Data Protection Specialist

SSE plc; United Kingdom; Hybrid; GBP 51,000 - 61,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Private healthcare discounts

Gym membership discounts

Cycle to Work scheme

Maternity/adoption pay

Job summary

SSE plc is seeking a Data Protection Specialist to support the Distribution Data Protection team. The successful candidate will manage data protection obligations, provide advice to the business and lead DPIAs for high‑risk processing activities.

The role requires a GDPR Practitioner qualification, strong stakeholder management, and experience in a large, regulated environment. The position is a 12-month secondment/FTC with hybrid working options.

Qualifications

• Deep understanding of GDPR requirements and compliance in a large, data-heavy organisation.
• Experience ensuring data protection across a high-volume processing environment.
• Excellent stakeholder management, communication and negotiation skills to influence senior leadership.
• Experience of assessing risk and interpreting regulatory requirements to balance compliance with operations.
• Experience in the energy sector or highly regulated environments is preferred.

Responsibilities

• Ensure mandatory data protection requirements are met, including incident and breach management and data subject rights handling.
• Facilitate DPIAs for new or high-risk personal data processing activities.
• Represent Data Protection in steering groups and develop communications and training with business teams.
• Prepare monthly reports for Senior Leaders and analyse incident data to drive improvements.

Skills

Stakeholder management

Communication

Negotiation

Risk assessment

Regulatory awareness

Education

GDPR Practitioner qualification

Job description

Base Location:You'll be expected to spend 50% of your working week in one of the following locations: Glasgow, Perth or Reading.

Salary:£50,964 - £60,899 + a range of benefits to support your finances, wellbeing and family.

Working Pattern:12-month secondment/FTC | Full Time | Flexible First options available

The role

The Data Protection Specialist is a key role within the Distribution Data Protection team, responsible for supporting the Distribution business in ensuring that essential business obligations are met regarding Data Protection.

The role-holder is responsible for supporting SSEN Distribution in fulfilling their obligations, providing advice, recommendations, appropriate challenge and counter measures, and ensuring related business risks are managed effectively in line with internal processes.

You will

• Ensure that SSEN fulfils all its mandatory, and often timebound, data protection requirements including incident and breach management, the management and fulfilment of all data subject rights and Environmental Information Requests.
• Facilitate the completion of data privacy screenings, and - where necessary - full Data Protection Impact Assessments (DPIAs), for all new / high risk personal data processing activities.
• Represent the Data Protection team at steering groups and ongoing development of communication pieces, information tools and facilitation of training with key business teams and stakeholders to raise awareness of Data Protection.
• Prepare monthly reports circulated to Senior Leaders, including the Distribution Executive Committee and Data Protection Officer. Undertake analysis of incident reporting to recommend improvements and mitigations to the business and highlight areas of concern, emerging threats and opportunities for improvement.

You have

To be considered for this role, we would love you to have:

• GDPR Practitioner qualification.
• Deep understanding of GDPR requirements and extensive experience of ensuring compliance with data protection laws in a large and complex organisation that processes high volumes of sensitive personal data.
• Excellent stakeholder management, communication and negotiation skills, with the ability to influence, challenge and build consensus across diverse business areas and senior leadership teams.
• Experience of assessing risk, interpreting regulatory requirements and providing practical, business-focused advice that balances compliance obligations with operational needs.
• Experience of working in the energy industry / or a highly regulated environment.

About SSE

SSE’s purpose is to be restless every day until we make electricity clean, affordable and available for all.

We do this by developing, building, operating and investing in electricity infrastructure and businesses needed in the energy transition. This includes electricity transmission and distribution networks, onshore and offshore wind farms, hydro-electric power and flexible thermal generation. We also provide products and services for businesses and other customers.

Our investment plan will see SSE invest £33bn in critical electricity infrastructure to 2030.

SSEN Distribution, part of the wider SSE group, powers 3.9 million UK homes and businesses. Our team of more than 4,200 skilled engineers, customer service advisors and technical specialists keep customers connected to a safe, reliable supply of electricity while investing in and developing the flexible networks needed for our low carbon future.

Flexible benefits to fit your life

Enjoy discounts on private healthcare and gym memberships. Wellbeing benefits like a free online GP and 24/7 counselling service. Interest-free loans on tech and transport season tickets, or a new bike with our Cycle to Work scheme. As well as generous family entitlements such as maternity and adoption pay, and paternity leave.

Work with an equal opportunity employer

SSE will make any reasonable adjustments you need to ensure that your application and experience with us is positive. Please contact [e-mail] 01738 341814 to discuss how we can support you.

We're dedicated to fostering an open and inclusive workplace where people from all backgrounds can thrive. We create equal opportunities for everyone to succeed and especially welcome applications from those who may not be well represented in our workforce or industry.