Graduate Officer in Manchester

Contract: Permanent

Salary: £32,000 per annum

Location: Hybrid (contracted to Manchester)

From Autumn 2026 our head office will relocate from Wilmslow to Manchester city centre. You will be contracted to the Manchester office; however, we offer hybrid working options and you will be able to split your time between home and office.

Benefits

• Pay progression scheme
• Hybrid and flexible working options
• 25 days paid holiday per year, plus public holidays
• Flexi leave (up to 26 additional days per year)
• Employer pension contribution of 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

Further details can be found on the benefits section of our website.

Discover the Programme

Our two-year Graduate Scheme will enable you to gain hands‑on experience across a wide range of teams and projects. You’ll complete four six‑month rotations across different directorates of the ICO, giving you a broad understanding of our work and helping you discover where your strengths and interests lie. Although the scheme lasts two years, you’ll join on a permanent contract, offering long‑term career opportunities beyond your rotations. Whether it’s supporting strategic initiatives, contributing to operational delivery, or helping shape policy and guidance, you’ll be at the heart of protecting people’s information rights in a digital age.

Rotations will include

• Regulatory Policy – working on shaping guidance and policy that influences how organisations handle personal data.
• A Strategy and Support Function – contributing to organisational transformation by working with key enabling teams that drive change and innovation.
• Regulatory delivery – gaining experience in areas directly responsible for regulatory engagement and enforcement, ensuring compliance and protecting individuals’ rights.

Key Responsibilities

During your time with us, you’ll have the chance to get involved in a variety of tasks, which could include:

• Conducting research and analysis, summarising findings to support decision making and to help prepare insights using appropriate tools and formats.
• Contributing to drafting a range of documents, including meeting papers, briefings, presentations, and correspondence for internal and external audiences.
• Assisting with organising meetings, preparing materials, and recording actions.
• Supporting planning, coordination and delivering projects or campaigns.
• Helping maintain accurate project documentation to support reporting and decision‑making.
• Taking part in meetings and sharing ideas.
• Working collaboratively with colleagues across teams and functions.
• Helping maintain relationships with internal and external stakeholders.
• Supporting with tracking risks and issues and developing responses.

These are examples of the types of work you might do—your experience will vary depending on your team and projects.

Learning and Development

We’ll support you every step of the way with:

• Structured induction and onboarding
• On‑the‑job learning during rotations
• Access to mentoring and coaching from experienced colleagues to guide your development
• Professional development workshops to build technical and soft skills
• Networking opportunities across the ICO, including graduate cohorts, staff networks, and cross‑team projects
• Opportunities to build skills in policy, regulation, stakeholder engagement, and project delivery
• Guaranteed support to complete a qualification, starting in year two of the programme. The exact programme will be agreed in partnership, taking account of previous qualifications and career aspirations.

Who we are looking for

We’re looking for graduates who are motivated by making a positive impact and eager to learn. Curiosity, adaptability, and a commitment to protecting people’s information rights are key to success at the ICO.

Essential criteria assessed at application

• You should have, or be on track to achieve, at least a 2:2 degree in any discipline.
• You must have the Right to Work in the UK without requiring sponsorship.
• Strong written communication skills
• Experience of working in a team environment (e.g. through work, volunteering, or university projects)
• Motivation to learn, adapt, and take on new challenges
• Ability to manage time effectively and prioritise tasks
• Ability to work collaboratively and build positive relationships

Essential criteria assessed at interview/assessment centre

• Motivation to learn, adapt, and take on new challenges
• Strong written and verbal communication skills
• Experience of working in a team environment (e.g. through work, volunteering, or university projects)
• Ability to effectively use Microsoft 365 applications (Word, Excel, PowerPoint, Teams)
• Ability to manage time effectively and prioritise tasks
• Ability to work collaboratively and build positive relationships

What matters to us is

• Work collaboratively and build strong relationships across teams
• Think critically and approach challenges with a solution‑focused mindset
• Communicate clearly and confidently
• Show integrity and uphold our values of being curious, impactful, inclusive, and working collaboratively.

Our colleagues come from a wide range of academic and professional backgrounds, so whatever your degree discipline, you can apply.

Why work for the ICO?

Our commitment is to create an environment where you can thrive. We achieve this by:

• Providing meaningful work that makes a real difference in protecting people’s information rights.
• Championing diversity and inclusion, ensuring everyone can develop and progress without barriers.
• Supporting well‑being, with flexible working options and initiatives to help you stay safe and well.
• Creating an environment where people are valued and respected, and where your voice matters.

We’re committed to creating a supportive and inclusive workplace. Alongside flexible working and well‑being initiatives, we have trained mental health first‑aiders and a range of staff networks focused on diversity and inclusion, helping you feel connected and supported throughout your time with us.

Your future at the ICO

You’ll be recruited on a permanent contract; after completing the programme you’ll have the opportunity and support to apply for roles.

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.

Candidates with a disability who meet the minimum criteria for this vacancy will be invited to interview as part of the ICO’s commitment to the Disability Confident Scheme. As part of the ICO’s commitment to our EDI objectives and creating a workplace that represents the communities and societies we serve, we guarantee an interview to candidates who declare they identify as belonging from an ethnic minority background and who meet the minimum criteria for this vacancy. If you are disabled or have an impairment and require an alternative application method, please email the HR team at __.

How to apply and closing date

Please submit your CV and complete the application by 23:59, 15 March 2026. 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. If you require any reasonable adjustments to support your application, please contact us at __. In the event of a high volume of applications, we may not be able to invite all candidates who meet the minimum criteria to the next stage. However, we encourage you stay in touch and apply for future roles that match your interests. All candidates who meet the minimum criteria and apply in line with our guaranteed interview scheme for disabled and ethnic minority applicants will be interviewed. We expect all applications and assessments to reflect your own work. Please do not submit answers completed by someone else or generated using AI tools or similar software. Doing so may result in your application being withdrawn. Our process is designed to give you the best chance to demonstrate your own skills and potential.

Assessment Process

We want to make our recruitment process fair and transparent, and we want you to feel supported and informed at every step. Here’s what you can expect:

• Stage One: Online Application Submit your CV and complete application questions that demonstrate your skills and capabilities.
• Stage Two: Online Interview Candidates successfully passing stage one will be invited to a short telephone or Microsoft Teams interview. The interview will typically last around 15‑20 minutes.
• Stage Three: Assessment Centre If shortlisted, you’ll be invited to an assessment centre, in Manchester City Centre, which includes: Presentation, Group exercise, Interview.
• Stage Four: Final Outcome Successful candidates will receive an offer to join the Graduate Scheme starting September 2026.

Indicative Timeline

• Applications open: 23 February 2026
• Applications close: 15 March 2026
• Online Interview: w/c 13th and 20th April
• Assessment centres: w/c 11 May 2026
• Offers made: w/c 25 May 2026

If you have any questions or would like to discuss either of the schemes in more detail, please contact __.

Ready to shape the future of data protection? Apply now and start your journey with us.