Senior Risk & amp ; Compliance Consultant , Data Privacy , DPO , - Howden Career Site

Barnett Waddingham; Birmingham; Hybrid; GBP 70,000 - 110,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Competitive discretionary bonus

Life assurance of four times salary

Income protection 75% of salary for up

Private medical insurance cover

Generous pension scheme

25 days annual leave

Job summary

Barnett Waddingham is seeking an experienced Senior Risk & Compliance Consultant (Data Privacy) for an initial 12-month fixed-term contract. The role offers hybrid working from UK offices (36.25 hours, potential part-time at 4 days).

You will lead privacy assessments, DPIAs, audits, and regulatory guidance across sectors, advise on AI data processing risks, and support data breach incidents. Excellent stakeholder communication and professional privacy certifications are preferred.

Qualifications

• Proven privacy advisory experience across multiple sectors.
• Hands-on DPIA, risk assessments and audits in privacy.
• Experience with data breaches and incident response.
• Understanding of AI/data processing risks and governance.
• Professional privacy certifications preferred.

Responsibilities

• Support multiple client engagements across sectors in a busy consulting environment.
• Assess and improve clients' data protection posture, including DPIAs and audits.
• Advise on privacy implications of AI and automated processing.
• Conduct third‑party/privacy risk assessments and due diligence.
• Produce audit reports with prioritized recommendations.
• Deliver privacy training and act as trusted advisor to clients.

Skills

Privacy advisory

Audit reporting

Stakeholder communication

Data breach handling

AI risk assessment

Regulatory knowledge

Education

CIPP/M Certification

DPO Certification

Job description

We are seeking an experienced Senior Risk & Compliance Consultant (Data Privacy Consultant / DPO) for an initial 12 month fixed-term contract to work from any of our UK offices (hybrid working with flexibility). This position is ideally full-time (36.25 hours) however part-time (4 days) will also be considered.

Responsibilities

• Support multiple client engagements simultaneously across a range of sectors in a busy consulting environment
• Proactively assess and improve clients' data protection and privacy posture, including Privacy gap analyses and audits; Risk assessments and DPIAs, including for new technologies and data uses; and Policy, procedure, and framework development
• Assess and advise on the privacy implications of processing personal data using AI and automated decision‑making technologies
• Conduct third‑party and supplier privacy assessments, including data processing due diligence and ongoing assurance
• Produce clear, well‑structured audit and assessment reports with practical, prioritised recommendations
• Provide calm, pragmatic advice during reactive scenarios, including Data breaches and incident response; Regulatory notifications and communications; and Data subject rights requests (access, erasure, rectification, etc.)
• Deliver privacy education and training, tailored to different audiences and levels of knowledge
• Act as a trusted advisor, helping clients balance regulatory requirements with business objectives across differing regulatory and operational contexts
• Communicate effectively with operational teams, senior leaders, and non‑technical stakeholders, avoiding unnecessary jargon or alarmism
• Work collaboratively with legal, information security, and business teams to embed privacy into day‑to‑day operations
• Maintain awareness of relevant data protection laws, regulatory guidance, and best practices (e.g. GDPR, UK GDPR)

Requirements

• Proven experience working in a busy, multi‑client environment supporting organisations across multiple sectors, either in consultancy or an equivalent in‑house role; with hands‑on experience delivering both proactive privacy advisory services and reactive support
• Ability to quickly understand different business models, risk profiles, and regulatory environments, and tailor privacy advice accordingly
• Practical experience handling data breaches and incident response and data subject rights requests
• Experience assessing AI and automated processing activities involving personal data, including understanding risk, transparency, and accountability considerations
• Demonstrated ability to conduct third‑party privacy risk assessments, including review of suppliers, processors, and data sharing arrangements
• Capability to produce high‑quality, structured written outputs, including audit and assessment reports
• Experience designing and delivering privacy training and awareness sessions
• Excellent communication skills, with the ability to translate privacy requirements into clear, concise business decisions and communicate effectively with technical and non‑technical audiences
• Broader business understanding, enabling pragmatic advice that aligns privacy compliance with operational and commercial realities
• Experience working across regulated and non‑regulated sectors (e.g. financial services, healthcare, technology, public sector, retail)
• Experience working closely with information security or cybersecurity teams (an advantage)
• Understanding of technical security controls and how they intersect with privacy and AI risk
• Professional certification such as Certified Data Protection Officer (DPO) or CIPP/M or other IAPP certifications

Benefits

• Competitive discretionary annual bonus.
• Core benefits including life assurance of four times salary, income protection of 75% of salary for up to five years, and single private medical insurance cover.
• A generous pension scheme.
• 25 days' annual leave, increasing to 27 days after five years' service.
• Access to the Howden flexible benefits programme, offering a wide range of benefits and discounts to support your wellbeing, family life and lifestyle.

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