Department acts quickly to ensure compliance with GDPR requirements

The newly recruited data-protection officer will be responsible for promoting awareness of compliance  Credit: Steve Cadman

The Home Office has created a role for an experienced technology and data professional to oversee its data-protection responsibilities.

The department is recruiting for a data-protection officer (DPO) and is offering a salary of between £80,000 and £85,000. The creation of the new post will allow the Home Office to comply with the EU General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR), which requires all public bodies to employ a designated DPO.

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The successful candidate will be expected to promote awareness of data protection throughout the department, and advise colleagues responsible for processing data of their legal obligations. They will also be tasked with creating and carrying out “risk-based audits to test compliance”, the Home Office said. Applicants will need to demonstrate wide knowledge of data-protection legislation and practices across Europe, as well as some IT expertise and “very strong analytical skills”.

The department said: “The DPO will be able to shape Home Office’s approach to the implementation of a new data-protection regime… and to define the processes and other matters relevant to the Home Office’s successful implementation of this.”

Adopted last year, GDPR will become enforceable by all EU member states in eight months’ time. Last week the Department of Digital, Culture, Media and Sport lifted the lid on the Data Protection Bill, which not only effectively ensures that GDPR becomes enshrined in UK law, but also introduces some additional measures.