Data Protection Specialist - 12 Month Fixed Term Contract (July 2026 - June 2027)

**Division:** Risk and Compliance Oversight

**Department:** Data Privacy and Compliance

**Salary:** National (Edinburgh and Leeds) ranging from £52,400 to £62,700 and London from £57,700 to £68,000 (salary offered will be based on skills and experience)

**This role is graded as:** Senior Associate - Regulatory

**Your recruitment contact is** Cameron Nunn via Cameron.Nunn@fca.org.uk. Applications must be submitted through our online portal. Applications sent via social media or email will not be accepted.

**About the FCA and team** We regulate financial services firms in the UK, to keep financial markets fair, thriving and effective. By joining us, you’ll play a key part in protecting consumers, driving economic growth, and shaping the future of UK finance services. SPC oversees firms and individuals (supervision), creates and reviews the rules by which they operate (policy) and identifies and remedies ineffective competition in markets (competition). The Risk and Compliance Oversight Division (R&CO) performs the second line of defence function in the FCA. R&CO help the FCA identify, assess, and report risks that threaten the FCA's ability to deliver its statutory objectives.

**Role responsibilities**

• Act as a specialist adviser to 1LoD functions and business areas, translating complex legal and regulatory requirements into practical guidance that supports the lawful, ethical and professional handling of personal data across the organisation.
• Manage medium to low‐risk data breaches and support senior colleagues on major investigations, helping to contain issues quickly and protect individuals and the organisation, with flexibility for occasional out‐of‐hours work when needed.
• Provide self-directed advice on complaints, queries and escalations, maintaining key documentation such as ROPA, privacy notices and policy frameworks to enhance the organisation’s compliance posture and reduce regulatory risk.
• Deliver against core privacy objectives by identifying compliance gaps, assessing risks and ensuring corrective actions are completed, enabling clear oversight and robust reporting to senior stakeholders.
• Support the integration of the privacy framework, monitoring regulatory developments and trends, actively contributing to cross‐directorate initiatives that promote consistency, collaboration and shared standards.
• Develop and deliver engaging training and awareness programmes, ensuring colleagues understand their data protection responsibilities and helping to embed a consistent, organisation‐wide “privacy‐aware” culture.

**Skills required**

**Minimum:** Demonstrable experience interpreting and applying complex legal and compliance requirements, complemented by knowledge of privacy governance in AI and ethics. Prior experience in privacy operations, advisory and assurance including the implementation of robust privacy controls and training programs.