About the job

Job summary

Here at the Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government. (MHCLG), we work on things that make a real difference to people’s lives.  

Whether it's through the homes we live in, the work of our local councils, or the communities we’re all part of, our work is at the top of the political agenda. We have ambitious and far-reaching outcomes to achieve this year and, if you’re thinking of joining us, there’s never been a more exciting time. 

We have over 3,500 staff who are based in 20 offices across the UK. 

We are seeking a Deputy DPO within our Knowledge and Information Management (KIM) function, in the Digital directorate.

This a new specialist KIM post. The job holder is one of two deputies to the Department’s Data Protection Officer (DPO). You will support oversight of data protection governance and practice across the Department, leading on aspects of GDPR assurance and monitoring.

The role emphasises information risk management and measuring of assurance against data protection laws and standards. You will develop and implement risk management frameworks for personal data use. You will devise and report on key performance indicators and benchmarks, assessing effectiveness of our UK GDPR compliance, and foster a privacy compliant organisational culture.

This role will work alongside another deputy DPO focused on delivery of annual assurance plans. Both roles will be expected to support each other in delivering outcomes. This role will also collaborate across non-personal information risks, working with KIM colleagues in that space.

This post offers an excellent opportunity for a motivated KIM professional to work across wider KIM areas alongside data protection. Requisite expertise in data protection and risk management is needed, but the ability to collaborate effectively and to measure outcomes, is equally important.

We particularly welcome candidates from an ethnic minority background and other underrepresented groups to apply, as we work to continually improve our ability to represent the places and communities we support through our work. 

Find out more about what it's like to work in a digital, data and technology role at MHCLG including our culture, ways of working, career progression and staff benefits. You can also read the MHCLG Digital blog to learn about the work we're doing. 

Job description

As a Deputy DPO, you will:

• play a key role in ensuring data protection compliance and assurance monitoring in the Department and delivery of DPO functions as set out under UK GDPR
• develop and implement new risk management frameworks to drive compliance with data protection and related standards, including ICO Frameworks and Codes
• develop and manage reporting on data protection risks, KPIs and effectiveness measures, including where these intersect or integrate with wider information risks
• provide high-quality independent data protection advice to all areas of MHCLG, including policy teams, corporate functions and senior civil servants, working
• collaboratively with stakeholders both inside and outside the Department
• contribute to development and implementation of strategic KIM policies for the Department in response to changing Departmental and user needs, technology and legislation to meet regulatory and cross-Government information compliance requirements
• work closely alongside MHCLG’s data protection delivery team (separated from the independent DPO function), providing independent advice and support on data sharing, data breach incidents, privacy risk assessments and related GDPR areas
• deputise for the DPO where required, including at cross-Government forums and with the Information Commissioner’s Office (ICO)

Person specification

We will use the essential criteria below to evaluate you during the recruitment process. Make sure your CV and cover letter details how you meet the criteria.

As a Deputy DPO, you will have:

• a great track record of delivering positive information governance (IG) change and maturity in a complex organisation
• good knowledge of UK Data Protection Legislation and its implementation
• proven experience of working on information or data protection risks, and/or related risk management frameworks and policies
• the ability to establish and develop productive relationships with internal and external stakeholders, including senior leaders
• the ability to organise potentially complex workloads, work autonomously and prioritise tasks while maintaining close attention to detail
• strong evidence of visible and effective leadership of work which cuts across teams
• evidence of being able to collaborate and co-ordinate effectively with both specialist KIM colleagues and non-specialist clients and customers
• professional privacy or KIM qualification or accreditation – or the willingness to obtain once in post (with full financial support and mentoring)

Benefits

Alongside your salary of £51,934, Department for Levelling Up, Housing and Communities contributes £14,022 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 and Experience.

CV and Cover Letter Declaration 

We recruit based on your knowledge and skills, and not background, gender or ethnicity - this is called name blind recruitment. 

Please remove references to your: 

• name/title
• educational institutions
• age
• gender
• email address
• postal address
• phone number
• nationality/immigration status

You will need to merge your CV and covering letter into one document. When submitting your application Applied will ask you to upload a CV, when doing this you should upload your merged document of your CV and covering letter. 

Most of our campaigns utilise multiple assessors and so it is possible that your application would be viewed by different assessors. 

