Deputy Director – Data Governance, Data Protection and Data Strategy

The Deputy Director for Data Governance, Data Protection and Data Strategy provides senior leadership to ensure DfE’s data is governed, protected and used strategically to improve outcomes for children, young people and learners. Working to the Chief Data Officer (CDO), the postholder sets direction, assures delivery and builds organisational capability across information governance, privacy, data policy, data management, enterprise data sharing, knowledge and information management, and the ethical and effective use of data.

The role is a senior strategic leadership post within the Data Directorate. The postholder will be considered the Department’s expert and senior responsible lead for information management, data governance and data protection, providing leadership across DfE groups, arms-length bodies and cross-government partners. They will ensure the Department has effective controls, clear accountabilities and proportionate governance arrangements for the safe, lawful and valuable use of data.

DfE is the custodian of one of government's most significant and complex data estates, processing millions of data elements each day and increasingly relying on data to support policy development, operational delivery and decision-making. The postholder will lead in a rapidly evolving environment, helping the Department respond to major opportunities and challenges arising from initiatives such as the Data Spine, increased data sharing across the education sector, and growing use of AI, research and real-time data. They will ensure that innovation is supported by robust governance, privacy and assurance frameworks that maintain public trust while enabling the effective use of data.

The role will also play a key part in improving the Department's information management maturity, strengthening information asset ownership, embedding clear accountability and governance, and building a new multidisciplinary function that brings together data protection, knowledge and information management, enterprise standards, enterprise data sharing and data strategy into a coherent and high-performing service.

As the Deputy Director for Data Governance, Data Protection and Data Strategy, you will:

• Set and deliver the enterprise data strategy, aligned to departmental outcomes and digital transformation, translating strategy into clear priorities, roadmaps, investment cases and delivery plans. This includes shaping information management and cross-government data sharing strategies on behalf of DfE.
• Lead and embed DfE’s data governance framework, including principles, standards, decision rights, data ownership. stewardship and governance forums. The postholder will drive consistent adoption across the Department and relevant arms-length bodies, ensuring governance is integrated into delivery, portfolio, programme, product and operational ways of working.
• Provide senior leadership on data protection and privacy (ensuring DfE complies with UK GDPR, the Data Protection Act 2018 and wider regulatory requirements. The postholder will embed privacy-by-design, DPIA processes and proportionate risk-based decision-making into programmes, products, services and operational processes.
• Own and assure key information governance processes that enable safe, trusted data use, including data sharing, records/information management and retention, transparency and data ethics—working closely with Legal, Security, Digital and operational teams to embed clear, proportionate standards across the Department.
• Enable safe, ethical and effective use of data, defining what good information governance looks like in the context of safety, ethics, research, AI-enabled activity and effective decision-making. The postholder will apply best practice and government standards, and help shape emerging practice in areas such as AI, dynamic research and cross-government data sharing.
• Own and assure key information governance processes that enable safe and trusted data use, including data sharing, information asset ownership, knowledge and information management, records management, retention, transparency and data ethics. This will involve working closely with Legal, Security, Digital and operational teams to embed clear and proportionate standards across DfE.
• Raise data management maturity and assurance across the Department, including improvements in data quality, data classification and handling, metadata, data cataloguing, lineage, risk management and controls for sensitive and special category data.
• Provide expert advice, challenge and governance-by-design to SROs, Directors, senior risk owners and delivery teams on high-risk, novel or complex data uses. This includes major data sharing arrangements, research datasets such as LEO, AI and automation use cases, and real-time data exchange through major programmes such as the Data Spine.
• Strengthen assurance, reporting and senior decision-making, including dashboards and management information on compliance, risks, audit actions, adoption and maturity of data governance and data management practices across the Department.
• Establish and run an effective operating model for data governance and protection, clarifying accountabilities across business areas, strengthening the network of Information Asset Owners and data stewards, and embedding governance checkpoints into departmental delivery and assurance processes.
• Lead and develop a multidisciplinary division, directly managing five Grade 6 leaders and holding overall accountability for around 30 staff across information governance, data protection, data strategy, data management, enterprise sharing, stewardship and knowledge and information management. The postholder will create a high-performing and inclusive team culture, set clear priorities, manage performance and build capability across a dispersed and hybrid workforce.
• Build external and cross-government partnerships with DSIT, ICO, other departments, local authorities, the education sector, EdTech providers and the research community to enable safe, lawful and valuable data sharing and use.

