Principal Lawyer (Regulatory Supervision)

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 Supervision) your role will be primarily to provide strategic, high quality legal advice on a variety of high profile queries and issues. Other duties include:

• Managing and supervising complex cases
• Developing and implementing effective and appropriate legal advice strategies to deliver specific objectives outlined in the corporate plan
• Providing expert advice by being fully conversant with all relevant legislation and procedural rules
• Leading on developing strategy and thinking on novel and 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
• Effectively and independently manage a caseload of ongoing legal issues/cases
• Providing supervision and guidance to in-house lawyers and instructions to external lawyers on key legal cases and legislative matters

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 qualified outside the UK you may be required to undertake the QLTT within a defined period.

You will have significant experience of running and supervising litigation or enforcement cases - as well as a track record of applying complex legislation to particular situations, and the ability engage in debate about these issues.

Knowledge of the regulatory environment and information law would be advantageous.

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:

hays.co.uk/jobs/ico

For a confidential discussion contact:

Rebecca Large T 0161 228 7770 

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