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Data Protection Officer (Infected Blood Compensation Authority)

Job details
Posting date: 31 July 2025
Salary: £55,403 to £61,939 per year
Additional salary information: Important information about pay - it is expected that from 1 October 2025 the pay for this role will be £58,655. In addition once the role holder has completed their probationary period (usually 6 months) they will become eligible to receive a pay premium
Hours: Full time
Closing date: 13 August 2025
Location: Newcastle-upon-Tyne
Company: Government Recruitment Service
Job type: Permanent
Job reference: 419846/2

Summary

The Infected Blood Compensation Authority is seeking a Data Protection Officer to assure our compliance with data protection legislation processing personal data. IBCA is responsible for paying compensation to eligible applicants, which will include those infected and affected by the infected blood scandal. As such, IBCA will be processing a wide variety of evidence, including medical records and other health data. IBCA will also be managing information flows to and from other government departments and relevant bodies to support the application process. IBCA is a recently established department, and as such requires data protection assurance as its operations develop. This is a unique opportunity to shape and implement a data protection function that provides capability to a mission-focused team.

Opportunities to move to the new Infected Blood Compensation Authority (IBCA)

At the moment all IBCA roles are hosted by Cabinet Office within the Civil Service. However, once IBCA becomes operational, it is anticipated that most of these roles will transfer to IBCA, which is a new Arms Length Body (ALB) separate from the Cabinet Office. Roles that transfer to IBCA from Cabinet Office will maintain the same or substantially the same terms and conditions of employment that are overall no less favourable. It is anticipated that employees who move from Cabinet Office to IBCA will be able to continue to participate in the Civil Service Pension arrangements with no break in their pensionable service. Roles commencing after IBCA has become operational will be with IBCA itself on similar terms and conditions. All successful candidates will receive full details of the terms and conditions of employment for their role with their formal job offer.

Please note that the mission of IBCA means that it is likely to be operational for a period of approximately 5 to 7 years. When IBCA’s work begins to wind down, IBCA employees will receive support and practical guidance to find a new role, whether in the Civil Service, another Arms Length Body (ALB), or an external employer.

The Data Protection Officer will report to the Head of Data Governance, and will sit alongside the other Data Governance workstreams, which are:

  • Knowledge and Information Management
  • Information Rights and Disclosure
  • Data Acquisition and Quality.

The post-holder will serve as the Authority’s statutory DPO.

The role will be dynamic and fast paced, so that IBCA is able to deliver a service that is underpinned by quality, trustworthy data.

The role includes line management responsibility for one member of staff, who in turn will support the DPO with their duties.

Main Responsibilities

The successful candidate will:

  • Engage with operational teams and external stakeholders to deliver a data protection framework across the organisation and support its compliance with relevant legislation.
  • Continue to develop IBCA’s data protection strategy and policy.
  • Lead on the assurance of Data Protection Impact Assessments when new or alternative processing is proposed. Influence the development of systems and processes to adopt a privacy by design and default approach across the organisation to meet compliance with the strategic and organisational objectives.
  • Ensure compliance with the UK GDPR and other data protection laws, developing our data protection policies, processes and procedures, including managing internal data protection activities and conducting compliance reviews.
  • Deliver statutory data protection requirements, including providing advice and assistance on data security incidents to support decision making decisions on breaches and whether to report them to the Information Commissioner’s Office (ICO).
  • Advise on the lawfulness of using IBCA’s statutory powers.
  • Provide assurance of compliance re: IBCA’s policies, processes and digital tools.
  • Determine lawful bases for processing and controllership.
  • Safeguard and champion privacy issues insofar as IBCA’s use of personal data.
  • Create and support with data protection products and procedures.
  • Manage IBCAs data protection functions, including producing and maintaining clear, accessible, user-friendly procedures, processes, forms and guidance.
  • Develop and deliver data protection training programmes.
  • Any other relevant data protection issues the Authority may be required to address.

The post holder will work closely with the other Data Governance leads, particularly Knowledge and Information Management, to embed consistent, compliant information governance controls across the organisation, covering for example information asset ownership and retention.

Proud member of the Disability Confident employer scheme

Disability Confident
A Disability Confident employer will generally offer an interview to any applicant that declares they have a disability and meets the minimum criteria for the job as defined by the employer. It is important to note that in certain recruitment situations such as high-volume, seasonal and high-peak times, the employer may wish to limit the overall numbers of interviews offered to both disabled people and non-disabled people. For more details please go to Disability Confident.