Head of Information Governance

Basis: Permanent, full time, 36 hours per week. London-based employees receive an additional £3,217 London weighting. A £312 tax-free working from home allowance is also payable annually.

Location: London, Cardiff, Belfast or Edinburgh (Hybrid – minimum 2 days in office) or Remote (UK).

Benefits: Outstanding benefits including Civil Service Pension Scheme, flexible working, 28+ days holiday, and more.

About the Electoral Commission: The Electoral Commission is the UK’s independent body overseeing elections and regulating political finance. Everything we do is about ensuring trust, participation, and integrity in the democratic process. As we enter a bold new chapter under our five-year Corporate Plan, we are increasing our workforce and transforming how we plan and deliver core services. This post plays a central role in that journey.

About the role: We are seeking a strategic and authoritative leader to shape and deliver the Commission’s Information Governance (IG) strategy across the UK. As Head of Information Governance, you will act as the Commission’s statutory Data Protection Officer, serving as the independent corporate authority on data protection, records management, Freedom of Information and information compliance. You will advise the Executive Team and Board level advising on enterprise risk, regulatory obligations and emerging threats in a fast‑evolving environment.

• Developing and delivering a Commission‑wide Information Governance strategy aligned to our Corporate Plan and risk framework.
• Acting as the independent statutory Data Protection Officer under UK GDPR and the Data Protection Act 2018.
• Serving as primary contact with the Information Commissioner’s Office.
• Strengthening FOI performance, ensuring legally robust and proportionate responses in complex or high‑profile cases.
• Owning enterprise‑level information governance risks and advising on regulatory, technological and reputational developments.
• Embedding privacy‑by‑design safeguards within digital transformation, AI‑enabled systems and data analytics initiatives.
• Ensuring compliance with the Equality Act 2010 and Welsh Language Standards in the handling of personal and public information.
• Leading and developing a professional IG function, building capability and driving continuous improvement.

This is a high‑impact leadership role with significant exposure to senior decision‑makers and Commissioners. You will influence corporate direction while strengthening organisational resilience and safeguarding public trust.

About the team: The Information Governance function sits within Corporate Services and plays a critical role in protecting the Commission’s information assets and ensuring lawful, transparent and accountable use of data. The team includes senior managers and specialist professionals responsible for data protection, records management, access to information and compliance activity across UK‑wide and devolved operations.

There is a clear opportunity to:

• Strengthen organisational capability.
• Improve FOI performance and maturity.
• Shape the long‑term structure and positioning of the function.
• Embed best practice across digital and transformation programmes.

You will join a collaborative leadership environment and work closely with the Executive Team, Senior Information Risk Owner, and senior colleagues across technology and corporate services.

Who we’re looking for: We are looking for an experienced Information Governance leader who combines deep technical expertise with strong strategic judgement and influencing skills. You will bring:

• Significant experience leading an Information Governance or Data Protection function within a complex organisation.
• Experience acting as a statutory Data Protection Officer or equivalent senior role.
• Demonstrable experience advising senior leadership on regulatory compliance and enterprise risk.
• Experience managing professional teams and developing organisational capability.
• Expert knowledge of UK GDPR, Data Protection Act 2018, FOIA, EIR and Public Records legislation.
• Strong strategic thinking and the ability to influence senior stakeholders.
• Excellent written and verbal communication skills, including experience handling regulatory correspondence.

You will be comfortable operating at Board level, navigating complex and high‑profile issues, and balancing compliance obligations with enabling innovation and effective information use.

Why work for us? This is a rare opportunity to shape information governance at the heart of the UK’s democratic infrastructure. As Head of Information Governance, you will influence strategic decision‑making at Executive and Board level while strengthening the Commission’s resilience, transparency and public accountability. Your expertise will directly contribute to safeguarding public trust in how information is handled and protected. You will lead governance in a context that is evolving rapidly, particularly as digital transformation and AI‑enabled technologies become more prominent across public life. The role offers both strategic breadth and regulatory depth, enabling you to balance statutory compliance with enabling effective and innovative use of information.

Benefits: We offer a strong total reward package, including:

• Flexible working and hybrid model (40% office minimum).
• 28 rising to 30 days annual leave + bank holidays.
• Study support for professional qualifications.
• Ongoing learning and development opportunities.
• Ride2Work, eye care vouchers and more.

How to apply: We are committed to fair and inclusive recruitment. To help reduce unconscious bias and ensure all applicants are assessed solely on their skills, knowledge and experience, we use an anonymous recruitment process. When applying, please provide an anonymised CV which omits your protected characteristics and any personally identifiable information.

The Electoral Commission is proud to be a Level 2 Disability Confident Employer. As part of this commitment, we aim to prioritise interviews for disabled applicants who meet the essential criteria listed in the job description. There may, however, be occasions where it is not practicable or appropriate to interview all disabled applicants who meet the essential criteria.

Key dates: Interviews (1st stage): 15th April 2026 TBC. Interviews (2nd stage): 22nd April 2026 TBC. Anticipated start date: 4th August 2026.

Applicants applying for a London‑based role should expect to attend interviews in person. For applicants in devolved nations, interviews may be conducted virtually via Microsoft Teams.