Lead Case Officer
Up to 12 month fixed term contract
Full time / Part time
Salary: £33,273 - £37,692, with potential for further progression to £42,439 with our pay progression scheme.
Location: Hybrid
Contracted to our Wilmslow office, however, we offer flexible home and office-based working opportunities. There will be times when you will be expected to attend the office to collaborate with colleagues or travel due to business need. Please note, from Autumn 2026 our head office will relocate from Wilmslow to Manchester city centre.
Why work for the ICO?
1. Pay progression scheme.
2. Hybrid and flexible working options.
3. 25 days paid holiday per year, plus privilege and public holidays.
4. Flexi leave (up to 26 additional days leave per year).
5. Pension (employer contribution around 28.9%).
6. Online discount scheme to save money at major supermarkets, retailers, gyms, restaurants, insurance providers and many more.
7. Health Cash Plan.
8. Fantastic development opportunities to learn and progress.
Further details can be found on the benefits section of our.
Job summary
This role is in the Personal Data Breach Service. The service is the first point of contact for organisations notifying the ICO about data security breaches. We advise organisations about the steps they should take to mitigate risk and avoid similar incidents in the future. We refer more serious breaches for formal investigation.
You will be a confident decision maker who will work at pace within in a busy environment. Data breaches can be front page news, so we have to be vigilant and act quickly. Our colleagues are curious and identify emerging trends and themes. You will proactively share information with colleagues and act as a single point of contact for key external stakeholders, as well as developing expertise within sectors. We work collaboratively with colleagues and stakeholders when particularly serious incidents occur.
The Information Commissioner’s Office (ICO) is the independent regulator of information rights. In a data-driven world, we provide advice, guidance, and support to organisations enabling compliance with their obligations, as well as protecting individuals and their personal data.
As an employer, we are passionate about making a positive difference to the lives and careers of our people, and we empower you to be curious, impactful, collaborative and respectful.
Job description
As a Lead Case Officer you will also support Team Managers in their work to develop Case Officers, and you will carry a personal caseload of some of our more complex operational tasks. You will also provide training to less experienced staff and support other services within the Business Services Department. For example, we deliver events for SMEs and other stakeholders where appropriate.
Key responsibilities:
9. Manage your workload autonomously, making independent decisions about cases, priorities and opportunities to improve the practices of those the ICO regulates.
10. Using judgement, intellectual ability and initiative, handle cases and undertake wider regulatory activity under the legislation overseen by the ICO in line with established strategies, policies and procedures.
11. Support Team Managers with the achievement of an effective case handling service, helping with the identification of aspects of the service which could be improved.
12. Provide a primary point of contact and liaison inside and outside the department for a specific work area.
13. Develop and maintain a detailed technical understanding of a specific area or sector of regulatory activity.
14. Negotiate with organisations to achieve compliance with the relevant legislation, either in one case or in the future where appropriate.
15. Provide good customer service to all parties, managing expectations sensitively and communicating clearly, regularly and at an appropriate level, in writing and over the telephone.
16. Proactively develop legislative expertise, keeping abreast of developments in DP, PECR, EIR and FoI legislation and regulations.
17. Develop and maintain relationships with any relevant internal/external stakeholders as appropriate.
18. Attend internal meetings and external meetings and events, giving presentations where necessary.
19. Provide briefing or guidance material for more senior members of staff and present case overviews to colleagues where necessary.
Person specification
Essential criteria assessed at application stage:
20. Experience relevant to the role requirements, as described in the role responsibilities and person specification, and accumulated through any combination of academic or vocational qualifications or experience.
21. Good intellectual and analytical ability in order to apply complex legislation to a variety of circumstances, and develop detailed technical knowledge in a given area of ICO activity
22. Excellent standard of literacy and effective written communication skills for writing letters, reports and meeting notes
23. Ability to deal with a demanding workload which may include considerable correspondence and to prioritise accordingly
Essential criteria assessed during interview:
24. Good intellectual and analytical ability in order to apply complex legislation to a variety of circumstances, and develop detailed technical knowledge in a given area of ICO activity
25. Excellent standard of literacy and effective written communication skills for writing letters, reports and meeting notes (written test)
26. Effective verbal communication skills in particular the ability to provide clear advice over the telephone (presentation)
27. Ability to deal with a demanding workload which may include considerable correspondence and to prioritise accordingly
28. Ability to work on own initiative and as a member of a team
29. Ability to make presentations to small groups (presentation)
30. Effective negotiation skills
31. Excellent interpersonal skills with people at all levels
32. An ability to help others to develop their knowledge/ experience
33. Ability to use standard office IT packages
Equality, diversity, and inclusion
The ICO is committed to promoting and enhancing equality, diversity, and inclusion. We are focused on developing a workforce that is representative of the communities we serve and together we are building an inclusive workplace where all of our colleagues have the opportunity to make a real difference. We are championing this through our Equality Diversity and Inclusion Board together with a number of staff networks. Read more about our commitment on our website.
Candidates with a disability who meet the minimum criteria for this vacancy will be invited to interview as part of the ICO’s commitment to the Disability Confident Scheme.
If you are disabled or have an impairment and require an alternative application method, please email the HR team at k
Closing Date
Please submit your CV by 23:59, 27 July 2025
We reserve the right to close this vacancy before this date should we receive sufficient applications. Please apply as soon as possible to ensure your application is considered.