Data Governance Officer

We are seeking to appoint a Data Governance Officer to join our Central Services team at an exciting time for our Trust. This is a newly created role, as a result of  our continued growth and offers an excellent opportunity to join our team and play a key role in shaping and influencing our approach to data governance and compliance.

The successful candidate will take a lead role in ensuring our Trust meets its statutory obligations in relation to data protection, including the management of Freedom of Information requests, Subject Access Requests and data breaches, ensuring all are handled accurately and within required timescales. You will also play a central role in maintaining and developing our Trust’s approach to UK GDPR compliance, supporting academies to ensure robust, consistent and compliant practices.

This role will involve working closely with colleagues across our Trust, providing expert advice, guidance and training to ensure data protection principles are embedded in day-to-day practice. You will be responsible for maintaining our Trust’s record of processing activities, overseeing data sharing and data processing agreements, and supporting academies in maintaining their own records to a high standard.

What we need:

• Experience of working within a data protection, governance or compliance-focused role
• A good understanding of UK GDPR, Data Protection Act 2018 and Freedom of Information requirements
• Experience of managing or responding to FOI requests, SARs and/or data breaches
• Strong organisational skills with the ability to manage competing priorities and meet deadlines
• Excellent attention to detail and the ability to maintain accurate, confidential records
• Confident communication skills with the ability to provide advice, guidance and training to a range of stakeholders
• A proactive and solutions-focused approach to identifying and managing risk
• A commitment to continuous professional development and keeping up to date with regulatory changes

We can offer you:

• A competitive salary
• Generous annual leave entitlement plus bank holidays
• Membership of the Local Government Pension Scheme
• The opportunity to work as part of a supportive and collaborative central team
• A comprehensive induction programme and ongoing professional development opportunities
• A strong commitment to staff wellbeing and work-life balance
• The opportunity to play a key role in shaping and strengthening data governance across our Trust

This is a fantastic opportunity to join a supportive and forward-thinking organisation, where you can make a meaningful difference and play an important role in our continued success.

If you have a passion for data protection and want to be part of a Trust that values collaboration, integrity and continuous improvement, we would love to hear from you.

For an informal discussion about this post please contact Louise Johnson by email: View email address on northeastjobs.org.uk

Closing Date: Thursday 25th June 2026 at 9am
Interview Date: Thursday 9th July 2026

Please note – if you are appointed, you will be subject to an online search. You will have the opportunity to address any issues of concern that come up during the search.

To apply for this post please click on 'Apply Now' and login to/ create your NEJobs Account.

The Job Description and Person Specification for the post can be viewed in the Supporting Documents section of this advert. You can also refer to our Tops Tips for completing your application in this section too.