As our Data Protection and Information Governance Lead, you will act as the organisation’s statutory Data Protection Officer, taking responsibility for all aspects of data protection, GDPR compliance and privacy governance. You will lead the implementation and ongoing management of GDPR requirements across the business, ensuring we remain accountable, audit‑ready and fully aligned with regulatory expectations. Your work will help embed a privacy‑first culture, ensuring that data protection principles are understood and applied consistently across all teams. The initial focus will be on strengthening core GDPR controls, supporting audit readiness and embedding practical governance improvements. This role will operate proportionately, balancing oversight with hands-on delivery in a small/medium housing association context.
This is an opportunity to shape and mature data protection arrangements in a values-driven organisation, with oversight of organisation-wide governance. You will support the organisation in demonstrating compliance against regulatory expectations, including internal and external audit requirements.
In this role, you will advise the organisation on its GDPR obligations and compliance strategy, monitor internal compliance, and report regularly to senior leadership. You will serve as the primary point of contact for the ICO and for data subjects, ensuring independence and objectivity at all times. You will oversee the development and maintenance of our Record of Processing Activities and Data Retention Schedule, manage Data Protection Impact Assessments, and ensure that all Data Processing and Data Sharing Agreements are robust, lawful and up to date. You will also be responsible for reviewing and updating privacy notices, strengthening staff training and awareness, and ensuring that privacy‑by‑design is embedded into systems, processes and digital transformation programmes.
You will maintain our compliance registers and dashboards, prepare the organisation for internal and external audits, and ensure that governance reporting is accurate, timely and evidence‑based. Your work will involve close collaboration with colleagues across governance, IT, cyber security, digital, People Services and operational teams, as well as external partners, statutory bodies and auditors. The role will operate with the independence required of a statutory Data Protection Officer under UK GDPR.
You will be an experienced Data Protection professional with a strong track record of acting as a statutory DPO or senior data protection lead. You will have a deep understanding of UK GDPR, the Data Protection Act 2018, ICO guidance and privacy best practice, and you will be confident advising senior stakeholders, interpreting complex information and influencing decision‑making at all levels. Experience in housing / regulated sector (desirable).
You will bring a structured and analytical approach to compliance, with the ability to assess data flows, identify risks, design controls and implement practical solutions. You will be comfortable translating technical information for non‑technical audiences and will have the communication skills needed to build strong relationships across the organisation. Independence, integrity and sound judgement are essential, as is the ability to challenge constructively and maintain the objectivity required of a statutory DPO.
You will be highly organised, detail‑focused and committed to continuous improvement. You will be able to manage competing priorities, support colleagues in understanding their responsibilities, and help drive a culture of accountability and good governance across the organisation.
The successful applicant will require a basic Disclosure and Barring Service (DBS) certificate which is considered satisfactory to Housing Solutions
Housing Solutions is a not for profit Housing Association, rooted in the local community providing quality, affordable homes to rent and buy across the local area. Our mission is to make our residents proud of w they live and our colleagues proud of w they work. Our services are driven by our strategic goals of safe, satisfied and sustainable, underpinned by our company values of ownership, innovation, teamwork and inclusion.
Established in 1995 we provide quality, affordable homes to rent and buy across the South East of England. We are rooted in the local community and we offer a wide range of housing services and housing options, including affordable homes to rent, properties to buy under shared ownership; market rent properties, and specialist accommodation for older people and people who need care and support to live within the community.
We pride ourselves on putting our residents at the heart of everything we do. We are invested in our local community and can see the difference we make in the area we live and work. Our employees are passionate and driven to achieve the best results for our residents, and are rewarded for their hard work and commitment.
Our modern and fresh working space allows us to work collaboratively together. You will make connections across the whole team and be part of our inclusive and open culture. Achieving the best of both worlds we successfully combine remote working as well as time together in our spacious and modern offices.
Our substantial benefits package includes a generous company pension contribution and a strong focus on employee wellbeing, including generous annual leave and our ‘Healthy Lives, Healthy Minds’ programme.
Our commitment to Learning and Development can been seen across the organisation and aims to bring our future leaders to the fore, whilst helping our employees reach their career aspirations by offering a broad development fund and in house development programmes.
At Housing Solutions, we are committed to being an equal opportunities employer and fostering a diverse and inclusive workplace. We’d love to hear from candidates from all backgrounds and experiences. Housing Solutions are proud to be a Disability Confident Employer, under the Governments Disability Confident Scheme. https://www.gov.uk/government/collections/disability-confident-campaign. As part of this commitment, we ensure disabled candidates who meet the essential criteria for the role are invited to interview.
If you are passionate about driving high standards of data protection and governance, we encourage you to apply early as we may close the advert once sufficient applications are received.
To apply for this vacancy please visit the Work With Us page of our website https://www.housingsolutions.co.uk/work-with-us/
The closing date is 21 June 2026.
We reserve the right to shortlist and arrange interviews for potentially suitable candidates ahead of the scheduled close date, tfore we look forward to your application as soon as you are ready.
We will not be accepting applications through recruitment agencies for this position.
Internal applications are welcome from employees who have passed their probation period, are not currently being standard set for absence or performance or on a disciplinary warning (unless able to demonstrate significant improvement over the last six months).
For internal applications please apply through the intranet, under the HR section - internal vacancies.
Housing Solutions offer a wide range of benefits for our employees, for further details on our benefits please view the attached Benefits Package Overview. Or head to our website w you can find additional information; https://www.housingsolutions.co.uk/work-with-us/company-benefits/
