Information Assurance Governance Officer - Data Protection

Salary:

61,950.00 - 72,952.00 GBP Annual

Pension:

A Civil Service Pension with an employer contribution of 28.97%. Please refer to the Civil Service Pensions website for more information.

Type:

Full time

**Please note: The advert will close at 11:59PM the night before the listed closing date.**

SLC offer a blended working model which will typically be 2 days in the office and 3 days from home. 

Is it time you unlocked your potential?

Student Loans Company is a non-profit making Government-owned organisation to provide loans and grants to students in universities and colleges in the UK.  Since 1989, we have enabled our customers to invest in their futures by delivering secure, accurate and efficient assessment, payment and repayment services.

Our Values 

Culture is at the heart of everything we do at SLC and we are guided by our five values which help make SLC a great place to work: 

• Honesty: We act with integrity and transparency, sharing information openly and addressing challenges with courage.

• Empowerment: We enable people to take initiative, make impactful decisions, and continuously learn and grow.

• Accountability: We deliver on commitments, own our successes and mistakes, and strive for quality outcomes.

• Respect: We value diverse perspectives, actively listen, and create an inclusive environment where everyone belongs.

• Trust: We collaborate across teams, build dependable relationships, and work as one to deliver for our customers.

These values are more than words—they guide our decisions, shape our collaborations, and strengthen our impact on the students we serve.

About the Role

We’re looking for a Senior Manager to lead our Data Protection Office function within Assurance Services, providing leadership in Information/Data Governance and Data Protection Compliance, and ensuring adherence to Legal, Regulatory and Internal Policy requirements across the organisation

This is a highly visible role, working closely with stakeholders across Operations, Technology and Security, Corporate Services, People, Risk and Internal Audit, to apply subject matter expertise, influence decision-making, highlight risks and drive effective Governance outcomes.

You’ll motivate and develop a team of Data Protection professionals, including setting objectives, conducting regular 1:1s, performance reviews and coaching to build capability, resilience and drive high performance.

Please note that SLC operate a hybrid working environment, with a minimum of 2 days in the office.  This role has a mandatory requirement for Wednesday to be one of your in office days.

What you Bring:

• Experience of managing/leading a high performing team

• Strong Data Protection knowledge, including experience of Audit activity, Risk Management and Information/Data Governance frameworks, with the ability to oversee their consistent application across business areas

• Effective communication and stakeholder management skills, with confidence to influence at a senior management level and represent the Data Protection Office in key meetings/forums

• Ability to identify and communicate process improvements, policy development and supporting documentation/processes

• Works independently within their remit, trusting own judgment and with confidence in challenging situations

• Ability to interpret complex Regulatory, policy and control requirements, translating these into clear direction and guidance for delivery across business areas

• Skilled in Risk identification, assessment and prioritisation, acting as a senior escalation point and ensuring appropriate mitigation/risk acceptance actions are in place

• Strong analytical and critical thinking capability, able to navigate ambiguity and assess impacts across interconnected processes, Risks and Controls

• Strong attention to detail and professional judgement, enabling effective oversight of multiple priorities and informed decision-making through others

• Recognised Data Protection qualification eg. CIPP-E or Certified GDPR Foundation and Practitioner

• Experience of people management in a relevant subject matter Governance/Compliance role, in ensuring adherence to Regulatory requirements/standards

• Experience of being a confident communicator

• Experience in developing and implementing relevant subject matter policies and procedures

• Experience in applying risk management principles

• Experience of data breach investigation case work and being a SME in incident response

• Experience of working across organisational boundaries in a fast-paced environment, providing leadership and authoritative professional opinion in a timely manner

You can expect more from a career with SLC. We support colleagues to unlock their potential through our Career Pathways development programme and offer an excellent benefit and rewards package that includes:

• 28 days annual leave plus 8 public holidays

• Option to buy/sell annual leave

• Flexi-time and enhanced flexible working options available

• Option to join the Civil Service pension scheme

• Life insurance cover for 4 x annual salary

• Enhanced company sick pay and family leave including maternity, paternity and adoption

• Contributory lifestyle benefit options including discounts at hundreds of retailers, cycle to work scheme, access to the Civil Service Sports and Leisure Club for discounted gym memberships, and an optional dental insurance scheme

• To find out what’s it’s like to work at Student Loans Company click here SLC Careers

The Legal Bits

We’ll need you to confirm you have the right to work in the UK. If we offer you a job and you accept, there are some background checks we need to complete before you can start with us. This will include employment history, criminal record check, credit reference check and fraud check.

EDI

As a proud Disability Confident Leader, we’re committed to creating an inclusive recruitment experience that empowers people of all abilities. Our team actively promotes accessible hiring practices, supports candidates with disabilities throughout their employment journey to help  build a diverse equitable workplace at SLC.

 

SLC will make reasonable adjustments for those who consider themselves to have a disability or long-term condition in line with the Equality Act 2010. Our application process provides candidates with the opportunity to request reasonable adjustments but if you would like to discuss this in more detail, please email ask_recruitment@slc.co.uk.

Use of AI in Job Applications

Artificial Intelligence can be a useful tool to support your application, however, all examples and statements provided must be truthful, factually accurate and taken directly from your own experience. Where plagiarism has been identified (presenting the ideas and experiences of others, or generated by artificial intelligence, as your own) applications may be withdrawn and internal candidates may be subject to disciplinary action. Please see Candidate Guidance for more information on appropriate and inappropriate use.