About the job

Job summary

In December 2021 Baroness Heather Hallett, a retired Appeal Court judge, was appointed by the Prime Minister as Chair of the independent public inquiry into the Covid-19 pandemic. 

The UK Covid-19 Inquiry was formally established with full powers under the Inquiries Act 2005 in June 2022. The Inquiry sits independently of the Government with the Cabinet Office acting as the sponsoring department. 

Following an initial set up phase the Inquiry began hearing evidence in May 2023. We are now looking for an energetic and collaborative senior leader to join the excellent team that is delivering the Inquiry.

This is an exciting role, offering the opportunity to lead an innovative team, in fast moving circumstances, to ensure lessons are learned from the UK response to the Covid-19 pandemic.

Further information about the Inquiry can be found on the UK Covid-19 Inquiry website.

Job description

The Covid Inquiry is one of the largest and most challenging Public inquiries and deals with millions of pages of data and information as part of its work each year. The Inquiry strives to be an example of best practice to create a safer digital environment for all. This is a unique opportunity to join the Inquiry and aid the Inquiry’s compliance with privacy and data protection legislation. 

The Inquiry Data Protection Officer is a senior member of staff who can advise and challenge on Data Protection processes and practices in an independent manner. They have a key assurance, compliance and advisory function on data protection matters within the Inquiry, facilitating compliance across all teams for general personal data processing matters. They will be responsible for identifying risks and ensuring the controls, policies and procedures are in place within the Inquiry to mitigate the identified risks.

The Inquiry Data Protection Officer will also enable the business to achieve its objectives in a safe and secure manner within an appropriate and proportionate set of controls, policies and procedures that prevent cyber attacks.

Reporting to the Information and Programme Director, this role sits within the Inquiry’s Programme and Information Management Services Directorate, which covers a range of corporate functions including Planning & Delivery, Governance & Assurance, Evidence and Information Management and Private Office. 

This is an exciting opportunity to lead in an organisation where you will be supported to challenge yourself in often ambiguous circumstances. The team works in a flexible, collaborative manner to learn and support each other as we undertake one of the most publicly anticipated inquiries in UK history.

In line with Article 39 of GDPR, the job holder will be responsible for taking active and visible leadership to support and promote a positive Data Protection culture within the inquiry. They will have specific responsibilities for:

• Coordination of the provision of support to the Inquiry in meeting its data protection obligations
• Monitoring the implementation of policies, processes and procedures across the Inquiry, and overseeing internal data protection audits.
• Building relationships with stakeholders to help increase understanding and compliance with data protection obligations
• Advising the SIRO and SLT on DPA related matters to ensure  they are able to make fully informed decisions on Inquiry data policies.
• Advising and supporting business areas in understanding their obligations under data protection legislation, highlighting any potential risks.
• Managing the notification of registration with the Information Commissioner’s Office and, where necessary, report data protection breaches within the statutory timeframe and any communication with the Information Commissioner’s Office.
• Be the first point of contact for the ICO and individuals whose data is processed
• Ensuring that the rights of data subjects are upheld and that data subjects exercising their rights are dealt with correctly and to a deadline.
• Supporting the business in the management of risk around data protection, advising on data protection impact assessments, and monitoring compliance.
• Delivering mandatory data protection training and ensuring awareness procedures are in place and monitor that all staff are appropriately trained and updated as necessary.
• Responsible for advising on Cyber Security governance and practice within the Inquiry and working with a supplier to ensure that cyber risks and issues are identified and appropriate remediation plans put in place and reported on to senior management.

Person specification

The ideal candidate for this role would have the following key skills and experience:

Essential Criteria: 

• Expertise in national data protection law and practice, including in-depth understanding of the UK GDPR and Data Protection Act 2018
• Experience supporting data protection compliance in organisations with large-scale or complex arrangements
• The ability to assimilate and interpret information quickly; and explain complex legal, regulatory and policy requirements to colleagues and external stakeholders at all levels.
• Strong influencing and communication skills with a track record in promoting a responsible data protection culture
• The ability to engage with and work collaboratively with different audiences and colleagues at all levels, including at the most senior, and ability to build relationships across functions
• Experience in managing change and improvement in performance
• Recognised Data Protection Qualification

Desirable Skills: 

• Experience of Knowledge & Information management legislation and policies in the public sector
• Experience of working in an Inquiry, investigation or legal context

Additional information:

A minimum 60% of your working time should be spent at your principal workplace. Although requirements to attend other locations for official business will also count towards this level of attendance.

Benefits

Alongside your salary of £53,400, Cabinet Office contributes £14,418 towards you being a member of the Civil Service Defined Benefit Pension scheme. Find out what benefits a Civil Service Pension provides.

