Data Protection Officer - Central Government

Role: Data Protection Officer REF 104216
Contract Length: Until 30/10/26
Location: Hybrid/Belfast, Cardiff, Darlington, Edinburgh, Nottingham or Salford- 2 days per week in the office.
IR35: Inside
Pay Rate to Intermediary: Market Rate
Security Clearance: SC requested

Spinwell is recruiting for a Data Protection Officer for an excellent opportunity within the public sector.

RESPONSIBILITIES OF THE DATA PROTECTION OFFICER

• Freedom of Information (FOI) requests, and complaints about the client.
• Log, triage and track cases end-to-end, ensuring statutory timescales are met and extensions/exemptions are applied appropriately and defensibly.
• Commission searches and draft input from directorates, setting clear instructions, deadlines and quality expectations; chase and escalate where required.
• Review material for relevance and sensitivity; coordinate redaction in line with UK GDPR/Data Protection Act 2018 and FOIA requirements; maintain an audit trail of decisions.
• Draft clear, accurate responses (and refusal/partial disclosure notices where needed), ensuring appropriate sign-off and consistent tone.
• Provide advice and guidance to colleagues on information rights obligations, records handling, and “what to look for” when conducting searches.
• Liaise with the client and other stakeholders as needed
• Identify recurring risks and themes (e.g., record-keeping gaps, repeat requesters, common exemptions), and propose practical improvements to processes, templates and training.
• Support with knowledge and information management tasks as required

  SKILLS/EXPERIENCE OF THE DATA PROTECTION OFFICER

• Proven experience coordinating and responding to information rights casework, such as SARs and FOI requests, including commissioning searches, applying exemptions, and producing high-quality written responses.
• Strong working knowledge of UK GDPR and the Data Protection Act 2018, and a practical understanding of the Freedom of Information Act 2000, including statutory timescales.
• Demonstrable ability to work on own initiative as a self-starter, managing competing priorities and driving actions to completion in a fast-paced environment.
• Excellent judgement and attention to detail, with the ability to handle sensitive information, make clear, defensible decisions, and maintain accurate records/audit trails.
• Strong stakeholder management skills, able to influence and challenge constructively, and communicate clearly with colleagues at all levels.

If you are a Data Protection Officer, apply now or send your CV to Spinwell!

We welcome all applications regardless of background, in line with our commitment to diversity, equality and inclusion.

Applying to this or any other vacancy advertised by Spinwell Ltd constitutes an agreement for Spinwell Ltd to hold your details for 24 months for the purpose of assessing suitability for the advertised position and to make you aware of any other positions deemed suitable of which You will make you aware by means of either email, text or phone. In line with GDPR regulations you are able to request your details be removed from the company data at any time by emailing us