• Job Description

  Req#: JR-01558

  Looking for a new challenge?
  
  Take a look at our current vacancies. If you see a vacancy that is right for you, we encourage you to apply!

  Data Protection and Freedom of Information Adviser

  Contract: Fixed term contract 12 months

  Working hours: 35 hours per week is full time. Where possible, we are open to considering part time/flexible working patterns. Please let us know in your application your desired working pattern.

  Salary: Up to £38,000

  Reporting to: Data protection and FOI manager

  London docklands

  O ur permanent hybrid policy sees us all working at least four days across a fortnight in the office.

  We receive numerous requests for information under the Freedom of Information Act 2000 (FOIA) and data protection laws. You will be one of our experts on this legislation – handling individual requests promptly and sensitively. You’ll provide clear written responses to customers looking for answers to enquiries which are often demanding. You’ll also work flexibly across the team to help handle issues relating to other rights which data subjects have in relation to their personal information.

  The legislation is detailed, and you will need to know how it works. You’ll spot complicated or sensitive requests and work with colleagues across the organisation to give the right response. Getting to grips with the intricacies of the Data Protection Act (DPA) and UK General Data Protection Regulation (UK GDPR) is essential – you’ll be responsible for processing our most sensitive right of access requests and checking ones that less experienced colleagues have processed, before sending them out to data subjects.

  Key responsibilities

  • Providing specialist expertise on information rights and handling individual requests promptly and efficiently, within agreed service standards

  • Prioritising and organising a varied workload and doing what it takes to get things done

  • Managing stakeholders – you’ll be able to impact and influence at all levels, including senior management

  • Being resilient and finding solutions that work around barriers you might encounter

  • Inspiring confidence and being an ambassador for our service by communication and influencing in a clear, balanced, thoughtful way

  • Having the confidence to share your knowledge by coaching and training colleagues across the organisation

  • Noticing patters and trends in the enquiries we receive and thinking about the most appropriate way to share these with the service

  • Highlighting any circumstances where we can do things better as a team or as a service and providing feedback on lessons learned

  • Working collaboratively with other information rights advisers and coordinators and supporting other members of the wider team when they need you to help out

  • Caring about the confidential and personal data you’ll be handling – treating information like this with discretion and sensitivity

  To be considered for this role, you’ll need to show us that you’ve got the skills and capabilities. You’ll have to meet the following minimum criteria:

  Minimum Criteria:

  • Working in and gaining specialist expertise in information rights – including knowledge and understanding of freedom of information and data protection legislation – and being able to apply this in practice to individual requests

  • Dealing with complex and sensitive information quickly and being personally accountable for getting the detail right, while understanding the bigger picture

  • Experience recognising difficult or sensitive requests for information and working with colleagues at all levels to get the response right

  • Communicating complex or sensitive messages in writing, adapting your style to the individual customer you are dealing with, while being clear, engaging, and accurate

  Desirable Criteria

  We would also like you to have the following skills:

  • Planning, organising, and prioritising your work in a busy environment

  • Caring about achieving results as a team while being flexible

  • Using your inquisitive mind to solve problems – getting your head around complicated or ambiguous requests and coming up with responses that are appropriate in the wider context of our work

  • Recognising difficult or sensitive requests for information and working with colleagues at all levels to get the response right

  • working with challenging customers and being positively motivated by this

  • Passing on your knowledge through coaching and advising colleagues who are not necessarily familiar with information rights

  • Using Microsoft Word, Excel, and Outlook

  Why Financial Ombudsman Service?

  We are a values led organisation. Our values define our culture, influence our decisions, and underpin our vision and strategy. They set out how we play our PART through Purpose, Ambition, Respect and Trust. You can learn more about our values here: https://www.financial-ombudsman.org.uk/who-we-are/aims-values

  We also offer an attractive, competitive salary and flexible benefits to suit our people. Here’s a list of some of the many benefits and perks you can get for working with us:

  • 25 days holiday entitlement, with the option to buy extra or sell days

  • Generous pension

  • Employer provided benefits such as Private medical insurance, virtual GP, Critical illness cover, Life assurance cover, to name a few

  • Choice of voluntary benefits including Technology scheme, Cycle to work scheme, Will-writing service amongst others

  • Employee Assistance Programme

  • Extensive opportunities for personal and career development

  • Fully equipped on-site gym open 24 / 7 (London office only)

  • Extensive Well-being resources including on-site therapists (London office only)

  • Beautiful and bright London office looking over the Thames and near to mainline stations

  • Our Coventry office is 2 minutes’ walk from the main station

  • Our employee led networks do fantastic work in educating and raising awareness across a range of experiences and support us in being an inclusive employer and a great place to work. You can get involved, too!

  How do I apply?

  • Please apply by submitting a single document with your current CV

  Applications need to be submitted by Sunday 21st January 2024

  Successful candidates will be invited to interview, week commencing 29thth January 2024

  Due to high application numbers this advert may end earlier than the date specified, so please don't delay and apply now!

  A full job profile is available on request and will be provided to candidates shortlisted to the first stage of the assessment process.

  We’re proud to be an inclusive employer

  We view diversity as fundamental to our success and welcome applications from underrepresented groups across all communities.

  We’re committed to being a great place to work– attracting and developing people from the widest possible range of backgrounds. We want everyone to perform at their best and feel able to be themselves. We understand that if we’re diverse and inclusive, we’ll better understand different perspectives, which is fundamental to our job resolving financial complaints.

  We welcome applications from Black and other ethnic minority candidates, and female candidates, for all positions and particularly so for senior leader positions as they are under-represented within the Financial Ombudsman Service at this level.

  We are proud to be a Disability Confident Leader. This means that we will put disabled candidates entering under the scheme through to the next stage of the recruitment process should they meet the minimum criteria for a role. A minimum criterion needs to be measurable from reviewing a candidate’s CV/supporting statement. Exceptions may apply if due to the volume of applications we are not able to interview all eligible candidates who qualify under the scheme. If you would like to speak to a member of our team about any reasonable adjustments you need, please email hrsupport@financial-ombudsman.org.uk and let us know your preferred method of contact.

  Find out more

  Check out below channels to find out more about everyday life at the Financial Ombudsman Service – and don’t forget to follow us while you’re there!

  • LinkedIn: Financial Ombudsman Service

  • Our careers page: https://www.financial-ombudsman.org.uk/who-we-are/join-us

  Good luck with your application!

• About the company

  The Financial Ombudsman Service is an ombudsman in the United Kingdom.

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