DBS Compliance Lead

DBS Compliance Lead

Department: Legal & Compliance

Employment Type: Full Time

Location: Zinc – London

Reporting To: David Cole

Compensation: £40,000 – £45,000 / year

Description

We’re bringing DBS checks in-house at Zinc! To help us build a best-in-class screening service for our customers, we’re hiring a DBS Compliance Lead to work within Zinc’s Legal team. This is a hands‑on specialist role for someone who knows DBS eligibility inside out, understands regulated recruitment, and enjoys getting into the granular detail of how safer recruitment should work in practice.

You’ll be the main point of contact for all things DBS: from supporting customers with eligibility questions and job role decisions to liaising with the Disclosure and Barring Service on behalf of Zinc. You’ll play a crucial part in shaping how we deliver DBS checks at scale, ensuring we meet all DBS Registered Body requirements while giving customers a smooth, confident experience.

Although you’ll operate as our Lead Countersignatory day to day, the formal countersignatory responsibility will sit with our CEO. This role is perfect for someone who loves compliance, enjoys solving complex casework, and wants to help shape the evolution of Zinc’s criminal record checking capability.

Alongside DBS operations, you’ll also support our Head of Regulatory Affairs with bids, tenders and frameworks, contributing your expertise and attention to detail to help Zinc win and retain key contracts.

Key Responsibilities

• Act as Zinc’s operational Lead Countersignatory, managing all direct interactions with the DBS (with risk and legal responsibility held by our CEO).
• Oversee the end-to-end processing of DBS applications, starting with Enhanced and Barred List checks, expanding to all DBS routes over time.
• Provide expert eligibility guidance to customers, including reviewing new job roles, confirming eligibility routes, and advising where DBS checks are not appropriate.
• Escalate complex eligibility cases, ensuring decisions are accurate, defensible and aligned with safer recruitment principles.
• Maintain a log of job role eligibility decisions
• Maintain up-to-date knowledge of DBS policy, legislation and guidance, proactively translating changes into internal processes.
• Prepare for and support any DBS compliance visits or audits, including gathering evidence and updating procedures.
• Ensure Zinc continues to meet all obligations under our Registered Body status.
• Help shape and write internal policies, workflows and customer-facing documentation related to DBS checks.

• Provide high quality, plain English advice to customers about DBS checks, regulated activity, workforce categories and eligibility thresholds.
• Support customer onboarding for DBS services, including workflow design and documentation.
• Deliver training, webinars or guidance sessions for customers where needed.
• Build strong, trusted relationships through excellent communication and subject matter expertise.

• Work with Legal, Product and Tech teams to optimise how DBS checks flow through the Zinc platform.
• Contribute user insights to improve platform features, eligibility prompts, role guidance and customer experience.
• Partner with Sales, Customer Success and Account Management to support customer queries and renewals.

• Work jointly with the Head of Regulatory Affairs to support bids, tenders and procurement frameworks.
• Research and gather evidence to support bid responses.
• Draft clear, compelling answers that explain Zinc’s capabilities and regulatory controls.
• Maintain and continuously improve a database of answers to bid questions.
• Ensure consistency and compliance across submissions.

Skills, Knowledge and Expertise

• Strong previous experience working with DBS checks (Enhanced and Barred List especially).
• Deep understanding of safer recruitment and regulated workforce requirements (health and social care, education, voluntary, etc.).
• Excellent copywriting skills and meticulous attention to detail.
• Confidence advising customers on eligibility, thresholds and good practice.
• Ability to understand, follow and implement policy and guidance.
• High technical literacy and comfort working with digital vetting or HR platforms.
• Comfortable managing casework, making defensible decisions and documenting rationale.
• Collaborative working style with great communication skills.

• Experience working within a Registered Body or Umbrella Body.
• Policy writing or governance experience.
• Experience supporting tenders, bids or procurement frameworks.
• Previous exposure to the vetting, background screening or HR tech sector.

What we offer

Zinc offers a chance to work on a product that brings a fresh perspective on data ownership in hiring

• 24 days holiday + Bank Holidays + your birthday off
• £1200 annual benefits allowance (ThanksBen, from month 2)
• Early finish Fridays (16:00)
• Yearly company retreat abroad ✈️
• 30 days to Work from anywhere
• Enhanced Maternity, Paternity, and Adoption Leave (2 months full pay, then statutory)
• Statutory pension with NEST (3% employer, 5% employee)
• Zinc shares, issued through the EMI Scheme
• Unlimited access to MoreHappi coaching
• Company socials, quarterly team socials Free Monday lunches
• Nursery workplace benefit scheme (Yellownest)
• Option to lease an electric car through Electric Car Scheme
• Celebrated Zinc anniversaries