Senior Data Protection Manager
| Posting date: | 19 June 2025 |
|---|---|
| Hours: | Full time |
| Closing date: | 19 July 2025 |
| Location: | Bedford, MK42 9AP |
| Company: | Reed Talent Solutions |
| Job type: | Permanent |
| Job reference: | MaPS00879-337530 |
Summary
Senior Data Protection Manager
c.£70,000 per annum
Bedford
Permanent
Hybrid Working
Ready to Shape the Future of Data Protection at MaPS?
MaPS is entering an exciting period of transformation — and we’re looking for a passionate, strategic, and curious Senior Data Protection Manager to lead the charge. If you're a data protection expert who thrives on change, loves connecting the dots across complex programmes, and wants to make a real impact, this is your opportunity to shine. Join us and be the driving force behind embedding privacy best practices across a dynamic, purpose-driven organisation.
You’ll be part of a dynamic team dedicated to helping people across the UK improve their financial wellbeing.
Role Overview
The Senior Data Protection Manager will report directly to Head of Governance and Data Protection. In this role, you will be responsible for:
Key Responsibilities:
- Lead the development and implementation of data protection frameworks, policies, and standards.
- Manage organisational data risks and issues, coordinating with data owners to resolve or accept these risks.
- Provide strategic oversight of data protection and advocate for improved data protection risk management practices.
- Engage with key programmes from a data protection perspective and maintain effective relationships with senior decision-makers and influencers.
- Oversee all data protection compliance mechanisms, including data protection impact assessments, data subject rights requests, and data breach processes.
- Lead the Freedom of Information compliance, ensuring timely responses to requests and adherence to publication schedules.
- Conduct continuous assessments and health checks to monitor and ensure data protection compliance.
- Promote a culture of data protection compliance through employee training and awareness programs.
- Manage the data protection/information assurance software to support best practices.
You will need to demonstrate the following skills and experience.
To excel in this role, you will need to demonstrate:
Essential Experience & Knowledge:
- Expert knowledge of UK and EU data protection laws (UK GDPR, DPA 2018) and information security best practices, ideally within the UK government or public sector.
- Proven experience supporting or working as a Data Protection Officer or within a DPO team.
- Strong understanding of emerging technologies (e.g. Artificial Intelligence) and their compliance implications, with the ability to align data protection strategy to business goals.
- Demonstrated experience identifying data protection risks, conducting gap assessments, and implementing risk-based compliance frameworks and KPIs.
- Solid track record of delivering continuous improvements and managing sensitive or complex data protection projects.
Skills & Abilities:
- Excellent communication skills, with the ability to translate complex technical concepts into clear, practical guidance for non-specialists.
- Strong interpersonal and stakeholder engagement skills, with experience influencing at senior, Executive, and Board levels.
- Ability to manage multiple workstreams, prioritise effectively, and maintain momentum across projects.
- Strategic thinker with a good understanding of organisational context, partners, and stakeholders.
- Confident in taking ownership, making decisions, escalating appropriately, and constructively challenging existing practices.
- Capable of mentoring others, promoting adherence to policies, and fostering a culture of data protection compliance.
About Us
The Money and Pensions Service (MaPS) is based in Bedford, in a recently renovated modern office. This is a wonderful opportunity for you to become an integral part of a dynamic organisation, working to help people across the UK.
At the heart of the Money and Pensions Service are our values – caring, connecting, and transforming, which are the foundation of our success. They permeate every area of our work and define all our business relationships and the way we work with each other. We’re not only looking for the best people to come and work for us, but we need people who align themselves with our values:
- Caring
We care about our colleagues and the people whose lives we are here to transform. - Connecting
We will transform lives through our ability to make positive connections. - Transforming
We are committed to transforming lives and making a positive societal impact.
Our Inclusive Working Environment
By fostering our values, we are immensely proud of the inclusive working environment that we have created. The diversity of our people is a strength that we embrace and wish to build upon, so we are committed to attracting people of all backgrounds. We work hard to ensure that we have a progressive approach to inclusion, equity, and belonging. We really do want our colleagues to “bring their whole selves to work.”
