Senior Executive Officer

Job description

Senior Executive Officer – Data Protection & Compliance

Location: Dublin City Centre
Salary: €60,029 per annum
Contract Type: Fixed-Term Contract (until the end of the year)
Hours: 35 Hours per Week

About the Role

We are seeking a motivated and detail-oriented Senior Executive Officer – Data Protection & Compliance to support a busy public sector organisation in Dublin City Centre. The successful candidate will play a key role in supporting the organisation’s data protection, freedom of information, records management, and compliance functions.

This position offers an excellent opportunity for an experienced professional with a strong understanding of GDPR, Data Protection legislation, FOI processes, and corporate governance practices to contribute to a dynamic and service-focused organisation.

Key Responsibilities

Data Protection

• Support the organisation’s ongoing compliance with the General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR) and the Data Protection Act 2018.
• Provide advice and guidance on data protection obligations and best practice.
• Assist in the management of Freedom of Information (FOI) and Data Subject Access Requests (DSARs).
• Monitor the processing and protection of personal data across the organisation.
• Draft and conduct Data Protection Impact Assessments (DPIAs).
• Assist with the investigation and management of personal data breaches.
• Support reporting to senior management on data protection compliance, risks, and development needs.
• Monitor legislative developments, regulatory guidance, and emerging issues relating to data protection.
• Support the management of data subject rights requests in accordance with statutory requirements.
• Draft and review data-related contractual documentation, including Data Processing Agreements and related compliance documentation.

Compliance & Corporate Governance

• Support the Data Protection Officer (DPO) in delivering data protection and FOI training and awareness programmes.
• Participate in cross-functional working groups and compliance initiatives as required.
• Assist in ensuring compliance with Records Management policies and procedures.
• Provide advice regarding records retention schedules and data lifecycle management.
• Support projects relating to the phased deletion and management of legacy records and email archives.
• Assist with ongoing compliance with Freedom of Information legislation and support decision-makers throughout the FOI process.
• Help maintain the organisation’s compliance calendar and ensure key statutory obligations are met.
• Contribute to continuous improvement initiatives across governance, compliance, and information management functions.

General

• Prepare reports, briefing documents, and correspondence as required.
• Liaise with internal stakeholders and external bodies on data protection and compliance matters.
• Undertake any other duties appropriate to the grade and nature of the role.

Essential Requirements

• A relevant third-level qualification in Law, Business, Public Administration, Information Governance, Compliance, Data Protection, or a related discipline.
• Demonstrated experience in a data protection, compliance, governance, FOI, records management, or related role.
• Good working knowledge of GDPR, the Data Protection Act 2018, and related legislation.
• Experience handling FOI requests, DSARs, or other statutory information requests.
• Experience carrying out or supporting Data Protection Impact Assessments (DPIAs).
• Excellent organisational skills with a high level of attention to detail.
• Strong written and verbal communication skills.
• Ability to manage multiple priorities and meet deadlines.
• Strong stakeholder engagement and relationship management skills.
• Proficiency in Microsoft Office applications, particularly Excel, Word, Outlook, and Teams.

Desirable Requirements

• Relevant professional qualification or certification in Data Protection, GDPR, Information Governance, or Compliance.
• Experience working in the public sector or a highly regulated environment.
• Knowledge of records management and information governance frameworks.
• Experience supporting compliance audits, investigations, or governance reviews.
• Familiarity with data processing agreements and contractual compliance documentation.

Key Competencies

• Data Protection & Regulatory Compliance
• Analysis & Problem Solving
• Planning & Organising
• Communication & Interpersonal Skills
• Attention to Detail
• Stakeholder Management
• Teamwork & Collaboration
• Initiative & Continuous Improvement