About the job

Job summary

Personal data - whether about our staff and volunteers, visitors, donors, students and others that we engage with- is as important to Kew as its plant related data. We have an embedded data protection framework within the organisation. Nevertheless, there is still much to do to maintain and enhance our compliance activities and keep pace with the business’s new initiatives. No two days at Kew are ever the same and due to the variety of functions offered across our sites, there will always be new activities to get involved in.

Working alongside the Legal team, this post is responsible for managing and enhancing Kew's data protection and freedom of information compliance frameworks and providing robust but pragmatic advice across Kew on a broad range of matters. 

Job description

We are looking for a dynamic individual with the technical expertise, hands-on experience and drive to continue enhancement of our data protection and freedom of information compliance activities. You will be the primary contact for data protection, so need to have substantial, sound experience directly advising on data protection law and practice across a wide variety of activities, along with proven ability in providing strategic and pragmatic advice and support. You will hold a relevant professional qualification (e.g. CIPP/E, CIPM); experience of Freedom of Information laws and practice is desirable, but not essential, so long as you are willing to develop this.

Person specification

You will need to be proactive, a great relationship builder and able to effectively influence outcomes with key stakeholders at all levels – these include : the local Data Protection Leads & Champions (who act as advocates for compliance and a direct point of liaison for their departments); the external Data Protection Officer (acting under a DPO as a service arrangement, providing audit and assurance and, as requested by the post-holder, support and advice); and Directors and other senior managers within the organisation.

Benefits

Our fantastic benefits package includes opportunities for continuous learning, a generous annual leave entitlement, flexible working to help you maintain a healthy work-life balance, an Employee Assistance Programme and other wellbeing support such as cycle to work scheme and discounted gym membership. We also offer a competitive pension, an employee discount scheme and free entry into a wide range of national museums and galleries, as well access to our own beautiful gardens at Kew and Wakehurst.

Things you need to know

Selection process details

To apply for this role, please submit your application through the Kew Gardens website

Feedback will only be provided if you attend an interview or assessment.

Security

Successful candidates must undergo a criminal record check. People working with government assets must complete baseline personnel security standard (opens in new window) checks.

Nationality requirements

This job is broadly open to the following groups:

• UK nationals
• nationals of the Republic of Ireland
• nationals of Commonwealth countries who have the right to work in the UK
• nationals of the EU, Switzerland, Norway, Iceland or Liechtenstein and family members of those nationalities with settled or pre-settled status under the European Union Settlement Scheme (EUSS) (opens in a new window)
• nationals of the EU, Switzerland, Norway, Iceland or Liechtenstein and family members of those nationalities who have made a valid application for settled or pre-settled status under the European Union Settlement Scheme (EUSS)
• individuals with limited leave to remain or indefinite leave to remain who were eligible to apply for EUSS on or before 31 December 2020
• Turkish nationals, and certain family members of Turkish nationals, who have accrued the right to work in the Civil Service

Further information on nationality requirements (opens in a new window)

Working for the Civil Service

The Civil Service Code (opens in a new window) sets out the standards of behaviour expected of civil servants.

We recruit by merit on the basis of fair and open competition, as outlined in the Civil Service Commission's recruitment principles (opens in a new window). The Civil Service embraces diversity and promotes equal opportunities. As such, we run a Disability Confident Scheme (DCS) for candidates with disabilities who meet the minimum selection criteria.