Information Commissioner's Office
Senior Policy Officer - Scottish and Northern Irish Affairs
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Belfast, Edinburgh
Job Summary
Senior Policy Officer Scottish and Northern Irish Affairs – Maternity cover fixed term contract up to 12 months
Full time / Part time
Salary: £44,297- £49,813 per annum, with potential for further progression to £56,082 with our pay progression scheme.
Location: Hybrid
Contracted to our Edinburgh or Belfast office, however, 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. Please note, from Autumn 2026 our head office will relocate from Wilmslow to Manchester city centre.
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
- 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
Job Description
The Scottish and Northern Irish Affairs teams play a crucial role in ensuring the ICO delivers our statutory functions and strategic objectives in Scotland and Northern Ireland.
As the voice of the ICO in Scotland and Northern Ireland the teams engage with key external stakeholders in both jurisdictions on the important issues of the day including AI, biometrics, data sharing and children’s privacy. As the voice of Scotland and Northern Ireland within the ICO the teams provide expert internal advice on Scottish and Northern Irish legislation, policy, institutions and politics.
As a Senior Policy Officer working within both teams, you will represent the ICO in engagement with government, parliament and key stakeholders across the public sector, providing advice and guidance on data protection compliance and seeking to influence policy and practice.
You will work closely with a variety of internal colleagues to ensure that ICO objectives are met in Scotland and Northern Ireland and that products and initiatives are effective and impactful.
The role is varied and fast paced and also involves supporting legislative consultation, horizon scanning, parliamentary monitoring, providing regulatory advice and guidance, shaping key ICO guidance and products and working on cross UK regulatory projects.
You will have excellent communication skills, both written and verbal, and be able to develop and maintain effective relationships with external and internal stakeholders at a senior level. You will be able to draft accurate policy advice and to represent the ICO confidently and independently at external events and meetings. You will have an interest in privacy issues and an ability to deal with some of the most high profile compliance matters of the day, including those of strategic importance and major public policy initiatives. You will work closely with other teams in the department and across the wider ICO to promote our organisational objectives. In addition, the role includes providing support to the managers of the Scottish and Northern Affairs teams, deputising for them in their absence, as well as mentoring colleagues.
Key Responsibilities
- Identifying, building and maintaining the ICO’s relationship with key stakeholders in Scotland and Northern Ireland including government, parliamentarians and key public sector bodies to support the delivery of ICO objectives and priorities; influencing these at a senior level to achieve ICO objectives.
- Preparing and/or contributing to complex written work, including advice and guidance, briefing documents for senior ICO staff, codes of practice, responses to consultations and reports for senior internal and external audiences.
- Consulting with government and parliamentarians on legislative proposals and providing clear and impactful advice and guidance on privacy and data protection considerations.
- Represent the ICO at selected events, including speaking engagements and meetings with internal and external stakeholders at senior levels, leading and influencing their thinking and policy developments.
- Proactively developing legislative expertise, keeping abreast of developments in information rights legislation and regulations, as well as being conversant with other related legislation and political, social and legal developments in Scotland and Northern Ireland.
- Deputising for Scottish Affairs/ Northern Irish Affairs managers including taking on line management and mentoring responsibilities for the Lead Policy Officers and Support Officers where appropriate.
- Contributing to the ICO’s strategic planning including the directorate and department business planning.
- Contributing to internal and external research, including leading elements of that research when appropriate.
- Undertaking any other duties required to assist with the effective operation of the department.
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Person specification
Essential Criteria Assessed At Application Stage:
- Substantial work experience of working in a policy role
- Experience of influencing policy and practice.
- Experience of analysing and interpreting complex legislation.
- Experience of applying the Data Protection or Freedom of Information Acts.
- An understanding of the democratic, political and organisational framework of Scotland and/or Northern Ireland and its interaction with UK central government.
Essential Criteria Assessed During Interview:
- Good judgement and ability to take high profile decisions.
- Excellent written and verbal communication skills, including the ability to present authoritatively and clearly in public.
- Strong interpersonal skills, including the ability to negotiate and maintain good relationships with officials.
- Ability to work on own initiative and as a member of a team.
- Ability to work under pressure, to deal with a demanding workload and to prioritise accordingly.
- Willingness to travel to meetings and events in the UK and occasionally overseas (possibly outside office hours).
Artificial intelligence
Artificial intelligence can be a useful tool to support your application, however, all examples and statements provided must be truthful, factually accurate and taken directly from your own experience. Where plagiarism has been identified (presenting the ideas and experiences of others, or generated by artificial intelligence, as your own) applications may be withdrawn and internal candidates may be subject to disciplinary action. Please see our candidate guidance (opens in a new window) for more information on appropriate and inappropriate use.
Selection process details
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.
Get help with your application
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Candidates with a disability who meet the minimum criteria for this vacancy will be invited to interview as part of the ICO’s commitment to the Disability Confident Scheme.
As part of the ICO’s 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 recruitment@ico.org.uk
Closing Date
Please submit your CV and cover letter by 23:59 on Sunday 26th July 2026
Your cover letter should be no more than 1,000 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 recruitment@ico.org.uk.
In the event of a 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.
Feedback will only be provided if you attend an interview or assessment.
Security
Successful candidates must undergo a criminal record check.
People working with government assets must complete baseline personnel security standard (opens in new window) checks.
Medical
Successful candidates will be expected to have a medical.
Nationality requirements
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)
Working for the Civil Service
Please note this Post is NOT regulated by the Civil Service Commission.
The Civil Service embraces diversity and promotes equal opportunities. As such, we run a Disability Confident Scheme (DCS) for candidates with disabilities who meet the minimum selection criteria.
Diversity and Inclusion
The Civil Service is committed to attract, retain and invest in talent wherever it is found. To learn more please see the Civil Service People Plan (opens in a new window) and the Civil Service Diversity and Inclusion Strategy (opens in a new window).
Once this job has closed, the job advert will no longer be available. You may want to save a copy for your records.
Contact point for applicants
Job Contact :
- Name : recruitment@ico.org.uk
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