Head of Information Governance

Contract Type: Fixed term contract (up to 12 months)

Contract Reason: Maternity cover

Secondment Opportunity: Permanent employees are encouraged to apply and will be supported as part of our workforce development

Salary: Grade M. Scale 52 - £70,517 to Scale 55 - £77,604

Hours Per Week: 36

Base Location: Tameside One, Market Place, Ashton-under-Lyne, OL6 6BH

Assessment Date: To be arranged

The Role

Tameside Council is seeking an experienced Information Governance professional to lead our Information Governance function and fulfil the statutory role of Data Protection Officer (DPO) over a 12 month fixed term period.

You will provide strategic leadership to ensure compliance with data protection, information governance and freedom of information legislation, while supporting innovation and the effective use of information across the organisation.

Key responsibilities include:

• Leading the Information Governance service and providing expert advice on UK GDPR, FOI and related legislation.
• Acting as the Council's statutory Data Protection Officer.
• Developing governance frameworks, policies and standards to support secure and compliant information use.
• Promoting a positive data culture across all services.
• Supporting digital transformation and the safe adoption of emerging technologies, including AI.
• Managing information risks, incidents and compliance activities across the Council and hosted services.

This is an excellent opportunity to influence organisational strategy and help ensure data is used responsibly to improve outcomes for residents.

About You

You will have:

• Significant experience in Information Governance, Data Protection and FOI.
• Experience leading teams and driving organisational improvement.
• Strong knowledge of governance frameworks, information risk and compliance.
• The ability to influence senior leaders, elected members and partners.
• Excellent communication, analytical and leadership skills.

A relevant professional qualification, or equivalent experience, is essential.

Why Join Us?

We offer:

• Competitive salary and benefits.
• Professional development opportunities.
• A strong focus on health, wellbeing and work-life balance.
• A supportive culture that encourages innovation and continuous improvement.
• The opportunity to make a meaningful impact for local communities.

Our STRIVE values are at the heart of everything we do.

About Us

At Tameside, we are committed to ensuring all our Citizens lead long, fulfilling and healthy lives. We are committed to supporting economic growth, providing high quality health and care services, protecting our most vulnerable and creating strong and supportive, self-sufficient communities.

We recognise that our people drive our success and enable the organisation to deliver on its vision, purpose and priorities, and that our people are our most important resource and asset. Our values underpin our practice and behaviours, and are at the heart of everything that we do; and we understand that how we do things is just as important as what we do. We pride ourselves on living by our STRIVE values of Support, Trust, Respect, Integrity, Value Diversity and Engage. Our values underpin our practice and behaviours and are at the heart of everything that we do. How we do things are just as important as what we do.

Our employees’ skills, experience and knowledge are essential to our success along with their happiness, wellbeing, commitment, enthusiasm and motivation to be the best they can be.

If you have completed the GM Elevate (Leadership Development) Programme, please indicate this within the ‘About You’ or ‘Supporting Statement’ section of your application.

Unfortunately, at this time we are not able to offer sponsorship.

We are committed to developing a culture which respects individuals, appreciates difference and allows everyone regardless of background to reach their full potential. We are proud to be an accredited disability confident employer. Reasonable Adjustments will be considered in accordance with the Equality Act 2010 in relation to the Job Role Criteria.

Our rewards and benefits package can be viewed here

We have made a commitment to improve the employment opportunities for people with disabilities, care leavers, carers, and ex-military personnel. Please click here for more information on our guaranteed assessment scheme.

We welcome applications from internal and external candidates. This role may be offered as a secondment opportunity, subject to line manager approval.

If you are passionate about information governance and data protection and want to help shape the future of digital services at Tameside, we would love to hear from you.

For further information about this role please contact the recruiting manager Becky Swan on becky.swan@tameside.gov.uk