Senior Data Protection Adviser

University of Nottingham School of Humanities; University Park (FL); Hybrid; USD 62,000 - 78,000; Full time

Job summary

The University of Nottingham is seeking an experienced Senior Data Protection Adviser to join our Information Security and Compliance team, supporting the delivery of the University's Information Compliance Strategy.

Reporting to the Data Protection Officer, the role collaborates across the institution to embed privacy management, ensure compliance with UK GDPR and related legislation, and enable data use for education, research and administration.

Qualifications

• Significant, demonstrable experience of data protection gained within a large or complex organisation.
• Strong advisory and influencing skills, and the ability to engage credibly with senior stakeholders on complex compliance matters.
• Confident communicator able to translate complex requirements into practical guidance, exercise sound independent judgement, and manage competing priorities.

Responsibilities

• Maintain and develop the Information Asset Register and Register of Processing Activities (ROPA), and review Privacy Notices for accuracy and transparency.
• Conduct Privacy Impact Screening and Assessments for new technology, research and other projects, assessing legal bases for processing and reviewing data processing agreements.
• Provide expert advice to senior leaders and colleagues on complex or emerging data protection issues, and act as an escalation point for challenging compliance queries.
• Support the Information Compliance Officers on complex casework, and deputise for the Data Protection Officer on time-critical operational matters as required.
• Lead on data breach response procedures, and deliver privacy awareness training and guidance materials across the University.

Job description

Salary

£46,049 to £58,225 per annum pro-rata depending on skills and experience.

Area

Information Security Division

Location

University Park

Closing Date

Sunday 11 October 2026

Reference

REG806726

Role description

The University is seeking an experienced Senior Data Protection Adviser to join our Information Security and Compliance team within Governance and Assurance, supporting the delivery of the University's Information Compliance Strategy.

Reporting to the Data Protection Officer, the Senior Data Protection Adviser will work collaboratively across the institution to embed privacy management and information governance practice, helping departments meet their obligations under UK GDPR, DPA 2018 and related legislation while enabling effective use of data for education, research and administration.

As Senior Data Protection Adviser You Will

• Maintain and develop the Information Asset Register and Register of Processing Activities (ROPA), and review Privacy Notices for accuracy and transparency.
• Conduct Privacy Impact Screening and Assessments for new technology, research and other projects, assessing legal bases for processing and reviewing data processing agreements.
• Provide expert advice to senior leaders and colleagues on complex or emerging data protection issues, and act as an escalation point for challenging compliance queries.
• Support the Information Compliance Officers on complex casework, and deputise for the Data Protection Officer on time-critical operational matters as required.
• Lead on data breach response procedures, and deliver privacy awareness training and guidance materials across the University.

The successful candidate will bring significant, demonstrable experience of data protection gained within a large or complex organisation, strong advisory and influencing skills, and the ability to engage credibly with senior stakeholders on complex compliance matters. They will be a confident communicator able to translate complex requirements into practical guidance, exercise sound independent judgement, and manage competing priorities effectively.

What We Offer

• A friendly, diverse, and supportive working environment
• A hybrid working arrangement with the blended approach of home and office working each week
• Generous holiday entitlement of 30 days plus standard bank holidays and five university closure days including closure between Christmas and New Year.
• We are committed to staff development through the provision of training, continued support, and career progression opportunities
• You will have access to a range of benefits and rewards, including fitness and health facilities, staff discounts, travel schemes and many more. To find out more about what we can offer you, follow the link to our benefits website

This role is a full-time (36.25 hours per week) permanent role. Job share arrangements may be considered.

Informal enquiries may be addressed to Tracy Landon [e-mail]. Please note that applications sent directly to this email address will not be accepted.

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Further Details

• Job Description/Role Profile

Our university is a supportive, inclusive, caring and positive community. We welcome those of different cultures, ethnicities and beliefs – indeed this very diversity is vital to our success, it is fundamental to our values and enriches life on campus. Visit our Equality, Diversity and Inclusion website.

We are proud to be a Disability Confident Employer (Level 2) employer. Increasing the diversity of our community is extremely important to us and we are committed to the aims of Disability Confident Scheme.

We are the first university to have achieved Athena Swan Gold Award.

To help you succeed, we published Candidate Guidance to provide support on the application and interview process.

Discover our benefits, visit Your Benefits website.

We welcome applications from UK, Europe and worldwide and aim to make your move to the UK as smooth as possible. Visit the Moving to Nottingham page for details.

Your application will be considered on an equal basis, subject to the relevant permission to work in the UK as set out by UK Visas & Immigration.