Information Commissioner
- Body
- Information Commissioner's Office
- Appointing Department
- Department for Digital, Culture, Media and Sport
- Sectors
- Regulation, Science & Technology
- Location
- The ICO is headquartered in Wilmslow.
- Number of Vacancies
- 1
- Remuneration
- £200,000 (subject to parliamentary approval)
- Time Requirements
- Full time (5 days a week)
Campaign Timeline
-
Competition Launched
28/02/2021
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Closed for Applications
05/04/2021 at 12:00
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Panel Sift
w/c 19 or 26 April
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Final Interview Date
w/c 3 May and w/c 10 May
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Announcement
21/12/2020
Announcement
An announcement has been made on the outcome of this appointment.
John Edwards has been appointed Information Commissioner from 3 January 2022 by Letters Patent.
Assessment Panel
- Panel Member
- Susannah Storey
- Panel Role
- Panel Chair
- Positions
- Director General for Digital and Media Policy Departmental Official
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- Panel Member
- Philip Augar
- Positions
- Senior Independent Panel Member
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- Panel Member
- Daniel Korski
- Positions
- Independent Member
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- Panel Member
- Nicola Wood
- Positions
- Representative of Organisation
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Vacancy Description
About the ICO
The ICO upholds information rights and covers a number of pieces of legislation, including the Data Protection Act 2018 and the Freedom of Information Act 2000. Details of the specific legislation and the ICO’s powers and functions can be found here.
In 2019/20 the ICO received 39,000 data protection enquiries; handled over 102,000 enquiries about nuisance calls and texts; and responded to 6,421 freedom of information requests. The ICO employs approximately 770 staff with its Head Office in Wilmslow and offices in Edinburgh, Cardiff, Belfast and London. The ICO receives Grant-in-Aid of £4.62 million (2019/20) for its work on Freedom of Information, Network and Information Systems Regulations, Electronic Identification and Trust Services, Investigatory Powers Act; and fee income of (approximately) £46.6 million (2019/20) for data protection work. The ICO’s 2019-2022 Strategic Plan can be found here, and its annual reports can be found here.
The Information Commissioner’s Office is a Non-Departmental Public Body sponsored by the Department for Digital, Culture Media and Sport. Although the Information Commissioner operates independently in the exercise of his/her statutory functions, some issues require the approval of the Secretary of State such as funding and the level of fees charged to data controllers. The Management Agreement (due for review in 2021) sets out the respective responsibilities of the sponsor department and the Information Commissioner to support the work of both organisations, and to ensure the Commissioner’s independence, propriety and value for money.
As a corporation sole the Information Commissioner is responsible for:
- Acting as the Accounting Officer for the ICO; answering directly to the Public Accounts Committee of the House of Commons;
- Producing an annual statement of accounts in line with Managing Public Money and the Treasury’s Financial Reporting Manual, which is audited by the Comptroller and Auditor General;
- Setting the pay and conditions of staff in compliance with Managing Public Money and Civil Service pay guidance.
Information Commissioner Role Specification
The Government’s National Data Strategy sets out its ambition for the UK’s pro-growth and trusted data regime, one that helps innovators and entrepreneurs to use data responsibly and securely, without undue regulatory uncertainty or risk, in order to drive growth across the economy. Data is a strategic asset and its responsible use should be seen as a huge opportunity to embrace. Getting this right is critical to jobs and growth as the UK economy becomes increasingly digitised and data-enabled. We also want the public to be active agents in a thriving digital economy, who have confidence and trust in how data, including personal data, is used. This will mean maintaining high standards of data protection without creating unnecessary barriers to data use.
We are looking for an outstanding individual to become the next Information Commissioner, who understands the importance of striking this balance and delivering on this critical agenda. The Information Commissioner has a key role to play to drive the responsible use of data across the economy, to build trust and confidence, and to communicate the wider benefits of data sharing for our society as well as for competition, innovation and growth.
The Information Commissioner’s Office (ICO) is now one of the most important economic regulators in the UK, responsible for supervising almost every organisation in the country, as well as the public sector. We want to invest in its future success and sustain its world-leading reputation. The Information Commissioner should play an active role to keep the ICO at the forefront of regulatory best practice, continuing to develop governance, key decision-making and other processes to reflect the ICO’s evolving role.
To deliver its duties, the ICO:
- Gives advice to members of the public about their information rights;
- Gives guidance to organisations about their obligations with respect to information rights;
- Helps and advises business on how to comply with data protection laws, while minimising regulatory burdens;
- Gathers and deals with concerns raised by members of the public;
- Supports the responsible use of data;
- Takes action to improve the information rights practices of organisations; and
- Co-operates with international partners, including other data protection authorities.
The Role: Information Commissioner
As per the Data Protection Act 2018, the Information Commissioner is to be appointed by Her Majesty by Letters Patent on the basis of fair and open competition. Candidates should be aware that the preferred candidate will be required to appear before a Parliamentary Select Committee prior to appointment.
Job description
The Information Commissioner is responsible for:
- Fulfilling the statutory responsibilities of the Information Commissioner;
- Providing leadership and strategic direction to the Information Commissioner’s Office;
- Supporting innovation and growth when discharging their duties;
- Building and maintaining excellent relationships with key stakeholders including the business community, Ministers, Parliament, public interest groups, and international counterparts;
- Contributing to debates both nationally and internationally; and
- Acting as Accounting Officer for the Information Commissioner’s Office.
Person Specification
Key selection criteria
This is a demanding and high-profile role. We are looking for an exceptional candidate with a demonstrable desire to deliver a new approach to data in the UK that strikes the right balance between high data protection standards and responsible use of data to benefit our economy and society. This candidate must be willing and able to steer the ICO through a dynamic period of change, refining processes and decision-making.