Our colleague and ally networks encompass LGBTQ+, neurodiversity, women’s health, men’s health, ethnicity, and diversity.
What We Offer
- Generous Annual Leave – 30 days plus Bank Holidays
- Pension scheme – contributions matched 2 to 1 (up to 10% of your salary)
- Interest-free loan for season tickets for buses and trains
- Cycle to work Scheme
- Subsidised eye tests & flu jabs
- Life assurance scheme
- Give as you earn scheme
- Employee assistance programme (EAP)
- PAM Assist and PAM Life scheme (Wellbeing)
- Enhanced family and sick pay
- Paid volunteering (2 days a year)
- Recognition Scheme
- Discounts portal to numerous retailers
Flexible Working
At MaPS, we take pride in our flexible approach to work. As standard, we work on a hybrid basis with a minimum of 2 days in the office per week. Hybrid working is a voluntary, non-contractual arrangement and our headquarters in Bedford will be your contractual place of work. The number of days that anyone will be able to work at home will be determined primarily by business needs, but personal and other relevant circumstances will also be considered. If you are successful, any opportunities for hybrid working, including whether a hybrid working arrangement is suitable for you, will be discussed with you prior to you taking up your post.
Career Development
In MaPS, we take career development seriously. We actively encourage and support applications from our existing MaPS colleagues. However, we do follow the Civil Service Commissioner recruitment principles, which means that you will be required to participate in a full, open, and fair process.
Reserve List
If you are successful at interview, we operate a reserve list where your details will be held for up to 6 months. Should a vacancy come available in that time with the same essential criteria, reserve list candidates will be offered that position with no further assessment required.
Application Process
The law requires that selection for appointment to the Civil Service is on merit on the basis of fair and open competition as outlined in the Civil Service Commission’s Recruitment Principles. If you feel your application has not been treated in accordance with the Recruitment Principles, and you wish to make a complaint, in the first instance, you should contact the Money and Pensions Service via email: recruitment@maps.org.uk. If you are not satisfied with the response you receive from the Department, you can contact the Civil Service Commission: Visit the Civil Service Commission website.
Step 1: Submit Your Application
Open: 19th June | Deadline: 03rd July
To apply, please submit the following two documents:
- Your most up-to-date CV
- A covering letter (approx. 1,000 words)
Important: Both documents are required to progress to the next stage. Incomplete applications will not be considered.
Step 2: Telephone Interview
Between 19th June to 07th July
If your application is shortlisted, you will be invited to a telephone interview with one of our recruiters. This is an opportunity to:
- Discuss your experience in more detail
- Learn more about the role and our organisation
- Ask any questions you may have
Step 3: Final Stage Interview
Week Commencing 18th July
Successful candidates from the telephone interview will be invited to a remote final interview via Microsoft Teams. This stage will include:
- A task relevant to the position
- A series of competency-based interview questions
Job Reference: MaPS00879
Close Date: 03rd July 2025
Application Process
The law requires that selection for appointment to the Civil Service is on merit on the basis of fair and open competition as outlined in the Civil Service Commission’s Recruitment Principles. If you feel your application has not been treated in accordance with the Recruitment Principles, and you wish to make a complaint, in the first instance, you should contact the Money and Pensions Service via email: recruitment@maps.org.uk. If you are not satisfied with the response you receive from the Department, you can contact the Civil Service Commission: Visit the Civil Service Commission website.
Step 1: Submit Your Application
Open: 19th June | Deadline: 03rd July
To apply, please submit the following two documents:
- Your most up-to-date CV
- A covering letter (approx. 1,000 words)
Important: Both documents are required to progress to the next stage. Incomplete applications will not be considered.
Step 2: Telephone Interview
Between 19th June to 07th July
If your application is shortlisted, you will be invited to a telephone interview with one of our recruiters. This is an opportunity to:
- Discuss your experience in more detail
- Learn more about the role and our organisation
- Ask any questions you may have
Step 3: Final Stage Interview
Week Commencing 18th July
Successful candidates from the telephone interview will be invited to a remote final interview via Microsoft Teams. This stage will include:
- A task relevant to the position
- A series of competency-based interview questions
Job Reference: MaPS00879
Close Date: 03rd July 2025
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