Things you need to know

Selection process details

This vacancy is using Success Profiles (opens in a new window), and will assess your Strengths, Experience and Technical skills.

Application process

As part of the application process you will be asked to complete a CV outlining your career history with key achievements and responsibilities as well as a 1000 word personal statement. Further details around what this will entail are listed on the application form.

A personal statement (max 1000 words) explaining how you consider your personal skills, qualities and experience provide evidence of your suitability for the role in reference to the essential requirements highlighted. You may also choose to reference the desirable skills listed.

Should a large number of applications be received, an initial sift may be conducted using your CV. Candidates who pass the initial sift may be progressed to a full sift, or progressed straight to assessment/interview.

Selection process 

During the blended interview you will be assessed against your experience and strength based questions, the strength questions are ones in which we wish to gain your initial response.

If you are successful in securing an interview you will be asked questions on your experience, strengths, and potentially include a presentation. Should there be a presentation, the details will be shared ahead of the interview.

Expected timeline (subject to change)

Expected sift date –  w/c 27th May 2024
Expected interview date/s – w/c 10th June 2024
Interview location - Remote - video

Further information

Please note terms and conditions are attached. Please take time to read the document to determine how these may affect you.

A reserve list may be held for a period of 12 months from which further appointments can be made.

Any move to Cabinet Office from another employer will mean you can no longer access childcare vouchers. This includes moves between government departments. You may however be eligible for other government schemes, including Tax Free Childcare. Determine your eligibility at https://www.childcarechoices.gov.uk

Please note that this role requires SC clearance, which would normally need 5 years UK residency in the past 5 years. This is not an absolute requirement, but supplementary checks may be needed where individuals have not lived in the UK for that period. This may mean your security clearance (and therefore your appointment) will take longer or, in some cases, not be possible.

For further information on National Security Vetting please visit the following page https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/demystifying-vetting

If successful and transferring from another Government Department a criminal record check may be carried out.

In order to process applications without delay, we will be sending a Criminal Record Check to Disclosure and Barring Service, Disclosure Scotland or Access NI on your behalf.

However, we recognise in exceptional circumstances some candidates will want to send their completed forms direct. If you will be doing this, please advise Government Recruitment Service of your intention by emailing Pre-EmploymentChecks.grs@cabinetoffice.gov.uk stating the job reference number in the subject heading. 

For further information on the Disclosure Scotland confidential checking service telephone: the Disclosure Scotland Helpline on 0870 609 6006 and ask to speak to the operations manager in confidence, or email Info@disclosurescotland.co.uk

For further information on the Access NI confidential checking service telephone: the Access NI Helpline on 0300 200 7888 and ask to speak to the operations manager in confidence, or email accessni@ani.x.gsi.gov.uk

Applicants who are successful at interview will be, as part of pre-employment screening, subject to a check on the Internal Fraud Database (IFD). This check will provide information about employees who have been dismissed for fraud or dishonesty offences. This check also applies to employees who resign or otherwise leave before being dismissed for fraud or dishonesty had their employment continued. Any applicant’s details held on the IFD will be refused employment. 

A candidate is not eligible to apply for a role within the Civil Service if the application is made within a 5 year period following a dismissal for carrying out internal fraud against government.

Existing Civil Servants and applicants from accredited NDPBs are eligible to apply, but will only be considered on loan basis (Civil Servants) or secondment (accredited NDPBs). Prior agreement to be released on a loan basis must be obtained before commencing the application process. In the case of Civil Servants, the terms of the loan will be agreed between the home and host department and the Civil Servant. This includes grade on return.

New entrants are expected to join on the minimum of the pay band.

Reasonable adjustments

If a person with disabilities is put at a substantial disadvantage compared to a non-disabled person, we have a duty to make reasonable changes to our processes. 

If you need a change to be made so that you can make your application, you should: 

• Contact Government Recruitment Service via cabinetofficerecruitment.grs@cabinetoffice.gov.uk as soon as possible before the closing date to discuss your needs. 
• Complete the ‘Assistance required’ section in the ‘Additional requirements’ page of your application form to tell us what changes or help you might need further on in the recruitment process. For instance, you may need wheelchair access at interview, or if you’re deaf, a Language Service Professional.

If you are experiencing accessibility problems with any attachments on this advert, please contact the email address in the 'contact point for applicants' section.

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

Security

Successful candidates must undergo a criminal record check. Successful candidates must meet the security requirements before they can be appointed. The level of security needed is security check (opens in a new window).

See our vetting charter (opens in a new window). 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. The Civil Service also offers a Redeployment Interview Scheme to civil servants who are at risk of redundancy, and who meet the minimum requirements for the advertised vacancy.