Description

Senior KIM Lead and Deputy Data Protection Officer
Fair Work Agency

Apply before 11:55 pm on Sunday 29th November 2026 
 
Details
Reference number 487424
Salary £42,391 - £46,465
A Civil Service Pension with an employer contribution of 28.97%
Job grade Senior Executive Officer
Contract type Permanent
Type of role Knowledge and Information Management
Working pattern Full-time
Number of jobs available 1

Apply and further information
Location Belfast, Cardiff, Darlington, Edinburgh, Nottingham, Salford

This advert reflects the current FWA locations. However, there may be some flexibility to include additional sites as the FWA location strategy evolves.

About the job

Job summary

The Fair Work Agency (FWA) launched in April 2026 with a clear and ambitious mission: to make work fairer for everyone. We bring together key powers to protect workers, support responsible businesses, and take decisive action against exploitation. Today, we regulate employment agencies, license gangmasters in the agricultural and horticultural sectors, tackle serious labour abuse and modern slavery, and enable enforcement of the National Minimum Wage.

But this is just the start.

With new powers under the Employment Rights Act 2025, we are expanding our role even further. We are building the capability to ensure workers receive what they are entitled to, from holiday pay to statutory sick pay, and strengthening the system so that rights are not just set out in law, but actively upheld in practice.

Our approach is bold and practical:

We empower workers, ensuring they understand their rights and can easily access support and raise concerns
We make it easier for businesses to comply, simplifying processes and helping responsible employers do the right thing
We take firm action against those who exploit workers and undercut fair competition
This is a unique opportunity to join an organisation at the very beginning of its journey. You will help shape how we operate, influence our culture, and play a direct role in improving outcomes for millions of workers and employers across the UK.

We are looking for people who are curious, collaborative and driven by making a real difference, people who want to build something that matters.
Job description
This role sits within the Knowledge and Information Management (KIM) and Data Protection team in the Fair Work Agency (FWA). As the Senior KIM lead and Deputy Data Protection Officer, you will play a central role in helping the organisation meet its statutory obligations for data protection, records management and information governance, while building strong KIM practice across a new and growing organisation. You will provide expert advice, support organisational compliance with the UK GDPR and Data Protection Act 2018, and lead work to improve how knowledge and information is created, managed, stored, shared and disposed of across the FWA, including governance around the use of artificial intelligence.

Key responsibilities:

• Support and deputise for the Data Protection Officer in overseeing the FWA’s data protection framework, including providing advice on complex or sensitive data protection issues.
• Line manage two members of staff, providing clear direction, support and development.
• Provide expert, practical advice to colleagues on the application of data protection legislation, information governance requirements and records management good practice.
• Review and advise on Data Protection Impact Assessments, data sharing arrangements, privacy risks, retention issues and information handling processes to ensure proportionate, lawful and well-managed use of information.
• Help maintain key data protection and information governance controls, including records of processing activity, breach logs, guidance, policies, retention schedules and supporting procedures.
• Lead the development of KIM practice across the organisation, promoting consistent approaches to storing, organising, retrieving, sharing and disposing of information in line with business need and statutory requirements.
• Work with digital, operational and corporate teams to improve information structures, support effective use of systems such as Microsoft 365 and those that utilise artificial intelligence (AI) with robust governance, and embed good information management by design.
• Devise and deliver training, guidance and awareness activity to build staff confidence and capability in data protection, records management and wider information governance responsibilities.
• Support the management of data incidents, information rights queries and assurance activity, including audits, reviews and actions arising from internal or external scrutiny.
• Build strong relationships with internal and external stakeholders, including legal, security, digital and operational colleagues, to ensure information is managed effectively and risks are identified and addressed early.

Person specification

When giving details in your employment history and personal statement you should highlight your experience in line with the essential criteria

Essential criteria:

• Experience of providing advice and support on data protection, information governance or records management in a complex organisational environment.
• Good working knowledge of the UK GDPR, Data Protection Act 2018 and the practical application of data protection principles in an operational setting.
• Experience of developing, implementing or improving KIM, records management or information governance processes, standards or controls.
• Ability to assess risk, analyse issues and provide clear, proportionate and practical advice to support decision-making.
• Strong communication and influencing skills, with the ability to explain complex requirements clearly to a wide range of audiences.
• Experience of building effective working relationships across teams and with senior stakeholders.
• Ability to manage competing priorities, work independently and deliver high-quality outcomes in a fast-paced environment.
• Experience of supporting the work of a statutory Data Protection Officer or equivalent information governance lead.
• A relevant professional qualification or working towards one in data protection, information governance or a related discipline.
• The below criteria are desirable only. These will not be assessed throughout the recruitment process, but will be used in the event of tied scores between candidates.

