At a Glance
- Tasks: Lead data governance initiatives and ensure compliance with data protection laws.
- Company: Join the Government Digital Service, shaping a modern digital government.
- Benefits: Impactful work, collaboration with top digital professionals, and career growth opportunities.
- Other info: Dynamic environment with a focus on innovation and collaboration.
- Why this job: Make a difference by solving national digital challenges and improving public services.
- Qualifications: Experience in data protection and strong leadership skills required.
The Government Digital Service (GDS) is the digital centre of government. We are responsible for setting, leading and delivering the vision for a modern digital government. Our priorities are to drive a modern digital government by:
- joining up public sector services
- harnessing the power of AI for the public good
- strengthening and extending our digital and data public infrastructure
- elevating leadership and investing in talent
- funding for outcomes and procuring for growth and innovation
- committing to transparency and driving accountability
We are home to the Incubator for Artificial Intelligence (I.AI), the world-leading GOV.UK and at the forefront of coordinating the UK’s geospatial strategy and activity. We lead the Government Digital and Data function and champion the work of digital teams across government.
We’re part of the Department for Science, Innovation and Technology (DSIT) and employ more than 1,000 people all over the UK, with hubs in Manchester, London and Bristol. The Government Digital Service is where talent translates into impact. From your first day, you’ll be working with some of the world’s most highly-skilled digital professionals, all contributing their knowledge to make change on a national scale. Join us for rewarding work that makes a difference across the UK. You'll solve some of the nation’s highest-priority digital challenges, helping millions of people access services they need.
The Data Governance Team, as part of the GDS Product, Strategy, Planning and Performance directorate, provides specialist expertise and leadership across the Government Digital Service. The Data Governance team has an excellent track record for their enabling and pragmatic attitudes to support delivery teams in achieving GDS’s strategic objectives at a fast pace whilst balancing robust data protection compliance.
The core focus of this role will be working in close partnership with the GOV.UK Performance Analytics team. Analytics plays a critical role in understanding how users interact with GOV.UK, identifying where services can be improved, and ensuring that government information is accessible, effective and safe for all users. This role will provide specialist data protection leadership for analytics design and implementation, shaping how user-centred insight can be generated in a way that is lawful, ethical and transparent.
As a Data Governance Lead, you will cover:
- leadership: play an active role in the Data Governance leadership team
- data protection compliance: design and implement privacy and data protection controls for the products and processes GDS creates, including the delivery of Data Protection Impact Assessments to ensure the GDS Product Group complies with data protection law by delivering flexible and pragmatic governance practices that enable delivery at pace
- privacy by design and risk management: lead the delivery of high quality Data Protection Impact Assessments (DPIAs), Privacy Notices and Records of Processing Activities for new projects at pace
- training and awareness: oversee training to ensure GDS staff understand data protection obligations and best practices, fostering a culture of data privacy at all levels
- excellent communication and relationship management: Work closely with GDS colleagues to build trust. Deliver high quality written and verbal briefings to all levels, including delivery managers and senior management. Explain technical detail to non-technical staff
- external stakeholder engagement: Work closely with external stakeholders such as the Information Commissioner’s Office (ICO) and privacy groups to ensure compliance and address queries
- support the Deputy Head and Head of Data Governance: Provide proactive support to the heads to manage and lead on compliance, identify risks, the development of data governance strategies and deliver strategic objectives
- workload management and prioritisation: prioritise your time and the time of your team effectively to manage a high volume, fast paced and frequently evolving workload. Manage workloads to ensure that priorities align with strategic and team objectives and that deadlines are met
Person specification: We’re interested in people who have:
- Data Protection & Privacy qualifications - holding a relevant privacy qualification such as IAPP (CIPP/E, CIPM) or BCS (ISEB), or have relevant experience
- demonstrable experience of leading data protection teams to enable the organisation to achieve its strategic objectives, underpinned by a positive, proactive leadership approach with a commitment to collaboration and governance
- experience at delivering at pace, meeting challenging and changing operational and legal deadlines
- strong communication, presentation and interpersonal skills to build effective working relationships in a flexible and fast-changing environment
- a good understanding of new and emerging technologies and the opportunities they provide to improve the delivery of public services in the UK, including AI
- experience of risk management and the ability to balance risks against operational, technical and commercial requirements
Sponsorship: DSIT cannot offer Visa sponsorship to candidates through this campaign. DSIT holds a Visa sponsorship licence but this can only be used for certain roles and this campaign does not qualify.
Data Governance Lead in London employer: Government Digital Service
The Government Digital Service in Manchester is an exceptional employer, offering a dynamic work culture that prioritises innovation and collaboration. Employees benefit from opportunities for professional growth through mentorship and hands-on experience in cutting-edge cloud-native technologies, all while contributing to meaningful projects that enhance public services across the UK.
Contact Details:
Government Digital Service Recruitment Team
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