Principal Lawyer (Regulatory Advice and Commercial Directorate)

Wilmslow, Cheshire

Starting salary: Expected to be in the range of £57.5k to £74.2k

What role could you play in influencing the changing privacy and information rights landscape?

Our work as the UK’s privacy and information rights regulator has never been more important. We hold a unique position as a regulator across the whole of the private, public and third sectors.

We operate across the United Kingdom but have an international impact. For example, we work with data protection authorities across the world to share information and best practice as well as conduct joint investigations and enforcement actions

About us

The ICO is an independent public body; we uphold information rights in the public interest, promoting openness by public bodies and data privacy for individuals. We educate organisations, promote good practice and are involved with important issues from intrusive technology, nuisance calls/texts to the use of surveillance cameras.

We operate across the United Kingdom but have an international impact. For example, we work with data protection authorities across the world to share information and best practice as well as conduct joint investigations and enforcement actions.

The arrival of the GDPR and Data Protection Act 2018, has meant huge change for the regulator and we are currently strengthening and expanding our team to meet our new obligations and provide excellent public services under our increased regulatory remit.

About the role

The ICO is at the heart of so many issues of national importance and these are exciting and challenging times for information rights.

As Principal Lawyer (Regulatory Advice and Commercial) your role will be primarily to provide strategic, high quality legal advice on commercial and procurement matters received from across the ICO. Depending on your expertise and interest, you may also work on information law queries, although this is not a requirement.

Other duties include:

• Managing and supervising complex and high-profile queries, projects and contracts.
• Providing expert advice by being fully conversant with all relevant legislation and procedural rules.
• Leading on developing strategy and thinking on novel and/or complex legal issues.
• Participating and where appropriate leading on behalf of the Commissioner/ICO at meetings and events where senior representation is required both nationally and internationally.
• Providing guidance and assistance to other ICO lawyers and instructing external lawyers on key matters.
• Identifying opportunities and risks to ICO reputation, and making recommendations for improving commercial and other practices at the ICO

About you

You will have a recognised professional qualification as a Barrister or Solicitor, or as a Chartered Legal Executive in England and Wales. If you qualified outside of England and Wales, you must have an appropriate equivalent professional qualification. If you are a Chartered Legal Executive you must have at least 2 years post qualification experience. If you are qualified outside the UK you may be required to undertake the QLTT within a defined period.

You will have substantial experience of commercial law, including advising, drafting and negotiating contracts. Procurement law experience would also be helpful.

Knowledge of public law and information law would be advantageous, as would experience of the regulatory environment.

We would welcome candidates from private practice firms, in-house legal teams or from other public sector organisations.

How to apply

Please upload a copy of your CV along with a covering letter which explains both why you are attracted to this post and why you are the right person for us. Please limit your covering letter to no more than one page. For further information and to apply please visit: www.hays.co.uk/jobs/ico

For a confidential discussion contact:

Rebecca Large 0161 228 7770 

The closing date for applications is 12 noon, Wednesday 16^th October, 2019