Senior Policy Officer in Manchester

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Two permanent positions: one role in Digital Firms and one role in Innovation Hub. Full time / Part time. Salary: £44,297 - £49,813 with potential for further progression to £56,082 with our pay progression scheme. Location: Hybrid, contracted to our Manchester, London, Edinburgh, Cardiff or Belfast office. Through hybrid working, we offer flexible home and office-based working opportunities, and there will be times when you will be expected to attend the office to collaborate with colleagues or travel due to business need.

Why work for the ICO?

• Pay progression scheme.
• Hybrid and flexible working options.
• 25 days paid holiday per year, plus privilege and public holidays.
• Flexi leave (up to 26 additional days leave per year).
• Pension (employer contribution around 28.9%).
• Online discount scheme to save money at major supermarkets, retailers, gyms, restaurants, insurance providers and many more.
• Health Cash Plan.
• Fantastic development opportunities to learn and progress.

Job summary: This is a great opportunity for an experienced policy professional to help shape the responsible use of innovative products and services at the forefront of technological change. Working on complex and high-profile issues, you will play a key role in ensuring compliance with data protection law while supporting innovation that benefits people and organisations.

We are looking for someone with strong analytical and organisational skills, the confidence to challenge and negotiate effectively, and the ability to build productive relationships with a wide range of stakeholders to influence positive outcomes.

The Information Commissioner's Office (ICO) is the independent regulator of information rights. In a data-driven world, we provide advice, guidance, and support to organisations enabling compliance with their obligations, as well as protecting individuals and their personal data.

As an employer, we are passionate about making a positive difference to the lives and careers of our people, and we empower you to be curious, impactful, collaborative and respectful.

Job description: The Digital Firms Team is responsible for key areas of the ICO's regulatory supervision of information rights practices in digital and online environments. The Team is responsible for supervising and influencing the data protection compliance approaches of the largest technology firms, collaborating with other UK digital regulators, developing and implementing strategic policy, and supporting formal ICO operations.

It deals with the highest profile information rights issues of the day, from data protection matters of strategic importance within the digital economy, to the privacy impacts arising from major public policy developments.

As Senior Policy Officer, you will be involved in developing and executing an enhanced ICO model of regulatory supervision. You will also take ownership of complex policy issues arising out of supervision, undertaking research and supporting policy join-up, providing advice and guidance as well as being a primary source of contact for stakeholders often at a senior level.

The Innovation Hub sits within the ICO's Innovation Department and supports responsible innovation involving personal data. Working with innovators, regulators and other stakeholders, the team helps organisations navigate complex data protection challenges, embed privacy by design, and develop innovative products and services responsibly.

The Hub also identifies emerging issues, contributes to policy development, promotes coordinated regulatory approaches, and supports public trust in the use of personal data.

As a Senior Policy Officer, you will work with regulators, businesses, and other stakeholders to support the ICO's innovation and regulatory objectives. You will provide expert advice on complex data protection issues, help organisations adopt privacy-conscious approaches, and build strong stakeholder relationships.

The role also involves identifying emerging data protection challenges, gathering insights from engagement activities, and using these to inform policy development and shape the ICO’s approach to responsible innovation.

Key responsibilities:

• Support the ICO's strategic approach to regulatory supervision, responsible innovation, and the use of personal data in digital and emerging technology contexts.
• Develop, produce and deliver clear written and verbal advice on complex data protection, regulatory, policy and innovation issues.
• Analyse complex issues, undertake research, and use evidence and insight to inform policy development, decision-making and the ICO's wider strategic approach.
• Develop and maintain subject matter expertise in information rights legislation, data protection law, emerging technologies, and wider political, legal, regulatory, technological and societal developments.
• Build, develop and maintain effective relationships with assigned stakeholders, including innovators, regulators, businesses, senior stakeholders and other organisations.
• Work collaboratively with colleagues across the ICO to support policy development, regulatory coordination and joined-up approaches to innovation, supervision and emerging technology issues.
• Identify emerging issues, risks, opportunities and trends in technology, innovation and data rights, including horizon scanning and considering their strategic, social and practical implications.
• Keep accurate records of internal and external engagement, progress, and project documentation as required.
• Comply with ICO policies and procedures and undertake any other duties as required.
• Support the supervision of big tech platforms and help drive improvements in how these firms approach data processing in high-priority areas such as AI and children's privacy.
• Influence senior stakeholders and external organisations in a way that supports the ICO's objectives, including through negotiation and the maintenance of effective working relationships.
• Act as a central point of coordination for cross-ICO collaborative project work and liaison.
• Provide practical advice and support to organisations, innovators and regulatory partners to help embed compliance and data protection considerations from the earliest stages of product or service development.
• Proactively identify and pursue opportunities for new partnerships and engagement to increase the team's output, influence and reach.
• Promote data protection by design, privacy-friendly innovation, and responsible approaches to the development and deployment of products and services that use personal data.
• Contribute to business planning, activity reporting, and the measurement of performance and impact.
• Represent the ICO through stakeholder engagement activities, including meetings, workshops, conferences, industry events, regulatory forums and public speaking engagements in the UK and internationally.

Person specification:

Essential criteria assessed at application stage:

• Significant relevant working experience in a policy, regulatory, technological or legal based role will be an advantage.
• Experience of working with complex information, which could include legislation or operational rules and procedures.
• Strong interpersonal skills, including the ability to negotiate and maintain good working relationships both internally and externally, up to and including senior management level.
• The ability to use good judgement and problem-solving skills in order to take sound, evidence-based decisions.

Essential criteria assessed during interview:

• Excellent ability to analyse complex issues and formulate clear and persuasive arguments for a range of audiences.
• Excellent communication skills, including excellent written, oral and presentation skills.
• An ability to work on own initiative and as part of a team to achieve a shared goal.
• An understanding of wider political, economic, and technological developments in the UK and overseas.
• Ability to travel to meetings and events in the UK and occasionally overseas (possibly outside office hours).

Equality, diversity, and inclusion: The ICO is committed to promoting and enhancing equality, diversity, and inclusion. We are focused on developing a workforce that is representative of the communities we serve and together we are building an inclusive workplace where all of our colleagues have the opportunity to make a real difference.

We are championing this through our Equality Diversity and Inclusion Board together with a number of staff networks. Read more about our commitment on our website.

Closing Date: Please submit your CV and cover letter by 23:59, 13 September. Your cover letter should be no more than 1,000 words and should clearly demonstrate how you meet the essential criteria for the role. We may close this vacancy early if we receive a high volume of applications. To ensure your application is considered, we encourage you to apply as soon as possible.