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School Governance and Data Protection Officer

Full time | Permanent | Base County Hall (Hybrid), countywide travel

Are you passionate about supporting schools, influencing positive outcomes for children and young people, and providing expert advice that makes a real difference?

Northumberland is a large, diverse and ambitious county with schools of all types and sizes. We are committed to ensuring every child has access to a high-quality education, and effective governance is central to achieving that goal.

We are looking for a School Governance and Data Protection Officer to join our highly regarded School Governance Team. This is a rewarding and varied role, offering the opportunity to work closely with school leaders, governors, academy trusts and local authority colleagues to strengthen governance, support school improvement and ensure GDPR compliance across educational settings.

About the role

As a School Governance and Data Protection Officer, you will play a key role in supporting and developing school governing boards, helping educational establishments navigate complex governance matters and promoting best practice across the county.

You will:

• Provide specialist advice and guidance on all aspects of school governance and governance-related matters.
• Support educational professionals to resolve complex governance issues and challenges.
• Work with governing boards, school leaders and academy trusts to promote effective leadership andhigh standards.
• Support the delivery and ongoing development of the School Governance and GDPR Service Level Agreements.
• Deliver training, share best practice and provide constructive challenge to support school improvement.
• Provide mediation and support in relation to complaints and governor code of conduct matters.
• Advise schools and educational settings on GDPR compliance and data protection requirements.
• Build strong relationships with a wide range of stakeholders, influencing strategic decision-making and governance effectiveness.

This role offers excellent variety, combining advisory, training, development and problem-solving responsibilities while making a meaningful contribution to the education sector in Northumberland.

What we're looking for

We're seeking an individual with excellent communication and relationship-building skills, a strong understanding of governance, data protection or a related discipline, and the ability to provide confident, professional advice to senior stakeholders.

Whether your background is in education, governance, compliance, data protection or a related field, if you're passionate about supporting schools and developing your expertise, we'd love to hear from you.

Please note: Due to the nature of the role, the successful candidate must hold a full UK driving licence and have access to a vehicle, as there is substantial travel required across Northumberland and neighbouring local authorities to support schools and educational establishments.

The role also requires flexibility to attend evening meetings and undertake evening work where required, as many governing board and committee meetings take place outside of standard office hours.

What we offer

• Salary range: £35,412 - £39,152 per year
• Flexible working arrangements, including home-based working
• Extensive training and professional development opportunities
• Access to the Local Government Pension Scheme
• Generous annual leave entitlement
• A wide range of employee benefits and wellbeing support
• The opportunity to make a real difference to schools,governorsand young people across Northumberland

If you're looking for a rewarding role where you can influence educational outcomes, develop specialist expertise and work as part of a supportive and professional team, we'd love to hear from you.

Join us and help shape strong governance that supports every child to thrive.

For further information about the role, please contact Vicki Evans, School Governance and Data Protection Manager, at vicki.evans@northumberland.gov.uk to arrange an informal conversation.

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Further information
For guidance on completing your application and for information about our Equality and Diversity principles, please see the attached guidance notes here.

We are proud to be an equal opportunities employer. We operate a guaranteed interview scheme for disabled applicants who meet the essential criteria. If you have a disability and would prefer to apply in a different format, please see the alternative methods below. This information will be treated as confidential and will only be used to check that you meet the essential requirements of the post.

Alternative application format:
British Sign Language: northumberlandcc-cs.signvideo.net
For those with speech difficulties or hearing loss: Text relay service dial 018001 01670 623930

Although we advertise on North East Jobs, and other websites, your application process will be directed to our Tribepad system. Please note that all communication regarding your application for this post will be sent to the email address that you have registered on Tribepad, including your invite to interview if you are shortlisted. Please check your emails regularly, including Spam/Junk, after the closing dates for notifications.