Complaints and Information Governance Manager (Data Protection Officer)

We are looking for an experienced Complaints and/or Information Governance Manager to lead and manage Darlington Borough Council's Complaints and Information Governance Team. This is a rare and rewarding opportunity for an individual with substantial experience in complaints management, information governance, data protection and organisational assurance. You will play a pivotal role in ensuring the Council meets its statutory obligations, promotes transparency, and delivers excellent services. Reporting to the Assistant Director Law and Governance, this role involves managing a team who deal with Freedom of Information requests, Subject Access Requests, Environmental Information Regulation Requests and handle all of the Council's Corporate, Adult and Children's Social Care, Housing and Public Health complaints. This post is the central point of contact for the Local Government and Housing Ombudsmen and the Information Commissioner's Office (ICO) and therefore it is essential that applicants have experience of either complaints or information request handling and management, budget management, policy development and implementation, and staff management. As the Council's statutory Data Protection Officer, you will provide strategic leadership on data protection and information rights, support organisational compliance, and act as a key adviser to senior leaders, elected members and service managers. It is therefore essential that applicants possess detailed knowledge of data protection requirements and a comprehensive understanding of the statutory requirements of local authorities. You will also have responsibility for producing management information, governance reports and annual assurance reports for senior leaders and elected members to support corporate governance, risk management and assurance arrangements.

Our Complaints and Information Governance Team is small and the workload is varied. If you are a team player with good listening, coaching and leadership skills then we would love to hear from you. The role offers a great opportunity for a complaints or information governance professional who already has experience in some areas of the team's work to further develop. We are not expecting fluency in all areas, but the successful person will need to be able to develop an understanding of all areas of work and be able to oversee and help members of the team as necessary. Experience of acting as a DPO or deputy DPO is desirable, but not essential, as there will be many opportunities to develop experience in this area. The working arrangements are flexible. The office base is the Town Hall in Darlington with the opportunity to work from home on an agile basis, in line with the requirements of the team.

The rewards for working at Darlington Borough Council go beyond the salary you will receive; we have numerous additional benefits such as:

• 32 days Annual Leave, plus Bank Holidays, with option to purchase additional Annual Leave (pro-rata for part time working)
• Access to the Local Government Pension Scheme with option to make Additional Voluntary Contributions
• Flexi-time scheme
• Flexible working
• Generous Maternity, Paternity and Adoption Leave schemes
• Staff equality forums
• Green Car Leasing Scheme
• Access to a wide range of training, learning and development
• Physiotherapy service
• Confidential counselling service
• Great wellbeing offer
• Cycle to Work Scheme
• Dolphin Centre Fit for Life Discounts
• Local and National retailer discounts
• Vivup employee benefit app and Lifestyle Savings
• Arriva Employee Travel Club