Information Governance Officer

Staffordshire County Council; Whitby; Hybrid; GBP 35,000 - 55,000; Full time

Job summary

Staffordshire County Council information governance team is seeking a motivated professional to support and strengthen the organisation's approach to managing information in line with data protection laws and evolving AI ethics considerations.

The successful candidate will be responsible for providing expert DP and information security guidance, supporting asset and assurance work, and leading governance training across the Council.

Qualifications

• Must hold a degree and demonstrate professional best practice with awareness of national standards in information governance.
• Strong communication skills and attention to detail are essential.
• Experience with local government statutory requirements and obligations is desirable.

Responsibilities

• Provide technical data protection and information security advice and support to SCC services for projects and system implementation.
• Support information asset and assurance work across Staffordshire County Council.
• Investigate data breaches and DP complaints, identify trends and promote best practices across SCC.
• Support information governance audit processes with partners.
• Create and deliver engaging information governance training and awareness material.
• Implement and review information governance policy and procedures to support the Information Management Strategy.
• Provide advice and support to customers under the information governance SLA.

Skills

Communication skills

Attention to detail

Education

Degree in information governance or related field

Tools

Microsoft 365

Job description

Our Information Governance Unit are looking to a recruit a motivated and detail-oriented Information Governance professional to support the team and strengthen our organisation's approach to managing information appropriately.

You will play a key role in ensuring compliance with data protection legislation, keeping up to date with developments in AI as well as data ethics and risk management, all whilst promoting best practice across the organisation.

This is an exciting opportunity for someone who relishes change, enjoys being challenged into new ways of thinking and for someone looking to make a real impact in an ever changing environment.

This is a permanent full-time vacancy and with flexible and hybrid working available.

Please note that this vacancy may close earlier if we receive a high number of applications.

Main Responsibilities

Some of your responsibilities will be,

• Providing technical data protection and information security advice and support to SCC services to deliver projects and system implementation.
• Support the information asset and assurance work across SCC.
• Investigating data breaches and data protection complaints, identifying and reporting on trends and recommending and implementing best practice across SCC.
• Supporting information governance audit processes across SCC and with partners.
• Creating and delivering engaging information governance training, workshops and awareness material.
• Implement and review information governance related policy and procedure to support the Information Management Strategy.
• Provide advice and support to customers as part of the information governance service level agreement.

The Ideal Candidate

The minimum criteria that will be used to shortlist for this role will be:

• Is an experienced information governance professional who holds a degree
• Experience of demonstrating professional best practice and an awareness of national standards in relation to information governance.
• Understands local government statutory requirements and obligations
• Is confident in their professional knowledge with excellent communication skills and good attention to detail

It would also be desirable if you:

• Hold an information governance post graduate qualification
• Has lead on, and delivered, large scale information sharing projects/system implementation
• Experience of M365 products
• Understands technology, AI, data ethics and risk management and their impact on information governance practices
• Is passionate about information governance and the importance of data security assurance
• Is able to identify needs and offer appropriate solutions to deliver results
• Is a reliable, supportive member of the team

Due to budgetary constraints, unfortunately we are unable to offer sponsorship for this role.

As part of the recruitment process, we may conduct a short Assessment Centre or video interview week commencing 5th October 2026 and this will be communicated out in due course following shortlisting.

In person interviews are expected to take place week commencing 12 October 2026.

Our Recruitment Process: We anonymise applications during shortlisting to ensure only relevant information is considered. Please complete your application fully, especially the supporting statement, to highlight what you'll bring to the role.

Please note: The minimum essential criteria in the ideal candidate section detailed above will be used if you are applying under one of our Interview Guarantee Schemes, detailed below.

About Staffordshire County Council

We are no ordinary county council:

Our Values:

The core of who we are as an organisation. Just like we all have personal values that shape our thoughts and behaviour, organisational values drive how we think and act collectively.

Our values were created and shaped by colleague feedback and national best practice and they sit at the heart of People Strategy:

We have a real sense of community spirit that brings our people together. This feeling of belonging means we are all connected to what we do and take pride in the difference we make every day for Staffordshire people. We are ambitious and our sights are set firmly on a better future.

We look forward and race ahead - that goes for your career too.

Our benefits:

We recognise that it is our employees that are central to everything we do. We aim to create a supportive working environment where employees can achieve their full potential and achieve a healthy work-life balance.

In addition to your salary, as a member of staff, you will have access to Our rewards and benefits - Careers at Staffordshire

Our recruitment process:

As an Authority we are committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children and young people/vulnerable adults and expect all staff and volunteers to share this commitment.

Staffordshire County Council is an equal opportunities organisation and Disability Confident employer. We encourage applications from all background and communities

As part of our commitment as a Disability Confident employer, a Gold Award Armed Forces employer and our commitment to supporting care leavers - we offer a guaranteed interview as long as yourapplication meets the minimum criteria for the post.