Lead Policy Engagement Officer
Lead Policy Engagement Officer
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Job Description
Lead Policy Engagement Officer
12-month fixed term
Full time / Part time
Salary: 33273 - 37692pa with potential for further progression to 42439pa with our pay progression scheme.
Location: Hybrid
Contracted to our Wilmslow or London office however we offer flexible home and office-based working opportunities. There will be times when you will be expected to attend the office to collaborate with colleagues or travel due to business need. Please note from Autumn 2026 our head office will move from Wilmslow to Manchester city centre.
Why work for the ICO
Pay progression scheme.
Hybrid and flexible working options.
25 days paid holiday per year plus privilege and public holidays.
Flexi leave (up to 26 additional days leave per year).
Pension (employer contribution around 28.9%).
Online discount scheme to save money at major supermarkets retailers gyms restaurants insurance providers and many more.
Health Cash Plan.
Fantastic development opportunities to learn and progress.
Further details can be found on the benefits section of ourwebsite.
Job summary
The Public Affairs (Sectors) team is the front door into the ICO for strategic external stakeholders in our priority sectors of policing & justice health education and local government. We provide strategic regulatory advice that helps bring clarity and certainty on information rights issues and we support our regulatory activity to have greater impact.
As sector experts the team provides colleagues with early warning of emerging issues and risks sharing intelligence throughout the ICO to continuously improve our empathy with those we regulate. As trusted advisers to the Commissioner and Executive Team we drive and support strategic proactive external stakeholder engagement and help resolve reactive issues. We build understanding of the ICO by driving awareness of priority campaigns
The Information Commissioners Office (ICO) is the independent regulator of information rights. In a data-driven world we provide advice guidance and support to organisations enabling compliance with their obligations as well as protecting individuals and their personal data.
As an employer we are passionate about making a positive difference to the lives and careers of our people and we empower you to be curious impactful collaborative and respectful.
Job description
As the Lead Policy Engagement Officer you will support the work of the Senior Policy Engagement Officers in the policing justice and immigration sectors. You will work across the organisation and with a range of stakeholders including government departments sector bodies and civil society. The role will involve identifying current and emerging sector-specific issues pulling together complex information to provide timely advice and producing concise impactful briefings. You will be motivated by providing an excellent service to external and internal stakeholders alike underpinned by great organisational skills.
Key responsibilities:
To support the team in building and maintaining relationships with high-profile external stakeholders.
To identify risks for the ICO on data protection issues by developing knowledge and understanding of both data protection legislation and assigned sectors including through active engagement on emerging legislation and technological developments.
Delivery of effective and impactful stakeholder engagement by producing briefing documents consultation responses and other reports coordinating cross-office input.
To coordinate and deliver strategic stakeholder engagement in support of proactive ICO campaigns.
To promote effective cross-team collaboration including by chairing cross-office forums and proactively sharing intelligence with colleagues.
To represent ICO at events and support senior staff in stakeholder engagement.
To promote compliance with data protection and where concerns arise escalate these to ICO colleagues to support appropriate regulatory action.
To empower responsible innovation by providing advice to Government on emerging legislation part of our statutory responsibilities under Article 36(4) GDPR.
To raise the ICOs profile by coordinating external stakeholder engagement and speaking requests for the organisation as a whole.
To provide policy engagement and some administrative support to the team and wider department.
Comply with ICO Policies and Procedures
Person specification
Essential criteria assessed at application stage:
Experience relevant to the role requirements as described in the role responsibilities and person specification and accumulated through any combination of academic or vocational qualifications or experience.
Experience of building and managing senior level stakeholder relationships and/or significant experience of developing and providing policy advice
Experience of applying Data Protection Freedom of Information or associated legislation or similarly complex legislation
Experience of analysing complex legislation and information to make recommendations
An understanding of the wider parliamentary democratic political and organisational framework in the UK.
Ability to travel to meetings and events in the UK and occasionally overseas (possibly outside office hours).
Essential criteria assessed during interview:
Experience of building and managing senior level stakeholder relationships and/or significant experience of developing and providing policy advice
Experience of analysing complex legislation and information to make recommendations
Strong communication skills including excellent written verbal and presentation skills.
Strong interpersonal skills including the ability to negotiate and maintain good relationships with senior internal and external stakeholders
Strong organisational and coordination skills
Self-motivated able to work under pressure working independently and as a member of a team.
An understanding of the wider parliamentary democratic political and organisational framework in the UK.
Equality diversity and inclusion
The ICO is committed to promoting and enhancing equality diversity and inclusion. We are focused on developing a workforce that is representative of the communities we serve and together we are building an inclusive workplace where all of our colleagues have the opportunity to make a real difference. We are championing this through our Equality Diversity and Inclusion Board together with a number of staff networks. Read more about our commitment on our website.
Candidates with a disability who meet the minimum criteria for this vacancy will be invited to interview as part of the ICOs commitment to the Disability Confident Scheme.
If you are disabled or have an impairment and require an alternative application method please email the HR team at
Closing Date
Please submit yourCV by23:59 28 July
We reserve the right to close this vacancy before this date should we receive sufficient applications. Please apply as soon as possible to ensure your application is considered.
Required Experience:
Unclear Seniority
Employment Type
Full-Time
