Data Protection Officer

RNLI; Poole; Hybrid; GBP 63,000 - 74,000; Full time

Job summary

RNLI is seeking a Data Protection Officer in Poole, part of the Finance and Corporate Services team, to ensure regulatory compliance across the charity and its subsidiaries. The role combines strategic risk management with hands-on data protection governance.

This hybrid position requires 2–3 days per week in the office, with focus on translating GDPR into auditable processes and embedding best practices across the organisation.

Qualifications

• Knowledge of GDPR and data protection regulations.
• Experience translating regulation into auditable processes and embedding best practice in data processing.
• Ability to develop and implement a data protection compliance framework.
• Strong interpersonal, communication and organisational skills with ability to translate regulation for varied audiences.

Responsibilities

• High visibility role across the organisation overseeing data protection compliance.
• Lead on strategic management of all data protection matters, including risk and compliance for core RNLI activities.
• Contribute to the data transformation journey and ensure regulatory compliance within RNLI and subsidiaries.
• Hybrid role requiring 2 days per week in the Poole office.

Job description

Data Protection Officer

Salary: 62,623 – 73,674 (dependent on experience)

Contract type: Permanent

Hours: Full–Time

Location: Poole, Dorset, England

Location description: Hybrid working between home and Poole, with 2 to 3 days a week working in the office

Interview date: 10th or 11th November 2026

Closing Date: 25–10–2026

Reference: 22071

About us

Our purpose is simple: to save lives at sea. 24 hours a day, every day, RNLI lifesavers are ready to launch to the rescue.

We are looking for a Data Protection Officer to join our Finance and Corporate Services team to take primary responsibility for statutory compliance with Data Protection regulations and provide strategic risk management and guidance across the RNLI and its subsidiaries.

These are exciting times at the RNLI. Through our continuous improvement programme, we are driving fast–paced, transformational change that allows us to save more lives at sea in new and creative ways. We are engaging with different audiences, developing new products and finding even more effective and streamlined ways of running our lifesaving service, and we are working in a highly regulated and changing legal environment. Agility and innovation are high on our agenda as we transform our culture and the way in which we operate.

About the role

This role will have high visibility across the organisation and is an exciting opportunity to contribute to our data transformation journey, accountable for ensuring compliance with Data Protection within RNLI and taking the lead on strategic management of all data protection matters, including risk and compliance of all core activities for the RNLI.

This is a hybrid role between home and Poole, with a minimum of 2 days per week working in the office required.

Skills, knowledge and experience

The ideal candidate will have substantial knowledge and experience of the data protection legal framework, including GDPR regulations. You will have a proven track record of translating regulation into auditable processes and demonstrate the ability to embed and promote best practice in data processing activities, especially in a digital supporter engagement context. You will need to work with the programme team to develop and implement a data protection compliance framework.

We are looking for candidates who have strong interpersonal skills, excellent communication and organisational skills with the ability to translate regulation to a variety of audiences and to take a pragmatic approach to managing programmes of work.

You will need good reporting and presentation skills relating particularly to the technology required for this role. This role is ideally suited to someone with experience of working in a large organisation.

Diversity at the RNLI

Our staff and volunteers have been saving lives at sea without prejudice for 200 years. We re …

We are an inclusive organisation and welcome applications from everyone. In addition to having the skills needed for the role, we also look for applicants who share our commitment to living our RNLI values (trustworthy, courageous, selfless, and dependable) and helping us work towards Our Vision: To save Every One.