About the job

Job summary

Are you passionate about keeping data safe and protected?

Do you have knowledge of Data Protection? 

Do you have excellent verbal and written communication skills with the ability to influence at all levels? 

Can you build and maintain great working relationships?

If so, this could be the job you are looking for.... 

The Data Protection Team (DPT) operates across Defra and the Animal and Plant Health Agency (APHA) advising on the use of personal data for corporate services (including finance and HR), environmental policy, and managing safety and risk in the national animal population. It’s a fascinating place to practice data protection and we deal with a diverse range of business including data sharing between government organisations, privacy in large public facing IT systems the compliance of new legislation.

The postholder will work within a helpful, professional team that specialises in privacy. The team is part of a larger function that deals exclusively with data use, access and risk. This makes DPT an ideal place for anyone with a career commitment to the data and Data Protection professions. Line management is from a Senior Data Protection Manager (SDPM) – a qualified, experienced privacy specialist.

Job description

The postholder will be involved in providing advice, dealing with privacy casework, addressing compliance risks (including through Data Protection Impact Assessments) and delivering training and guidance. DPT aligns with the Data Protection framework set out by the Information Commissioner’s Office (ICO) and maintains a suite of well-maintained policies, protocols, and processes.

You will:

• Act as a Data Protection subject matter professional, providing specialist advice on request
• Promote compliance with Data Protection law and ensure that appropriate communications are in place and effective
• Manage the completion of Data Protection Impact Assessments (DPIAs), privacy notices, and data processing and sharing agreements
• Support the management of data incidents and breaches and individual rights requests including Subject Access Requests
• Deliver the processes and controls to ensure cookie compliance on the Defra web estate
• Update, log and track the progress of cases, taking personal responsibility for maintaining good records
• Monitor and provide management information related to casework
• Work with other team members to maintain Data Protection policies, procedures, and processes
• Support the maintenance of the Record of Processing Activities (ROPA), the Accountability Framework (AF) and Risk and Issues Register used for monitoring organisational compliance
• Work collaboratively as part of the wider Defra Data Protection community and with fellow professionals across government, sharing knowledge and skills in the common interest

Person specification

Essential skills and experience:

• Recognised privacy qualifications, e.g., IAPP CIPP/E, BCS/ISEB or willingness to gain such a qualification
• Exceptional written and verbal communication skills. Capable of handling challenging conversations with people of all levels while building solid relationships
• Excellent organisational skills are required, and you will need to be able to manage and filter workflow as well as organise and prioritise your work to maximise productivity and achieve all deadlines
• Ability to work in multidisciplinary teams, providing advice in partnership with others
• Excellent skills across the Microsoft sweet including Word, PowerPoint, Excel and Outlook

Benefits

Alongside your salary of £39,439, Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs contributes £10,648 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 Behaviours, Strengths and Experience.

Application Process

As part of the application process, you will be asked to complete a CV (which includes job history and qualifications), personal statement and a behaviour statement of up to 250 words.

In your personal statement please detail your Data Protection experience (1000 words max).

Applicants will be expected to demonstrate the essential role requirements within the application behaviour responses.

Further details around what this will entail are listed on the application form.

Sift

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

Sifting will take place week commencing 29 January 2024.

Interview

If successful at application stage, you will be invited to interview where you will be assessed on your experience, behaviours and strengths.

Interviews to be held face to face at 2 Marsham Street, London, SW1P 4DF.

Interviews are scheduled to take place week commencing 19 February 2024 but may be subject to change.

Location

Please be aware that this role(s) will be contractually based in a Defra group workplace/office. As we are a national organization, our team is spread across offices in the UK and you will be expected to travel as deemed necessary and appropriate to engage with your team and stakeholders.

Candidates applying for this roles with be based at one of the Defra hubs, our core Defra hub locations are:

• York - Kings Pool
• Newcastle - Lancaster House
• Bristol - Horizon House
• London - 2 Marsham Street

Internal (core Defra) employees can apply for this role and choose to remain in their current location or to be based in one of the advertised locations.

All other applicants will be based in one of the advertised locations. Our current office attendance approach requires 60% attendance in Defra group workplaces or off site meetings with partners and customers. This balance provides thriving workplaces to connect with colleagues, as required by their role and business team needs balanced with personal flexibility and choice. 

Travel and subsistence will not be paid for travel to a base office location

Reserve List

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

Merit Lists 

Where more than one location is advertised, candidates will be posted in merit order by location. You will be asked to state your location preference on your application.

Salary 

New entrants to the Civil Service are expected to start on the minimum of the pay band. The internal roles rules apply to existing Civil Servants, i.e. level transfers move on current salary or the pay range minimum, transfers on promotion move to new pay range minimum or receive 10% increase. Either case is determined by whichever is the highest.

Visa Sponsorship Statement

Please take note that Defra does not hold a UK Visa & Immigration (UKVI) Skilled Worker License sponsor and are unable to sponsor any individuals for Skilled Worker Sponsorship.

Reasonable Adjustment

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 defrarecruitment.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

Accessibility

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

Criminal Record Check

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 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. 

Internal Fraud Database Check

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.

Higher Security Clearance 

Please be aware the levels of national security clearance are changing which may impact on the level needed for this role by the time of appointment. All efforts will be made to keep candidates informed of any changes and what that will mean in terms of vetting criteria. For more information please See our vetting charter.

All of these posts require the successful candidate to hold basic security clearance. Candidates posted to London may be subject to a higher level of clearance because of the security requirements for that location. Job offers to these posts are made on the basis of merit. Security vetting will only take place after the receipt of a job offer. 

Childcare Vouchers 

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

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. 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.