GOVTALENT.UK

Head of International Data Transfer Tools

This opening expired 4 months ago.

Department for Science, Innovation & Technology

Location(s):
Birmingham, Cardiff, Darlington, Edinburgh, London, Salford
Salary:
£52,320 to £62,495
Job grade:
Grade 7
Business area:
Policy, Operational Delivery
Contract type:
Contract, Temporary
Working pattern:
Full-time, Part-time

About the job

Job summary

Our priorities  

Optimise public R&D investment to support areas of relative UK strength and increase the level of private R&D to make our economy the most innovative in the world.  

Promote a diverse research and innovation system that connects discovery to new companies, growth and jobs – including by delivering world-class physical and digital infrastructure (such as gigabit broadband), making the UK the best place to start and grow a technology business and developing and attracting top talent.  

Put public services – including the NHS and schools – at the forefront of innovation, championing new ways of working and the development of in-house STEM capability to improve outcomes for people.  

Strengthen international collaboration on science and technology in line with the Integrated Review, and ensure our researchers are able to continue to work with leading scientists in Europe and around the world.  

Deliver legislative and regulatory reforms to drive competition and promote innovation, including the Data Protection and Digital Information Bill, the Digital Markets, Competition and Consumer Bill and our pro-innovation approach to regulating AI.  

Our Inclusive Environment  

We have an inclusive culture which makes the Department a brilliant place to work where our people feel valued and can be their authentic selves. We value difference and diversity, not only because we believe it is the right thing to do, but because it helps us be more innovative. 

 We offer flexible working benefits, employee well-being support and a great pension. We are fortunate to have a range of staff networks and are proud to be a Disability Confident Leader employer. We support talented people from all backgrounds to build a career and thrive.  

We welcome applications from anyone who shares our commitment to inclusion and fully support candidates with a disability or long-term condition who require adjustments in our recruitment process.   

We regularly run events where you can find out more about the department and tips for the application process. You can sign up for upcoming events here: https://www.tickettailor.com/events/departmentforsciencetechnologyandinnovation?  

You can also follow our LinkedIn Page: https://www.linkedin.com/showcase/dsitcareers/    

Job description

The transfer of data across borders underpins economic activity in every sector of our globalised digital economy, and our wider economic and security cooperation with international partners.

The UK’s ‘Transfer Tools’ framework (A46-49 UK GDPR) sets out the safeguards which organisations need to put in place to ensure UK personal data is properly protected when it goes overseas. 

The UK Government has an ambitious global data agenda, and our work on Transfer Tools is at the heart of this agenda. There is the opportunity for the UK to show global leadership, by designing innovative Transfer Tools that safeguard individuals’ data but are cost effective and efficient for businesses to implement.

This role will be responsible for ensuring the UK’s current international transfers regime is fit-for-purpose, and working closely with the Information Commissioner’s Office as a delivery partner and with others within DSIT and across Whitehall.

This role will require you to engage with and form relationships across industry and civil society, to build understanding of key issues. It will also require collaborative working with legal and analytical teams to ensure a robust evidence base for policy development.

You will need to display political sensitivity and confidence in working with Ministers, senior officials, and external stakeholders. You will also need to be able to present complex legal and technical issues clearly and concisely, deal with competing priorities at pace, and develop well evidenced policy advice.

You will have the opportunity to develop your experience across policy design and implementation, strategic stakeholder management, analysis and use of evidence.

This is an exciting opportunity that will offer development opportunities in a fascinating area for government. We are looking for someone who is a proven strategic thinker, comfortable with developing policy; and managing multiple often conflicting interests.

Person specification

Set the UK’s long-term strategy for international Transfer Tools, ensuring the UK’s current Transfer Tools list is fit-for-purpose, and exploring options for the development and implementation of new transfer tools.

Work across the Data Policy Directorate to ensure the reforms to the UK’s international transfers regime introduced by the Data Protection and Digital Information Bill are successfully implemented.

Work with the Information Commissioner’s Office (ICO) on the development and implementation of Transfer Tools, and that clear guidance is available for UK businesses.

Provide balanced, evidence based, and legally sound advice to the DSIT Secretary of State, Junior Ministers and Whitehall stakeholders on work to facilitate international data transfers, including where necessary coordinating and brokering positions across government, and with key stakeholders e.g. the ICO. This includes advising on high profile commercial and law enforcement international transfer queries.

Have line-management responsibility for 1 SEO and 1 HEO members of staff.

Skills and experience:

Essential criteria

You will need to demonstrate evidence of the skills and experience below:

Confidence in representing organisation interests with external stakeholders, understanding the potential sensitivities and wider political dimensions of key issues. Proven track record in building strong working relationships and using written and oral communication skills to present complex issues to senior stakeholders.

Experience developing well balanced, legally sound and evidence-based proposals, including on complex legal and technical policy issues. A clear track record of delivery tangible outcomes for an organisation or stakeholder group.

Understanding political, economic and security drivers at national and international levels; developing policy outcomes that take account of and deliver against wider organisation objectives.

Embedding a culture of openness, respect, fair treatment and inclusion for all, and to get the best out of people.

Desirable skills

Experience of working in data protection or similar policy areas.

Benefits

Alongside your salary of £52,320, Department for Science, Innovation & Technology contributes £14,126 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.

As part of the application process you will be asked to complete a CV and personal statement.

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

Please use your personal statement (in no more than 750 words) to demonstrate how you meet the Essential criteria for the role

Applications will be sifted on CV and personal statement. 

In the event of a large number of applicants, applications will be sifted on the CV. 

Candidates who pass the initial sift may be progressed to a full sift, or progressed straight to assessment/interview.

The interview will consist of behaviour and strength based questions.  

Interviewees will be asked to deliver a presentation; further details will be provided nearer the time. 

Sift and interview dates

Expected Timeline subject to change

Sift dates: from 07/05/2024

Interview dates: w/c 20/05/2024

Interview Location: MS Teams.

Candidates are asked to note the above timetable, exercising flexibility through the recruitment and selection process.

Further Information

Existing Civil Servants and applicants from accredited NDPBs are eligible to apply,and can 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.

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

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

Reasonable Adjustment

We are proud to be a disability confident leader and we welcome applications from disabled candidates and candidates with long-term conditions.

We fully support adjustments throughout our recruitment process and we encourage candidates to discuss their adjustment needs by emailing the job contact which can be found under the contact point for applicants section.

We do not have an exhaustive list of adjustments that we support but just some examples include additional time to complete your application form, behaviour questions up to 72 hours prior to interview and having extra time at interview.

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

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

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

A location-based reserve list of successful candidates will be kept for 12 months. Should another role become available within that period you may be offered this position.

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

Any move to the Department for Science, Innovation and Technology 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 https://www.childcarechoices.gov.uk

DSIT does not normally offer full home working (i.e. working at home); but we do offer a variety of flexible working options (including occasionally working from home). 

DSIT cannot offer Visa sponsorship to candidates through this campaign.

DSIT holds a Visa sponsorship licence but this can only be used for certain roles and this campaign does not qualify.

In order to process applications without delay, we will be sending a Criminal Record Check to Disclosure and Barring Service /Disclosure Scotland 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 

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.

Feedback



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 counter-terrorist 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.

Added: 4 months ago