Privacy Officer Job Description and Role Profile

The Privacy Officer ensures that personal data is processed in accordance with relevant data protection legislation and organisational policy. Candidates with experience in data protection, compliance or information governance who can advise stakeholders, manage risk and lead incident response should apply.

Privacy Officer Job Profile

The Privacy Officer is responsible for developing, implementing and maintaining privacy and data protection frameworks to protect personal data and ensure regulatory compliance. This role provides independent oversight, guidance and accountability for privacy across the organisation.

The postholder will work closely with legal, IT, information security and business teams to assess privacy risk, deliver training and support operational privacy-by-design initiatives. The role reports findings and compliance matters to senior management and supports engagement with supervisory authorities where required.

Privacy Officer Job Description

The Privacy Officer designs and maintains policies, procedures and controls that support lawful processing of personal data. This includes conducting data protection impact assessments, maintaining records of processing activities and ensuring appropriate technical and organisational measures are in place. The role requires continuous monitoring of compliance and timely identification of emerging privacy risks.

The Privacy Officer leads the response to data subject requests and personal data breaches, coordinating investigations, remedial actions and regulatory notifications as necessary. The role acts as a trusted advisor to business units, providing clear guidance on lawful bases for processing, retention, data transfers and contractual requirements with third parties.

The postholder will deliver training and awareness activity, carry out internal audits and report privacy performance to senior stakeholders. The role requires pragmatic decision making, the ability to influence cross-functional teams and a commitment to maintaining robust documentation and audit trails.

Privacy Officer: Duties and Responsibilities

• Develop, implement and maintain privacy policies, procedures and standards.
• Monitor compliance with GDPR and applicable data protection legislation.
• Conduct and document data protection impact assessments and privacy risk assessments.
• Lead investigations and coordinate response to personal data breaches, including notifications.
• Maintain records of processing activities and lawful basis documentation.
• Provide practical privacy advice to business units on processing activities and projects.
• Design and deliver privacy training and awareness programmes for staff.
• Act as point of contact for data subjects and manage subject access and other rights requests.
• Assess and negotiate data protection clauses in contracts with suppliers and partners.
• Work with IT and security teams to embed privacy by design and appropriate technical controls.
• Carry out regular audits and compliance reviews to identify gaps and remedial actions.
• Report privacy risks, incidents and compliance status to senior management.
• Maintain retention and deletion schedules and oversee records management practices.
• Support cross-border data transfer assessments and implementation of safeguards.

Privacy Officer: Requirements and Qualifications

• Degree in law, information governance, computer science or a related discipline.
• Professional qualification or recognised training in data protection or information governance.
• Minimum three years' practical experience in data protection, privacy or compliance roles.
• Strong working knowledge of GDPR and relevant domestic data protection legislation.
• Experience conducting DPIAs and managing data breaches and regulatory notifications.
• Proven ability to assess risk and translate legal requirements into operational controls.
• Excellent written and verbal communication skills for advising stakeholders at all levels.
• Experience developing and delivering privacy training and awareness programmes.
• Competence in reviewing contracts and managing third party data protection risk.
• High level of discretion and ability to handle sensitive personal data responsibly.
• Project management skills and ability to coordinate cross-functional initiatives.
• Strong attention to detail and ability to maintain accurate records and documentation.