Data Protection Officer | Abu Dhabi, UAE

Data Protection Officer

ADIB - Abu Dhabi Islamic Bank Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates

Job Description

Role: Data Protection Officer

Location: Abu Dhabi

Role Purpose:

Reporting directly to the Senior Management of the relevant department, the Data Protection Officer (DPO) is responsible for advising on the Bank's compliance with General Data Protection Regulations (GDPR) and local data protection laws. The DPO monitors the Bank's adherence to GDPR standards and acts as a point of contact with supervisory authorities in all relevant jurisdictions and data subjects. Additionally, the DPO creates policies that enforce compliance with relevant legislation and delivers ongoing data protection training to the Bank's employees to ensure standards are met and awareness is increased across the group.

Key Accountabilities of the role:

1. Act as the point of contact with relevant staff, internal teams, and supervisory authorities to ensure understanding and timely adoption of data protection requirements.
2. Identify, evaluate, and ensure the ongoing effectiveness of the Bank's data processing activities.
3. Provide advice and instructions on conducting Data Protection Impact Assessments (DPIAs).
4. Monitor data management procedures and compliance within the Bank.
5. Participate in meetings with managers to ensure privacy by design at all levels.
6. Maintain records of data processing operations.
7. Address queries from data subjects within legal timeframes, such as deleting their information from the Bank's databases.
8. Liaise with other organizations/vendors that process data on behalf of the Bank.
9. Write and update detailed guides on data protection policies.
10. Perform audits and recommend policy or procedure changes to comply with new regulations.
11. Offer consultation and advice on handling privacy breaches.
12. Deliver training on data protection compliance, including GDPR and local regulations.
13. Stay updated on legal and regulatory changes and issue recommendations to ensure ongoing compliance.

Specialist Skills / Technical Knowledge Required:

• Extensive knowledge of data protection rules and regulations in developed markets.
• Experience advising senior management in a regional or global institution.
• Ability to understand, create, and manage data protection processes across the ADIB Group.
• Understanding of laws, rules, and regulations related to data protection.
• Strong analytical, problem-solving, consulting, and report-writing skills.
• Excellent presentation, training delivery, and communication skills.
• Project management and delivery capabilities.

Previous Relevant Experience:

• 10-12 years of experience working in data protection roles within regional or global companies.
• Experience in a similar role within a financial institution is a significant advantage.