Data Protection jobs in United Kingdom

Location: We welcome applications from those looking for hybrid working, based 2 days per week in our Handforth (Cheshire) Office.

Competitive package, including excellent benefits.

Pets at Home Group Plc is the UK’s leading pet care business, providing pets and their owners with the very best advice, products and care. Pet products are available online or from over 450 pet care centres, many of which also have vet practices and grooming salons. The Group also operates a leading small animal veterinary business, with over 440 veterinary general practices located both in our pet care centres and in standalone locations.

“We put pets first” is our number one value at Pets at Home. Every colleague has a part to play to ensure that we deliver on this value every day. Our love and understanding of pets led us to develop our long‑term goal to improve the life of every pet in the UK.

This covers not only the pets in our care, the pets of owners that use our products and services but also the pets that we can help through our charity work and through educating and advocating for change in society and the wider pet care and veterinary industry.

Our business is fast‑paced, innovative, at the cutting edge of technological developments and fun and it’s our people that make the real difference.

This role represents a fantastic opportunity to come and work for an award‑winning company, who put people at the very heart of everything they do.

We have an exciting opportunity for an experienced Data Protection Officer to join the Data Protection team at Pets at Home Group.

Reporting to the Group Legal Director, this role will ensure compliance with data protection laws across the Group.

The team deals with a wide and interesting range of work, including educating the business on data protection rules, processing DPIAs and other impact assessments as appropriate, dealing with data subject requests, investigating data breaches, managing complaints, managing record keeping and assisting the business more broadly with key privacy related projects and queries.

The successful candidate will be expected to play a critical role in supporting the business in achieving its strategy.

• Providing specialist and tailored data protection advice, in an easy‑to‑understand way, to all parts of the business (Vets, Pets, Insurance, Charity) in relation to 8m pet owners and c16000 colleagues in compliance with relevant data protection laws and regulations.
• Create and nurture a culture of understanding and curiosity of data protection across the Group through education, including management of the e‑module, so that colleagues feel comfortable with what they can and cannot do with data.
• Use practical experience of how generative AI impacts data privacy and data governance to ensure the business is developing and adhering to good practice.
• Ensure stakeholders are balancing ethical, technological and commercial considerations when using or designing new tools for personal data.
• Collaborate with Information Security, Legal, People, and other business units to implement privacy‑by‑design principles in new projects, systems, and processes.
• Manage, maintain and monitor internal compliance in relation to Group’s own data protection policies and procedures.
• Oversee diligent record‑keeping as required by UK data protection law and for best practice.
• Conduct and manage Data Protection Impact Assessments (DPIAs) and LIA as necessary on group projects, investment projects and other processing of personal data.
• Advise on data transfers and conduct and manage TIAs.
• Ensure compliance with legislation relating to data subject rights requests.
• Investigate and respond to data protection related complaints from data subjects (consumer and colleague) and working with Legal on serious complaints.
• Act as a primary point of contact for the Information Commissioner’s Office and other relevant data protection regulators.
• Oversee a small team who process data subject rights requests, data breaches, complaints and general queries/requests for advice.
• Providing ad hoc and strategic data protection advice across the Group.
• Supporting on data protection‑related senior leadership reporting requirements.
• Handling data breaches across the Group, including working with Legal on serious data breaches.
• Manage the Group’s ICO and other relevant data protection regulator registrations.
• Remain commercially aware and up to date on all changes in data protection law, including regulatory approaches and guidance.

• At least three years’ experience in a senior data protection and privacy role
• Strong commercial background from industry or private practice
• Excellent in‑depth knowledge of UK data protection laws including PECR
• Experience of managing DPIAs independently
• Experience managing data subject rights requests independently
• Proven ability to lead and implement change across an organisation to ensure compliance and privacy by design
• Proven ability to lead a small team
• Experience taking accountability for data protection compliance
• Ability to juggle demands of multiple stakeholders within a fast‑paced environment of change
• Ability to work autonomously and with respect for reporting and escalation procedures
• Ability to advise commercially and pragmatically on advisory work
• Excellent communication skills with an excellent command of spoken and written English
• A positive “can do” attitude.
• By joining our team, you will have the opportunity to take on an exciting and challenging role within a supportive and dynamic environment.

Pets just see people. They aren’t biased and they don’t discriminate. We take our inspiration from pets, and we value and respect difference in all its forms. Our aim is to reflect the diversity of the communities we operate in, and every colleague can help us achieve this. We encourage our people to be themselves so even if your skills and experience don’t perfectly align, if you think you can make a unique contribution through your values and behaviours, we want to hear from you!