Head of Data Rights

The Met is recruiting its first Head of Data Rights. This is a unique role sitting within the Digital Data and Technology's (DDaT) data office. Reporting to a deputy director, you'll be accountable for overseeing more than 100 Data Rights professionals who respond to about 30,000 unique requests per year from staff, Met partners, and the general public for access to data held by Met.

You'll be part of the senior leadership team (SLT) and will work with peers to support the deputy director in designing and delivering the Met Data and Analytics Strategy and Vision. Your role is to ensure our strategy is ethically and legally compliant. You'll be expected to partner with other functions from within the data office and the wider organisation to deliver on the priorities.

Due to the nature of this role, you'll have access to highly sensitive Met information and data. You'll be the ultimate escalation point for decisions made as to release data in line with the Freedom of Information Act and General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR). As such, we are looking for an experienced Data Rights professional who can take ownership of shaping and transforming how the Met delivers its statutory obligations.

You'll be required to lead and develop the current team into a high-performing, omnicompetent function whilst driving a cultural shift in the wider organisation's approach to Data Rights. You'll need to demonstrate a mature leadership style with the ability to motivate a diverse team to work towards a common strategic objective. You will be flexible in your approach and show astute political judgment to keep Met at the forefront of Data Rights across policing.

You will have access to senior police and corporate leaders and your role is to develop these relationships to ensure the Met's future use of data whilst establishing assurance and governance standards Met-wide. This role is central to building and directing new relationships with our policing partners nationally. You will be key in delivering the organisation’s ambition for an open data approach to ensure transparency and build trust.

Responsibilities

• embed new ways of working across Data Rights to create a single consistent approach to managing and complying with requests made to the Met under Data Protection legislation
• review, design, and articulate a strategic vision underpinned by the safe, ethical and legal use of data in the Met as a service to the public and build an ambitious and creative plan to realise this strategy against a complex operational, technical, and compliance landscape
• support the organisation's open data aspirations, ensuring it is done in a way that demonstrates due consideration of the rights and freedoms of individuals. This is particularly important to build 'more trust' by meeting public requests promptly and compliantly
• own and lead the development of our Data Rights function. Maturing and developing the skills of the team already in post to ensure they are at the core of our data understanding and meeting our Data Rights responsibilities
• provide dedicated support and advice to orchestrate proportionate, ethical and lawful data sharing
• act as project owner and subject matter expert, working closely with a third party project management consultancy to provide a roadmap of activities (people, process and technology) to deliver a revised robust and scalable model for governing our data across the Met
• redesign organisational structure and operating model in line with recommendations made in an independent review of data governance
• work with the Head of Skills and Capability to upskill Data Rights staff aligning with the Government Knowledge and Information Management (GKIM) capability framework
• develop a roadmap for process rationalisation and a technology review for the efficiency and effectiveness of eDiscovery services
• work with SLT colleagues to develop and be responsible for policies and procedures for the ongoing implementation of the Met data vision
• coordinate, and work closely with the data protection officer team on wider privacy, data breach, and information governance matters

What we can offer

• hybrid working arrangements for a healthy work-life balance
• 28 days annual leave (excluding public holidays), rising to 33 days after five years continuous service
• personal and professional development opportunities
• enrolment with the Met’s employee incentive partner, Edenred, giving access to a range of rewards and incentives
• access to a range of financial products via the Metropolitan Police Trading Service, including preferred credit facilities
• generous family leave for pregnancy, adoption, paternity and shared parental leave
• childcare support including nursery and play scheme discounts
• excellent contributory pension scheme for your financial future
• access to the Blue Light emergency services discount card with a range of official discounts from large national retailers to local businesses including holidays, cars, days out, fashion, gifts, insurance, phones and much more
• a substantial range of health and well-being benefits including physiotherapy, 24/7 rehabilitation services and free eye tests
• to promote physical well-being you will have full access to subsidised sports centre membership to more than 3,000 UK gyms and 80 London fitness centres. There is also an excellent range of sporting activities on offer through the various Met Police sports and social clubs.

Vetting

This post requires access to the most sensitive intelligence material on a daily basis. Applicants must hold or be prepared to undergo National Security Vetting (NSV) Security Check (enhanced) (SC(e)) level before taking up the post; with a willingness to undergo Developed Vetting (DV) once in post, if required.
Additionally, this material is of particular sensitivity to the UK and its distribution must be restricted to UK nationals. In approved circumstances dual nationals (of which one element is British) may also be granted access.
However, in the event that potential conflicts of interest cannot be managed the post holder will not be able to see the intelligence material and will not be able to perform their duties. For the purpose of safeguarding national security and in line with Cabinet Office Policy, supported by Section 82(2) to (4) of the Police Reform Act (2002), applicants who do not hold or acquire Security Check (enhanced) (SC(e)) or Developed Vetting (DV) clearance and meet the nationality requirements cannot be offered the post.