Skills

Communication Data Governance Stakeholder Management Problem-solving Relationship Building Presentation Skills Training Project Management

Job Specifications

The Role

Unite Students is seeking to use data more to drive the organisation, and our ability to manage data protection risks and demonstrate compliance is vital to our continued success.

The Data Protection Manager is responsible for managing data protection activities, leading the Data Protection team and fostering a culture of privacy within Unite as well as compliance with data protection and privacy laws, policies, and good practice.

In this role you will be part of a team where its success will depend on building trust and being a `critical friend` to the wider business, collaborating with teams to ensure Unite meets its data protection obligations when collecting and processing personal data.

This is a senior, wide-ranging role and it includes collaborating with all internal stakeholders. You will work across all initiatives to deliver the data protection strategy and improve Unite`s data protection maturity.

What You`ll Be Doing

Relationship building with colleagues across Unite, including senior management and external stakeholders, is key to this role and you will have the experience, confidence and credibility to do this. Some specific responsibilities are set out below:

Stakeholder management: Working with multiple teams across Unite to ensure data protection and privacy is at the heart of our systems and processes, including delivering suitable training and awareness
Data protection strategy: Leading on and developing our response to challenges in the data protection landscape, collaborating with Data Governance and InfoSec teams to ensure we have a consistent approach
Data Protection Compliance: Ensure that Unite complies with relevant data protection laws and regulations, such as the General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR) and Data Protection Act 2018 in the UK; have sufficient knowledge of overseas jurisdictions laws to ensure Unite manages its risk exposure. Notable laws include China`s Personal Information Protection Law (PIPL).
Privacy Policy development: Develop, implement, and maintain Unite`s data protection and privacy policies and procedures to align with changing legal requirements and industry standards. Ensure that Unite can demonstrate knowledge of, and adherence to, its policies by all relevant staff.
Privacy notices: Develop, implement, and maintain Unite`s data privacy notices to align with changing legal requirements and industry standards associated with our data processing activities.
Data sharing: Work with key stakeholders (internal and external) to ensure we have adequate data sharing agreements in place where there is a need to share personal data.
Data Protection Impact Assessments (DPIAs): Conduct or oversee DPIAs to assess and mitigate the data protection risks associated with new projects, systems, or data processing activities. Ensuring that residual risks associated with the product or process are understood and that mitigations are in place where needed.
Data Breach Management: Ensure our data breach response plan is optimised, including notifying relevant authorities and affected individuals in compliance with legal requirements, as well as undertaking lessons learnt reviews to ensure continuous improvement.

What We`re Looking for in You

Strong communication and interpersonal skills for educating and influencing stakeholders
Excellent project management skills to oversee privacy initiatives and compliance activities
Proactive attitude, with a willingness to support all data protection initiatives
Excellent communication and presentation skills and the ability to influence decisions at executive management level
CIPP/E and/or CIP/M certification
Extensive data protection experience
Strong understanding of the UK GDPR, Data Protection Act 2018; sufficient knowledge of PIPL to maintain compliance and/or understand the risks associated with overseas jurisdictions.
Analytical and problem-solving skills to assess risks and develop mitigation strategies
Team orientated and able to collaborate with other colleagues to deliver results
Excellent people management skills with experience of managing a team as well as self-sufficient and able to prioritise own tasks
Management of a complex and diverse workload and the ability to deal with conflicting and changing demands
Continuous learning and staying up to date with evolving privacy laws and best practices

What You`ll Get in Return

A discretionary annual bonus so you can share in the company`s success
25 days` paid holiday and an annual holiday buying scheme, with 5 additional days awarded for long service
A generous pension scheme - employer contributions between 5% and 11% depending on how much you save
Various benefits to support your health and wellbeing including a Healthcare Cash Plan, an Employee Assistance Programme, a Wellbeing platform and a Gym benefit that you can share with your family and friends
Enhanced Family Leave including 18 weeks full pay for birthing parents and 4 weeks for non-birthing

About the Company

Unite Students is the UK's leading manager and developer of student accommodation. We provide a Home for Success to more than 74,000 students in 172 purpose-built properties in 25 of the UK's university towns and cities. We have c.2,000 employees and work in partnership with more than 60 higher education providers, as well as renting rooms directly to students. Our culturally-diverse customers are at the heart of our business and we aim to provide a home for students which supports their success, whether defined as academi... Know more