Digital agency recruits for senior manager to oversee use of personal data

The Government Digital Service is seeking a senior manager to oversee the organisation’s use of personal data and help create a “privacy-positive” culture.

GDS is advertising a vacant position as head of privacy and data protection. The post, which will be based at the agency’s headquarters in east London, comes with an annual salary of £85,000.

The chosen candidate will be tasked with “providing leadership on the use of personal data both in GDS and in wider government”. They will sit at the head of a “small dedicated team of privacy professionals” that will work alongside GDS’s information assurance unit.

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“The role will involve significant autonomy and play a pivotal part in the development of the privacy both within GDS and wider government”, GDS said. “As head of privacy and data protection, you will engage with GDS, third parties, other governmental departments and regulatory bodies to ensure that our services comply with all required legal obligations and meet user expectations. You’ll be an advocate for privacy within development teams, and responsible for establishing and managing the privacy controls in line with established best practice.”

GDS is seeking applications from people holding a privacy qualification from an entity such as the International Association of Privacy Professionals or UK IT industry body BCS. Candidates will also need an in-depth understanding of the EU General Data Protection Regulation, as well as “experience of GDPR implementation in an operational environment”.

Another core requirement is knowledge and past experience of “how to ensure privacy by design for digital services”.

Applications for the position are open until 10 June.