-level education or equivalent.
• Experience of giving clear, practical advice in a complex working environment.
• Strong communication, influencing and organisational skills.
• The ability to manage sensitive information with discretion.

It would also be helpful if you have a recognised data protection qualification such as CIPP/E or BCS Data Protection Foundation, experience of compliance monitoring or audits, and experience of working in a large complex organisation. You’ll have the chance to do meaningful work, support a wide range of services, and help shape strong data protection practice across the council.

Why Bristol City Council?

At Bristol City Council, we go that extra mile for our people; we offer a work environment that is fast moving and supportive, giving you the chance to use your skills and develop new ones within a high‑profile organisation. For the majority of our roles hybrid working arrangements are available, giving teams the opportunity to work in a way that suits them, balancing service need and individual choice – mixing both home and office working. Join us and you’ll receive an excellent rewards package including flexible working and flexitime, membership of the Local Government Pension scheme, and a generous annual leave allowance. In addition, you’ll be working in a supportive environment where you’ll have the chance to make Bristol a better place and contribute to its future.

Employment Conditions

For permanent Bristol City Council employees, this post will be a secondment. For employees who are currently on a fixed term contract with Bristol City Council, the secondment must not extend beyond the end of the fixed term period to ensure there is a substantive post to return to. If you are currently a casual worker or a member of an employment agency (currently working with Bristol City Council) this post will be a fixed term contract.

Disability Confident

We’re a Disability Confident employer which means we value recruiting and retaining disabled people. Any job applicants who consider themselves to be disabled and meet the essential criteria in the Person Specification are guaranteed an interview. We'll make reasonable adjustments throughout the interview process and provide continued workplace support throughout your career.

Diversity Commitment

Bristol City Council strives to have a workforce that reflects the communities it serves, we are therefore committed to ensuring diversity in our hiring process. We welcome, develop and promote people from all sections of the community. Appointments will be made on merit. The personal information section (including your name) you’ll complete as part of the application form will not be visible to hiring managers, but is used confidentially to make sure that everyone is treated fairly.