Policy Officer (International)

Full Job Description

Policy Officer (International) (Regulatory Policy Executive Directorate)

Full time / Part time

Salary: £23,946 - £26,836  pa, with potential for further progression to £30,217 with our pay progression scheme.

Location: Wilmslow

Contracted to our Wilmslow office however, through hybrid working 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. 

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 26.6%).
• 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 our website  .

About us

The Information Commissioner’s 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.

About the role

The ICO is currently recruiting a Policy Officer to join our Engagement Department which is a part of the Regulatory Policy Executive Directorate.

The Directorate’s core goal is to represent the ICO’s key strategic policies on an international platform. It plays a crucial role in influencing important stakeholders across the globe, writing guidance, providing training and producing clear and consistent lines and advice on the legislation regulated by the ICO.

Our policy officers play a vital role in providing support to senior management assisting on high profile and complex issues and relationships in the national or international context and the balance of work can depend upon the team they work in.

You will be both supporting other team members on projects  which are core components in the delivery of our International business plan. 

KEY RESPONSIBILITIES

• Provide research support for policy work, monitoring secondary information resources and providing current awareness.

• Provide event policy and administration support, including for incoming/outgoing visits to the ICO.

• Maintain and develop policy knowledge bases and departmental Internet and intranet pages, liaising with managers throughout the department to ensure that information is accurate and current.

• Maintain departmental email inboxes and respond to general enquiries, referring more complex enquiries upwards to senior management where appropriate.

• Produce regular policy updates and newsletters to ensure international stakeholders and interested departments throughout the ICO are kept informed of policy outputs and matters of significance.

• Maintain and develop Secretariat systems for management information relating to international activities, liaising with other ICO departments where necessary, and producing reports.

• Organise/attend internal meetings and accompany staff to external meetings, providing minutes, giving presentations or providing advice when necessary

• Act as Local Records Officer, ensuring that Secretariat records are maintained effectively in the electronic document records management system and relevant websites.

• Proactively develop legislative expertise, keeping abreast of developments in data protection legislation and regulations.

• Provide other policy support to the team, as required.

• Some overseas travel may be required.

About you

• You will have excellent analytical ability and clear and confident communication skills.
• Work can include supporting day to day engagement with important, often senior leaders or board-level stakeholders, developing the ICO’s policy positions, contributing to the production of influential guidance and undertaking projects aimed at developing our information rights laws further.
• You will need to get to the heart of complex issues at pace developing practical outcomes.

Education and Qualifications

• Degree educated or equivalent, you will have a strong interest in the information rights landscape.

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. 

If you have a disability or impairment and have difficulty using our online application system, please email the HR team at   who can arrange for you to submit an application via an alternative method.

Closing Date

Please submit your CV by 23:59 on Sunday 17th September 2023

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.