Data Protection Officer

Medical Protection Society; Leeds; Hybrid; GBP 90,000 - 130,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

15% discretionary bonus target

11% pension contribution

30 days annual leave

Private Medical Insurance

Death in service 6x salary

Wellbeing support package

Flexible hybrid-working

Inclusive culture

Job summary

Medical Protection Society seeks a Group Data Protection Officer to lead the global privacy agenda and shape strategy across international jurisdictions. You will advise executives and senior leaders, embedding privacy into transformation, digital projects and AI initiatives from the outset.

The role demands influencing capabilities, regulator engagement, and a track record of delivering strategic privacy governance in complex organisations.

Qualifications

• Significant experience as a Data Protection Officer within a large, complex organisation.
• Strong knowledge of UK GDPR and international data protection frameworks.
• Experience engaging regulators and managing regulatory relationships.
• Recognised privacy qualifications (CIPP/E, CIPM, CDPSE) or equivalent.
• Track record influencing Executive and Board-level stakeholders.
• Experience implementing strategic privacy frameworks and governance models.

Responsibilities

• Lead and shape the global data protection agenda across jurisdictions.
• Provide independent expert advice to executives, council and senior leaders.
• Embed privacy into business transformation, digital initiatives and AI adoption.
• Balance commercial objectives with regulatory requirements and risk.
• Influence and negotiate with senior stakeholders to drive privacy decisions.

Skills

DPO experience

UK GDPR knowledge

Regulator engagement

Privacy certifications

Executive/board influence

Privacy governance

Education

CIPP/E, CIPM, CDPSE certifications

Job description

Data Protection Officer

At Medical Protection Society, we safeguard the interests of healthcare professionals around the world. In doing so, we are entrusted with highly sensitive and personal information. As technology evolves, automation expands and AI becomes increasingly embedded within our operations, the importance of protecting that information while enabling innovation has never been greater.

We're looking for an exceptional Group Data Protection Officer to lead our global privacy agenda, shape strategy, influence decision-making at the highest levels of the organisation, and champion the rights of individuals whose data we hold.

About the role

As MPS's statutory Data Protection Officer, you will provide independent expert advice to our Executive, Council and senior leaders, ensuring we meet our obligations across multiple international jurisdictions whilst supporting the delivery of our strategic objectives.

You will be responsible for shaping and delivering our global data protection strategy, ensuring privacy is embedded into business transformation, digital initiatives and AI adoption from the outset.

Success in this role will depend as much on your ability to influence, persuade and negotiate as it will on your technical expertise. You will work across all areas of the organisation, balancing commercial objectives with regulatory requirements, building credibility with senior stakeholders and helping the business make informed, risk-based decisions.

About You

You are an experienced Data Protection Officer operating at a strategic level within a complex, regulated and preferably international environment. More importantly, you are someone who can bring others with you.

You will likely bring:

• Significant experience as a Data Protection Officer within a large, complex organisation.
• Strong knowledge of UK GDPR and wider international data protection frameworks.
• Experience engaging directly with regulators and managing regulatory relationships.
• A recognised privacy qualification such as CIPP/E, CIPM, CDPSE or equivalent.
• A track record of influencing Executive and Board-level stakeholders.
• Experience developing and implementing strategic privacy frameworks and governance models.

This is a role for a passionate privacy professional who understands that effective data protection is not simply about saying "no". It is about providing trusted advice, building strong relationships, navigating complexity and helping an organisation achieve its ambitions in a safe, responsible and compliant way.

We welcome applicants from all backgrounds, and we encourage you to apply even if you feel you do not match 100% of the technical requirements. We celebrate diversity, promote inclusivity and strive to create a work environment which ensures everyone can be heard.

In return, we can offer you:

• A discretionary on-target bonus of 15%. Up to a max 30% based on performance
• 11% pension contribution (3% from you, 8% from us – optional additional matched 3% contributions, e.g. 6% from you, 11% from us)
• 30 days annual leave. Flexible public holidays and option to buy/sell additional leave
• Private Medical Insurance
• 6x salary death in service
• Holistic health and wellbeing support package
• A truly flexible hybrid-working arrangement
• A culture that promotes inclusivity, wellbeing and rewards hard work

Who We Are

Medical Protection Society (MPS) is the world’s leading protection organisation for Doctors, Dentists and healthcare professionals. We protect and support the professional interests of almost 300,000 Members around the world.

We are a not-for-profit organisation, meaning our Members’ premiums are kept safe should our Members require support for complaints or claims arising from professional practice, or invested into bettering the organisation, our colleagues and our products.

Our philosophy is to support safe practice in medicine and dentistry by helping to avert problems in the first place. We also actively campaign for regulatory and legal reforms that benefit Members and the wider healthcare professions.

To do this, we need colleagues who are trusted and supported to deliver their best work, whether that be through leadership development, fully-funded training courses or peer-to-peer support. We want our colleagues to feel empowered enough to deliver positive change, display ambition to push themselves and are determined when faced with a challenge, whilst ensuring our Member’s best interests are at the core.