Desirable criteria: 

• Experience of working with Microsoft 365, SharePoint or other digital information environments to improve information management practice.
• Experience of handling data incidents, information rights casework, knowledge management, AI governance, audit activity or compliance reporting.
• A relevant professional qualification or working towards one in records management.
  Behaviours
• We'll assess you against these behaviours during the selection process:
• Making Effective Decisions
• Communicating and Influencing
• Developing Self and Others

Benefits

Alongside your salary of £42,391, Fair Work Agency contributes £12,280 towards you being a member of the Civil Service Defined Benefit Pension scheme. Find out what benefits a Civil Service Pension provides (opens in a new window).
Learning and development tailored to your role
An environment with flexible working options
A culture encouraging inclusion and diversity
A Civil Service pension with an employer contribution of 28.97%
We recognise the challenges that people with (multiple) protected characteristics may experience on the job market and in their career progression. We are fully committed to being an inclusive employer and ensuring equal opportunities. We are keen to make our workforce as diverse as possible, and we hope to attract applications from underrepresented groups, including ethnic minorities, people with a disability, and people with gender diverse identities.
Things you need to know
Artificial intelligence
Artificial intelligence can be a useful tool to support your application, however, all examples and statements provided must be truthful, factually accurate and taken directly from your own experience. Where plagiarism has been identified (presenting the ideas and experiences of others, or generated by artificial intelligence, as your own) applications may be withdrawn and internal candidates may be subject to disciplinary action. Please see our candidate guidance (opens in a new window) for more information on appropriate and inappropriate use.
Selection process details
This vacancy is using Success Profiles (opens in a new window), and will assess your Behaviours, Strengths and Experience.
Application Information 

As part of the application process you will be asked to complete:

A CV detailing your career history, and skills/experience
A 500 word Personal Statement;
Your Personal Statement should be no more than 500 words. It should provide real life examples of how your skills and experience match those needed for this role and how you would apply them to this position. It will be assessed against the essential criteria and used to add depth to the best evidence in your CV.

Your CV should consist of your career history and skills/experience, including any key achievements in each role. Your CV will also be assessed against the essential criteria.

Please access the following link for guidance on how to apply and how to complete a personal statement https://www.civil-service-careers.gov.uk/how-to-apply/ 

Selection process

Sift Information

At sift you will be assessed on your Personal Statement and CV. Should a large number of applications be received, an initial sift may be undertaken using the CV. Candidates who pass the initial sift may be progressed to a full sift, or progressed straight to assessment / interview.

The sift will take place during w/c 30 November 2026. 

Interview Information

At Interview you will be assessed on Strengths and the following Behaviours:

Making effective decisions
Communicating and influencing
Developing self and others
You will also be asked to present on a topic which will be issued to candidates a minimum of 5 days prior to interview.

Interviews will be conducted w/c 7 December. Interviews may be conducted either in person or virtually (via video conferencing). Candidates will be advised of the format in advance.

Important information

No applications will be accepted after the closing date and time.

Further information

A reserve list may be held for a period of 12 months from which further appointments can be made. Reserve Lists will be for each location and appointments made in merit order based on location preferences.

The Agency will not consider sponsoring a visa or issuing a Certificate of Sponsorship. We are unable to offer advice on any Visa and Immigration cases.

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

Terms and Conditions are attached.

Please note – the successful candidate will be expected to remain in post for a minimum of 18 months before being released for another role.

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

Hybrid Working

At FWA, we are proud to be able to offer our people the opportunity to work in a hybrid way which combines working from home and the office. This is a voluntary, non-contractual arrangement, and your allocated office will be your contractual place of work. 

There will be a requirement to travel to the office for various activities, e.g., collaborative working, supporting and training colleagues. If hybrid working is suitable for you and your role, you will be expected to attend the office, or other business-related site, for 40% of your working week. The arrangements will be determined primarily by business need, but personal circumstances and other relevant circumstances will also be taken into account. 

Therefore, we would encourage candidates to consider if the commute from home to the office is a feasible distance to travel before making an application. Please note that if you are successful, hybrid working will be discussed prior to taking up the post.

Feedback

Feedback will only be provided if you attend an interview or assessment.
Security
Successful candidates must undergo a basic (or equivalent) 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.
Diversity and Inclusion
The Civil Service is committed to attract, retain and invest in talent wherever it is found. To learn more please see the Civil Service People Plan (opens in a new window) and the Civil Service Diversity and Inclusion Strategy (opens in a new window).
Apply and further information
Once this job has closed, the job advert will no longer be available. You may want to save a copy for your records.
Contact point for applicants

Job contact :

Name :recruitment@fairworkagency.gov.uk
Email :recruitment@fairworkagency.gov.uk

Recruitment team Email :recruitment@fairworkagency.gov.uk