31434 - Data Protection Advisor
| Posting date: | 15 July 2025 |
|---|---|
| Salary: | £41,617 per year |
| Hours: | Full time |
| Closing date: | 27 July 2025 |
| Location: | UK |
| Remote working: | Hybrid - work remotely up to 5 days per week |
| Company: | Environment Agency |
| Job type: | Permanent |
| Job reference: | 31434 |
Summary
We are fully committed to having an inclusive workforce to reflect the communities we serve. We welcome flexible working patterns for all our vacancies.
As a Data Protection adviser, you will act as a specialist within the organisation, providing expert advice and support on all matters relating to personal data. You will play a key role in enabling the Environment Agency to meet its legal obligations and business objectives by ensuring data protection is embedded across the business.
Under direction from the Data Protection Manager, you will work independently within defined practices, using your judgement to interpret legislation, assess risks, and resolve varied data protection issues and queries. Your work will support the delivery of business services and contribute to our wider environmental mission.
The responsibilities for this role include:
• providing professional, expert advice to colleagues across the organisation on data protection compliance, risks, and best practice
• managing and responding to requests from individuals exercising their data protection rights and advising on personal data aspects of other information requests
• investigating personal data security incidents and advising on mitigation
• developing, reviewing, and maintaining policies, procedures, training and guidance to ensure consistent and compliant handling of personal data
• influencing and supporting teams to adopt data protection by design and by default in their processes and projects
• building and maintaining effective relationships with internal stakeholders and external networks
• contributing to or leading transformational projects and continuous improvement initiatives relating to data protection and information governance
Responding to incidents is a central part of what we do. You will be asked to have an incident role, responding to incidents or providing business continuity support during an incident. This may attract an additional payment and full training will be available to support you with your incident role.
The team
You’ll join the Data Protection team, part of Knowledge and Information Management (KIM) within the Data and Information department. Alongside our Knowledge and Records Management colleagues, we shape how the Environment Agency manages information—clearly, efficiently, and sustainably. We’re a friendly, supportive team spread across the country, working together to make a real impact.
Experience/skills required
Essential:
* Current recognised data protection practitioner qualification, such as BCS, IAPP, or PDP.
*Technical knowledge and practical experience in data protection
*Excellent attention to detail, with the ability to work at pace and maintain high standards of quality and accuracy in your work
*Strong organisational skills to manage a busy workload, balance competing deadlines, and work effectively with uncertainty or changing priorities
*Excellent communication and coaching skills, explaining complex information clearly and supporting others to build their understanding
*Strong stakeholder engagement skills to build trusted relationships and influence others to achieve positive outcomes
*A commitment to quality, innovation, and continuous improvement
*A collaborative approach, with a focus on teamwork and shared success
Desirable:
Any experience in:
*Project management
*Information governance
*Risk and compliance
*Working within a large public sector organisation
*Working in SharePoint
*Finding creative and effective solutions to complex or sensitive issues
As a Data Protection adviser, you will act as a specialist within the organisation, providing expert advice and support on all matters relating to personal data. You will play a key role in enabling the Environment Agency to meet its legal obligations and business objectives by ensuring data protection is embedded across the business.
Under direction from the Data Protection Manager, you will work independently within defined practices, using your judgement to interpret legislation, assess risks, and resolve varied data protection issues and queries. Your work will support the delivery of business services and contribute to our wider environmental mission.
The responsibilities for this role include:
• providing professional, expert advice to colleagues across the organisation on data protection compliance, risks, and best practice
• managing and responding to requests from individuals exercising their data protection rights and advising on personal data aspects of other information requests
• investigating personal data security incidents and advising on mitigation
• developing, reviewing, and maintaining policies, procedures, training and guidance to ensure consistent and compliant handling of personal data
• influencing and supporting teams to adopt data protection by design and by default in their processes and projects
• building and maintaining effective relationships with internal stakeholders and external networks
• contributing to or leading transformational projects and continuous improvement initiatives relating to data protection and information governance
Responding to incidents is a central part of what we do. You will be asked to have an incident role, responding to incidents or providing business continuity support during an incident. This may attract an additional payment and full training will be available to support you with your incident role.
The team
You’ll join the Data Protection team, part of Knowledge and Information Management (KIM) within the Data and Information department. Alongside our Knowledge and Records Management colleagues, we shape how the Environment Agency manages information—clearly, efficiently, and sustainably. We’re a friendly, supportive team spread across the country, working together to make a real impact.
Experience/skills required
Essential:
* Current recognised data protection practitioner qualification, such as BCS, IAPP, or PDP.
*Technical knowledge and practical experience in data protection
*Excellent attention to detail, with the ability to work at pace and maintain high standards of quality and accuracy in your work
*Strong organisational skills to manage a busy workload, balance competing deadlines, and work effectively with uncertainty or changing priorities
*Excellent communication and coaching skills, explaining complex information clearly and supporting others to build their understanding
*Strong stakeholder engagement skills to build trusted relationships and influence others to achieve positive outcomes
*A commitment to quality, innovation, and continuous improvement
*A collaborative approach, with a focus on teamwork and shared success
Desirable:
Any experience in:
*Project management
*Information governance
*Risk and compliance
*Working within a large public sector organisation
*Working in SharePoint
*Finding creative and effective solutions to complex or sensitive issues