Data Compliance Officer

Blue Cross For Pets; Burford; Hybrid; GBP 35,000 - 38,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Holiday entitlement

Wellbeing programs

GP access

Health cash plan

Pension scheme

CPD support

Life assurance

Pet insurance discount

Family friendly policies

Volunteer days

Employee discounts

Job summary

Blue Cross in Burford is recruiting a Data Compliance Officer to join the Data & Insights team. You will be the data compliance SME, ensuring our data practices, marketing activities and fundraising operations comply with DMA, PECR, UK GDPR, and our Data Protection Act.

This hybrid role requires you to work from Burford office twice weekly, translate complex regulations into practical guidance, and support risk management across marketing, fundraising and digital projects.

Qualifications

• In-depth working knowledge of Direct Marketing Association code (DMA) and Privacy and Electronic Communications Regulations (PECR)
• A good working knowledge of UK GDPR and practical application, including DPIAs and Subject Access Requests
• Excellent interpersonal skills and ability to explain complex issues clearly to non-experts
• Ability to work with diverse teams to find compliant solutions and influence outcomes
• Confidence to highlight risks and elevate them when necessary
• Strong attention to detail and alignment with Blue Cross values

Responsibilities

• Provide clear, practical compliance guidance to marketing, fundraising and digital teams.
• Collaborate with the DPO and Information Services to maintain alignment with data protection regulations.
• Assist with Subject Access Requests, data incidents, DPIAs and auditing third-party data handling.

Skills

DMA code & PECR

UK GDPR principles

Clear communication

Collaborative mindset

Job description

Data Compliance Officer

Application Deadline: 1 October 2026

Department: Information Services

Employment Type: Permanent - Full Time

Location: Burford

Compensation: £35,426 - £38,093 / year

Description

Contract: Permanent, hybrid 35 hours per week

Salary: £35,426 - £38,093 per annum

Location: Burford, Oxfordshire, OX18 4PF

Closing date: Thursday 1st October 2026

We’re recruiting a Data Compliance Officer! You’ll be joining our Data & Insights team and be our data compliance subject matter expert (SME) in support of the successful delivery of the Blue Cross Data Strategy. In this position you will help us continue cultivating a data-driven culture across our organisation, building a charity-wide community focused on data. This is a hybrid role and you must be able to work from our Burford office in Oxfordshire twice a week.

More about the role

We are looking for a Data Compliance Officer to join our Data & Insights team within Information Services, working in close collaboration with our Head of Legal and Data Protection (DPO). In this role, you will be the day to day subject matter expert ensuring our data practices, marketing activities, and fundraising operations are compliant, robust, and aligned with current regulation. If you want to use your regulatory knowledge in a supportive, purpose-driven environment, this is a great opportunity to make a real impact.

This role focuses on delivering clear, practical compliance guidance across the charity rather than taking a theoretical or box-ticking approach. You will act as the go to contact for advice on the Direct Marketing Association (DMA) code, PECR, and HMRC Gift Aid compliance, while supporting the DPO to maintain alignment with the UK GDPR, Data Protection Act 2018, and the Data (Use and Access) Act 2025. Your day to day work will range from assisting with Subject Access Requests and data incident responses to reviewing targeted communications, ensuring valid permission statements are in place, and auditing third-party supplier standards.

You will collaborate closely with marketing, fundraising, and digital project teams to understand their goals and help them design compliant, effective processes from the start. Working alongside colleagues in Information Services, you will help develop data quality KPIs, establish standard operating procedures, and identify areas for automation and process improvement. You will also have the opportunity to advise on emerging challenges, including the responsible and transparent use of data in Artificial Intelligence, and deliver straightforward training and guidance that helps colleagues handle data with confidence.

This is a hybrid role and you must be able to work from our Burford office in Oxfordshire twice a week.

About you

You have a solid foundation in data protection and direct marketing regulations, with a knack for translating complex legal rules into simple, practical advice that colleagues can readily apply. You take an analytical, considered approach to your work and feel comfortable balancing multiple projects, queries, and statutory deadlines without losing sight of detail.

Collaboration is key to how you work. Rather than simply highlighting obstacles, you enjoy working alongside different teams to find workable solutions that achieve their objectives while keeping the organisation fully compliant. You bring sound judgment, the confidence to elevate risks when necessary,

and strong communication skills that allow you to build positive working relationships across all levels of the charity.

Essential Qualifications, Skills, and Experience

• In-depth working knowledge of Direct Marketing Association code (DMA) and Privacy and Electronic Communications Regulations (PECR)
• A good working knowledge of UK GDPR, experience in the practical application of UK GDPR principles and effective monitoring of compliance, including Subject Access Requests and Data Privacy Impact Assessments
• Excellent interpersonal skills, with the ability to explain complex issues clearly and calmly to non-experts
• Ability to work with diverse personalities and different perspectives to find common ground and influence positive outcomes
• Possess the confidence and integrity to highlight and elevate risks.
• Possess strong attention to detail.
• Ability to demonstrate understanding of and application of our Blue Cross values

Desirable Qualifications, Skills, and Experience

• Practical experience of fundraising, marketing, and income generation
• Demonstrable awareness of Gift Aid and the requirements for HMRC compliance
• Experience of working in a not-for-profit environment
• Good working knowledge and understanding of risk management
• Experience of being part of a project team

Blue Cross benefits

Our people are the most important part of delivering our purpose. If it were not for their amazing efforts and commitment, we would not be able to make the difference that we do today.

In return, Blue Cross wants to ensure we provide you with the best working environment we can. We want you to be happy working for us and will do everything we can to make sure you are.

Our generous benefits package includes:

• Full time equivalent of 38 days holiday rising to 43 with service (including Bank Holidays)
• Programmes for physical and mental wellbeing support
• Free access to GP via MetLife- 24/7 GP services, private prescriptions and more for you and your family
• Health cash plan
• Unlimited access to an employee assistance programme
• Pension scheme with enhanced employer contribution
• Professional fees paid with Continuing Professional Development and personal development support.
• Life assurance
• 20% discount on Pet Plan pet insurance
• Enhanced family friendly policies
• Recognition scheme
• Annual volunteer days
• Charity worker discounts across a variety of retailers

To read more about the benefits Blue Cross has to offer, please visit the 'why work for us' page on our website.