Prospective candidates need to be able to demonstrate that they meet a majority of the following criteria to a high degree:
Experience and personal qualities
- A successful track record of credible and strategic leadership and management, including the delivery of transformative organisational change.
- Experience of working at the highest level of public or commercial life in the UK or internationally.
- Experience of using data to drive innovation and growth, in industry, research or a scientific field.
- Experience in data protection and rights.
- Commercial and business acumen, including an understanding of how the data protection regulatory environment impacts on business and how to help them.
- Ability to make sound, independent judgements under pressure and where necessary defend these against internal and external challenge.
- Excellent communication and relationship management skills, and the ability to represent the Information Commissioner’s Office to a wide range of stakeholder groups.
- A proven ability to think through complex issues strategically, independently and imaginatively.
- A strong understanding of the legal and regulatory framework in which the Information Commissioner’s Office operates.
- Strong financial and performance management skills, including the ability to deliver value for money and achieve operational excellence.
- Ability to have influence and impact for the UK internationally.
How to Apply
How to apply
To apply, please send:
- a CV of not more than two sides of A4
- a supporting statement of not more than three sides of A4, providing examples and setting out how you meet the criteria
- The Diversity Monitoring Form concerning your personal information and political activity, and the Declaration of Interests Form.
Completed applications should be emailed to: publicappointments@dcms.gov.uk
Please put ‘Information Commissioner’ in the Subject line.
If you have any questions about the appointments process, please contact Olivia Morrell (olivia.morrell@dcms.gov.uk)
If you would like to speak about the role itself, please contact:
Duncan.ewart@gatenbysanderson.com 0113 205 6092
or:
Stephanie.wilson@gatenbysanderson.com 07880 382745
Diversity and inclusion
DCMS values and cares passionately about the diversity of its public appointments. Boards of public bodies should reflect our diverse society in order to ensure the sector has a leadership that draws fully on the different skills and perspectives our country has to offer.
We strongly encourage applications from all candidates and particularly welcome applications from women, those with a disability, and those from a black or ethnic minority background.
We ask all applicants to complete a diversity monitoring form. We hope you will help us by providing this information. Your data is not disclosed to the panel, but allows us to constantly evaluate any potential barriers to becoming a public appointee and whether there are any changes we could make to encourage a more diverse field to apply.
Disability Confident
We guarantee to interview anyone with a disability whose application meets the minimum criteria for the role. By ‘minimum criteria,’ we mean that you must provide evidence in your application, which demonstrates that you meet the level of competence required under each of the essential criteria.
If you wish to apply under this scheme, state this in the covering email or letter when submitting your application. This will in no way prejudice your application.
Reasonable adjustments
If you would like a confidential discussion regarding any reasonable adjustments during the process, please indicate this in the covering email or letter or communicate with the public appointments team.
About DCMS
The Department for Digital, Culture, Media & Sport (DCMS) helps to drive growth, enrich lives, and promote Britain abroad.
We protect and promote our cultural and artistic heritage and help businesses and communities to grow by investing in innovation and highlighting Britain as a fantastic place to visit. We help to give the UK a unique advantage on the global stage, striving for economic success.
DCMS is a ministerial department, supported by 45 agencies and public bodies.
If you are not completely satisfied
We aim to process all applications as quickly as possible and to treat all applicants with courtesy. If you have any complaints about the way your application has been handled, please contact publicappointments@dcms.gov.uk.
Supporting information
This appointments process adheres to the Cabinet Office Governance Code on Public Appointments, which is regulated by the Commissioner for Public Appointments.
All applicants are expected to abide by the Seven Principles of Public Life.
Eligibility Criteria
You cannot be considered for a public appointment if:
- you become bankrupt or make an arrangement with a creditor
- your estate has been sequestrated in Scotland or you enter into a debt arrangement programme under Part 1 of the Debt Arrangement and Attachment (Scotland) Act 2002 (asp 17) as the debtor or have, under Scots law, granted a trust deed for creditors;
- you are disqualified from acting as a company director under the Company Directors Disqualification Act 1986;
- you have been convicted of a criminal offence, the conviction not being spent for the purposes of the Rehabilitation of Offenders Act 1974 (c. 53);
- you become subject to a debt relief order or a bankruptcy restrictions order;
- you fail to declare any conflict of interest.
Conflicts of Interest and Due Diligence
If you have any interests that might be relevant to the work of the Information Commissioner’s Office, and which could lead to a real or perceived conflict of interest if you were to be appointed, please provide details in your application. If you have queries about this and would like to discuss further please contact the Public Appointments Team.
Given the nature of public appointments, it is important that those appointed as members of public bodies maintain the confidence of Parliament and the public. If there are any issues in your personal or professional history that could, if you were appointed, be misconstrued, cause embarrassment, or cause public confidence in the appointment to be jeopardised, it is important that you bring them to the attention of the Advisory Assessment Panel and provide details of the issue(s) in your application. In considering whether you wish to declare any issues, you should also reflect on any public statements you have made, including through social media.
As part of our due diligence checks we will consider anything in the public domain related to your conduct or professional capacity. This will include us undertaking searches of previous public statements and social media, blogs or any other publicly available information. This information may be made available to the Advisory Assessment Panel and they may wish to explore issues with you should you be invited to interview. The information may also be shared with ministers and the Cabinet Office.
Expenses
Expenses incurred by external candidates during the recruitment process will not be reimbursed, except in exceptional circumstances, and only when agreed in advance.