Senior Policy Officer

Senior Policy Officer - Innovation and Enterprise

Two permanent positions one role in Digital Firms and one role in Innovation Hub

Full time / Part time

Salary: 44297 - 49813 with potential for further progression to 56082 with our pay progression scheme.

Location: Hybrid

Contracted to our Manchester London Edinburgh Cardiff or Belfast office. Through hybrid working we offer flexible home and office-based working opportunities and there will be times when you will be expected to attend the office to collaborate with colleagues or travel due to business need.

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

This is a great opportunity for an experienced policy professional to help shape the responsible use of innovative products and services at the forefront of technological change. Working on complex and high-profile issues you will play a key role in ensuring compliance with data protection law while supporting innovation that benefits people and organisations. We are looking for someone with strong analytical and organisational skills the confidence to challenge and negotiate effectively and the ability to build productive relationships with a wide range of stakeholders to influence positive outcomes.

The Information Commissioners Office (ICO) is the independent regulator of information 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

The Digital Firms Team is responsible for key areas of the ICOs regulatory supervision of information rights practices in digital and online environments. The Team is responsible for supervising and influencing the data protection compliance approaches of the largest technology firms collaborating with other UK digital regulators developing and implementing strategic policy and supporting formal ICO operations. It deals with the highest profile information rights issues of the day from data protection matters of strategic importance within the digital economy to the privacy impacts arising from major public policy developments.

As Senior Policy Officer you be involved in developing and executing an enhanced ICO model of regulatory supervision. You will also take ownership of complex policy issues arising out of supervision undertaking research and supporting policy join-up providing advice and guidance as well as being a primary source of contact for stakeholders often at a senior level.

The Innovation Hub sits within the ICOs Innovation Department and supports responsible innovation involving personal data. Working with innovators regulators and other stakeholders the team helps organisations navigate complex data protection challenges embed privacy by design and develop innovative products and services responsibly. The Hub also identifies emerging issues contributes to policy development promotes coordinated regulatory approaches and supports public trust in the use of personal data.

As a Senior Policy Officer you will work with regulators businesses and other stakeholders to support the ICOs innovation and regulatory objectives. You will provide expert advice on complex data protection issues help organisations adopt privacy-conscious approaches and build strong stakeholder relationships. The role also involves identifying emerging data protection challenges gathering insights from engagement activities and using these to inform policy development and shape the ICOs approach to responsible innovation.

Key responsibilities:

• Support the ICOs strategic approach to regulatory supervision responsible innovation and the use of personal data in digital and emerging technology contexts.
• Develop produce and deliver clear written and verbal advice on complex data protection regulatory policy and innovation issues.
• Analyse complex issues undertake research and use evidence and insight to inform policy development decision-making and the ICOs wider strategic approach.
• Develop and maintain subject matter expertise in information rights legislation data protection law emerging technologies and wider political legal regulatory technological and societal developments.
• Build develop and maintain effective relationships with assigned stakeholders including innovators regulators businesses senior stakeholders and other organisations.
• Work collaboratively with colleagues across the ICO to support policy development regulatory coordination and joined-up approaches to innovation supervision and emerging technology issues.
• Identify emerging issues risks opportunities and trends in technology innovation and data rights including horizon scanning and considering their strategic social and practical implications.
• Keep accurate records of internal and external engagement progress and project documentation as required.
• Comply with ICO policies and procedures and undertake any other duties as required.
• Support the supervision of big tech platforms and help drive improvements in how these firms approach data processing in high-priority areas such as AI and childrens privacy. (Digital Firms)
• Influence senior stakeholders and external organisations in a way that supports the ICOs objectives including through negotiation and the maintenance of effective working relationships. (Digital Firms)
• Act as a central point of coordination for cross-ICO collaborative project work and liaison. (Digital Firms)
• Provide practical advice and support to organisations innovators and regulatory partners to help embed compliance and data protection considerations from the earliest stages of product or service development. (Innovation Hub)
• Proactively identify and pursue opportunities for new partnerships and engagement to increase the teams output influence and reach. (Innovation Hub)
• Promote data protection by design privacy-friendly innovation and responsible approaches to the development and deployment of products and services that use personal data. (Innovation Hub)
• Contribute to business planning activity reporting and the measurement of performance and impact. (Innovation Hub)
• Represent the ICO through stakeholder engagement activities including meetings workshops conferences industry events regulatory forums and public speaking engagements in the UK and internationally. (Innovation Hub)

Person specification

Essential criteria assessed at application stage:

• Significant relevant working experience in a policy regulatory technological or legal based role will be an advantage (also measured at interview).
• Experience of working with complex information which could include legislation or operational rules and procedures (also measured at interview).
• Strong interpersonal skills including the ability to negotiate and maintain good working relationships both internally and externally up to and including senior management level (also measured at interview).
• The ability to use good judgement and problem-solving skills in order to take sound evidence-based decisions (also measured at interview).

Essential criteria assessed during interview:

• Excellent ability to analyse complex issues and formulate clear and persuasive arguments for a range of audiences.
• Excellent communication skills including excellent written oral and presentation skills.
• An ability to work on own initiative and as part of a team to achieve a shared goal.
• An understanding of wider political economic and technological developments in the UK and overseas
• Ability to travel to meetings and events in the UK and occasionally overseas (possibly outside office hours).

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.

As part of the ICOs commitment to our EDI objectives and creating a workplace that represents the communities and societies we serve we guarantee an interview to candidates who declare they identify as belonging from an ethnic minority background and who meet the minimum criteria for this vacancy.

If you are disabled or have an impairment and require an alternative application method please email the HR team at

Closing Date

Please submit your CV and cover letter by 23:59 13 September Your cover letter should be no more than 1000 words and should clearly demonstrate how you meet the essential criteria for the role.

We may close this vacancy early if we receive a high volume of applications. To ensure your application is considered we encourage you to apply as soon as possible. If you require any reasonable adjustments to support your application please contact us at.

In the event ofa high volume of applications we may not be able to invite all candidates who meet the minimum criteria to interview. However we encourage you stay in touch and apply for future roles that match your interests.

All candidates who meet the minimum criteria and apply in-line with our guaranteed interview scheme for disabled and ethnic minority applicants will be interviewed.

Clearance Required for this role: