Information Governance Manager

We are currently working in partnership with a Housing Association based in Preston, who are recruiting for an Information Governance Manager to join the team on a permanent basis. The role is paying circa £46,000 per annum, and the successful candidate will be required to attend the office in Preston 3 days per week.

The successful candidate will be responsible for ensuring compliance with data protection and information governance requirements. The role will lead the development and maintenance of relevant policies, procedures, training and communications, ensuring adherence to GDPR, Freedom of Information requirements and social housing regulatory standards.

The ideal candidate will have experience in a similar role managing information governance, GDPR/data protection and Freedom of Information requirements, alongside experience managing compliance processes, individual rights requests and data breach investigations. They will also have experience developing and delivering information governance and data protection training, guidance and awareness materials.

Duties will include (but are not limited to):

• Overseeing and managing the operational delivery of Data Protection and Information Governance, ensuring effective management of resources to meet performance targets.
• Overseeing the review and maintenance of data protection policies, procedures and processes, ensuring legislative compliance and operational effectiveness.
• Maintaining Records of Processing Activities (ROPA), managing Data Sharing Agreement (DSA) and Data Protection Impact Assessment (DPIA) registers, and managing Data Subject Access Requests (DSARs) from receipt to completion.
• Supporting the DPO with the investigation and reporting of data breaches, including compiling investigation reports, identifying lessons learned and reporting to the Information Commissioner’s Office (ICO) as required.
• Maintaining retention schedules and working with the IT Team to coordinate the compliant disposal of records.
• Maintaining the STAIRS publication scheme, ensuring published information remains accurate, accessible and up to date.
• Coordinating responses to STAIRS requests, advising on exemptions and public interest tests to ensure compliant and timely responses.

Experience required:

• Experience in a similar role managing information governance, GDPR/data protection and Freedom of Information requirements.
• Managing individual rights requests and supporting data breach investigations.
• Developing and delivering information governance and data protection training and awareness materials.
• Knowledge of the social housing sector, including relevant legislation and regulation.

Skills, knowledge and expertise required:

• Strong working knowledge of UK Data Protection and Freedom of Information legislation and Information Commissioner’s Office guidance.
• Excellent people management skills, with the ability to lead, support, motivate and manage a team.
• Excellent written and verbal communication skills.
• Strong decision-making skills, utilising data and insight effectively.
• Strong organisational skills, with the ability to prioritise workload and work to deadlines.

Rewards and Benefits:

• Minimum of 25 days annual leave, increasing to 30 days (plus Bank Holidays) + option to buy additional annual leave.
• Up to 10% company pension contribution and 3x death in service benefit.
• Access to discounts and vouchers, including discounted gym membership.
• Enhanced special leave payments (including maternity, paternity, adoption and fertility treatment, and company sick pay).
• Access to health cash plan and employee assistance programme.

Working hours: 37 hours per week Monday – Friday, 9am-5pm.

Please note that you require recent experience to apply for this role.