This job is broadly open to the following groups:

• UK nationals
• nationals of the Republic of Ireland
• nationals of Commonwealth countries who have the right to work in the UK
• nationals of the EU, Switzerland, Norway, Iceland or Liechtenstein and family members of those nationalities with settled or pre-settled status under the European Union Settlement Scheme (EUSS) (opens in a new window)
• nationals of the EU, Switzerland, Norway, Iceland or Liechtenstein and family members of those nationalities who have made a valid application for settled or pre-settled status under the European Union Settlement Scheme (EUSS)
• individuals with limited leave to remain or indefinite leave to remain who were eligible to apply for EUSS on or before 31 December 2020
• Turkish nationals, and certain family members of Turkish nationals, who have accrued the right to work in the Civil Service

Further information on nationality requirements (opens in a new window)

This vacancy is using Success Profiles (opens in a new window), and will assess your Strengths and Experience.

To apply for this role, you need to complete an online application via the Civil Service Jobs portal. Applications will be accepted until 23:55 on Monday 21 September.

Application

You will be asked to provide:

• A CV setting out your career history, with key responsibilities and achievements. Please ensure you have provided reasons for any gaps within the last two years. A maximum of two pages
• A Statement of Suitability up to 1,000 words, detailing how you meet the essential criteria outlined in the person specification section above, with reference to specific examples and evidence. Should we receive a high volume of applications, then we will sift on the first two essential criteria.

Failure to submit both documents will mean the panel only has limited information on which to assess your application against the criteria in the person specification.

Should you encounter any issues with your online application please contact: SCS.RECRUITMENT@education.gov.uk

Selection process:

Shortlisted candidates will be required to:

• Complete a staff engagement exercise which will take place during w/c 28th September as well as an Individual Leadership Assessment in the same week.
• Take part in a formal virtual interview w/c 12 October, which will include:A presentation (details will be provided to shortlisted candidates).
• Interview questions based on the essential criteria to further assess your experience. We will also ask strength-based questions

For an accessible version of the candidate pack, please contact scs.recruitment@education.gov.uk

Other Information

We reserve the right to raise the minimum pass mark in the event of a high volume or strong field of candidates.

Please be aware that this role can only be worked in the UK from the location options provided and not from overseas.

If successful and transferring from another Government Department a criminal record check maybe carried out.

In order to process applications without delay, we will be sending a Criminal Record Check to Disclosure and Barring Service on your behalf. However, we recognise in exceptional circumstance some candidates will want to send their completed forms direct. If you will be doing this, please advise Department of Education of your intention by emailing Pre-Employment.Checks.DFE@education.gov.uk stating the job reference number in the subject heading.

Department for Education do not cover the cost of travel to your interview/assessment unless otherwise stated.

A reserve list may be held for a period of 12 months from which further appointments can be made.

Candidates will be posted in merit order based upon location preference. Where more than one location is advertised you will be asked to state your preferred location.

New entrants are expected to join on the minimum of the pay band.

Applicants who are successful at interview will be, as part of pre-employment screening subject to a check on the Internal Fraud Database (IFD). This check will provide information about employees who have been dismissed for fraud or dishonesty offences. This check also applies to employees who resign or otherwise leave before being dismissed for fraud or dishonesty had their employment continued. Any applicant’s details held on the IFD will be refused employment.

Terms and conditions of candidates transferring from ALBs and NDPBs

Bodies that are not accredited by the Civil Service Commission and are not able to advertise at Across Government on Civil Service jobs will be treated as external new starters and will come into DfE on modernised terms and conditions with a salary at the band minimum.

Bodies that are accredited by the Civil Service Commission but do not have civil service status will be offered modernised terms and will not have continuous service recognised for leave or sickness benefits. Salaries should be offered at band minimum, but there is some flexibility where this would cause a detriment to the individual.

Bodies that are accredited by the Civil Service Commission and do have Civil Service status will be treated as OGD transfers. Staff appointed on lateral transfer will move on to pre-modernised DfE terms (unless they were on modernised terms in their previous organisation). Staff appointed on promotion will move on to modernised DfE terms. Staff will transfer over on their existing salary (on lateral transfer) and any pay above the DfE pay band maximum will be paid as a mark time allowance. Staff moving on promotion will have their salaries calculated using the principles set out in the attached OGD transfer supplementary information.

Reasonable adjustment

If a person with disabilities is put at a substantial disadvantage compared to a non-disabled person, we have a duty to make reasonable changes to our processes. If you need a change to be made so that you can make your application, you should:

Contact Department of Education via scs.recruitment@education.gov.uk soon as possible before the closing date to discuss your needs.

Complete the “Assistance required” section in the “Additional requirements” page of your application form to tell us what changes or help you might need further on in the recruitment process. For instance, you may need wheelchair access at interview, or if you’re deaf, a Language Service Professional.

Childcare Vouchers

Any move to Department for Education (DfE) will mean you will no longer be able to carry on claiming childcare vouchers. This includes moves between government departments. You may however be eligible for other government schemes, including Tax-Free Childcare. Determine your eligibility at https://www.childcarechoices.gov.uk/

Feedback will only be provided if you attend an interview or assessment.