Compliance & Data Protection Officer - Northern Education Trust (NET)SALARY: £55,802 - £58,517 (Grade 9, SCP44-SCP46, pay award pending)HOURS: Full-time, 37 hours per weekCONTRACT: PermanentBASE: North Shore Academy, Talbot Street, Stockton TS20 2AYPlease note: the post holder will be engaging in regulated activity, working mainly or wholly with children. This position is exempt from the Rehabilitation of Offenders Act 1974.ABOUT THE TRUSTNorthern Education Trust (NET) is a charitable education Trust with an excellent track record for school improvement. The Trust sponsors 30 academies; 17 secondary and 13 primaries across the North of England in fourteen Local Authority regions.THE ROLEThis is a high-impact dual-purpose position combining expert Information Governance with rigorous corporate compliance, reporting directly to the Chief Operating Officer/SIRO. You will be the Trust's named Data Protection Officer (DPO) and lead authority on statutory compliance.Key responsibilities:- Lead on GDPR & Data Privacy: Act as resident expert and DPO, managing complex Subject Access Requests (SARs) and FOIs, risk-assessing breaches and liaising directly with the Information Commissioner's Office (ICO).- Drive Trust-Wide Compliance: Ensure the Trust meets all statutory requirements in line with DFE regulations, including website compliance.- Internal Scrutiny & Audit: Support the Chief Financial Officer in the preparation and planning of internal scrutiny, working with auditors to test systems and ensuring audit recommendations are implemented across the Trust.- Strategic Governance: Be a key member of the Information Governance Steering Group (IGSG) and manage the Trust's policy register, ensuring every policy is reviewed, approved, and understood by stakeholders.- Support Growth: Play a vital role in due diligence and onboarding as new academies join the Trust, ensuring high standards of compliance are implemented from day one.ABOUT YOU- Proven track record in Data Protection (UK GDPR/DPA 2018) and Information Governance.- Experience in statutory compliance, preferably within an educational, multi-academy, or complex public sector environment.- Ability to interpret complex legislation and provide plain English advice to staff at all levels.- Strong project management skills, with the assertiveness and credibility to ensure all statutory deadlines are met.- Commitment to the highest standards of safeguarding and child protection.Northern Education Trust is committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children. An enhanced DBS check is required for this role. The Trust is committed to considering flexible working requests.For more information contact: Becky Bishop, Executive Assistant | b.bishop@northerneducationtrust.org