At sift, through your CV and covering letter we will be assessing: 

• Technical
• Experience

In your CV and covering letter, please include: a. why you are interested in the role; b. how you meet the essential skills and experience required.

The interview will be of a blended nature consisting of the following success profiles elements:

• Technical
• Experience
• Behaviours: Seeing The Big Picture, Changing and Improving, Communicating and Influencing

In full the campaign will test the below Success Profile Elements:

• Technical: Experience questions will be based around the essential skills and criteria as listed in the person specification
• Experience: Technical questions will be based around the essential skills and criteria as listed in the person specification
• Behaviours: Seeing The Big Picture, Changing and Improving, Communicating and Influencing

We do not consider direct CV applications – you must apply for this role via the application link on Civil Service Jobs: 

Please note that near miss offers may be made at the lower grade to candidates who do not meet the grade criteria for this campaign.

Grade 7 salary

• The salary for this role is £51,934 (National).
• For existing civil servants, the usual policy on level transfer and promotion will apply and is non-negotiable.

Benefits 

Transfers across the Civil Service on or after 4 October 2018: 

Any move to MHCLG 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. 

For further information about the benefits available to MHCLG employees, please see the attached Candidate Pack. 

Location 

• Wolverhampton
• Darlington* 
• Manchester
• Leeds
• Birmingham
• Bristol

There may be opportunities for candidates to work flexibly depending on the business needs. This will be discussed with the vacancy manager on a case-by-case basis if you are successful for the role. 

*Please note: The Darlington Economic Campus is a pioneering new cross-government hub which will bring together people across departments and public organisations to play an active role in the most important economic issues of the day. The work of the Campus will make a real difference to people both across the UK and internationally. There will be substantial career opportunities and exciting prospects - a career at the Campus means you will be working at the heart of Government, with access to the benefits and fantastic opportunities offered by the civil service.  This role is based at  MHCLG and we will be joined on the campus by: 

• HM Treasury  
• Department for International Trade 
• Department for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy  
• Office for National Statistics  
• Department for Education 

For further information on the DEC, please take a look at the attached DEC candidate pack. 

Sift and Interview dates

Sifting is envisaged to take place the W/C 1st of August 2024 with interview dates to be confirmed. All interviews are currently being held remotely via videocall. 

Reserve List 

In the event that we identify more appointable candidates than we currently have posts available, we will hold applicant details on a reserve list for a period of 6 months from which further appointments can be made. This may include roles at a lower grade. Candidates placed on a reserve list will be informed of this. Those candidates who do not wish to remain on the reserve list should contact recruitment@levellingup.gov.uk to be removed from the reserve list. 

SC (Security Check):

Important note

Please note that successful candidates will need to pass the Security Check – this requires you to have been resident in the UK for the past 5 years. Please refer to the MHCLG Notes on Security Clearance section of our Candidate Pack for further information on Security Check (SC).

Candidates should also note that with effect from 1st August 2018 the department will also check all applicants who are successful at interview, against the Internal Fraud Database (IFD) held by the Cabinet Office. In accordance with the Civil Service Internal Fraud Policy, any applicant who is included on the IFD will be refused employment by MHCLG. Please see the Candidate Pack for further information on the Internal Fraud Database

Before starting your application it’s very important to make sure that you are eligible to apply and meet the Civil Service nationality requirements. All candidates are expected to read the information provided in the MHCLG candidate pack regarding nationality requirements and rules

Candidate Pack Information

Please see attached Candidate pack for further information.

Internal Fraud Database

The Internal Fraud function of the Fraud, Error, Debt and Grants Function at the Cabinet Office processes details of civil servants who have been dismissed for committing internal fraud, or who would have been dismissed had they not resigned. The Cabinet Office receives the details from participating government organisations of civil servants who have been dismissed, or who would have been dismissed had they not resigned, for internal fraud. In instances such as this, civil servants are then banned for 5 years from further employment in the civil service. The Cabinet Office then processes this data and discloses a limited dataset back to MHCLG as a participating government organisations. MHCLG then carry out the pre employment checks so as to detect instances where known fraudsters are attempting to reapply for roles in the civil service. In this way, the policy is ensured and the repetition of internal fraud is prevented.

For more information please see- Internal Fraud Register

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.