The Role

Unite is seeking to use data more to drive the organisation, and our ability to manage data protection risks and demonstrate compliance is vital to our continued success.

Unite is seeking to use data more to drive the organisation and our ability to manage data protection risks and demonstrate compliance is vital to our continued success. In this role you will be part of a team where its success will depend on building trust and being a `critical friend` to the wider business, working with teams to ensure Unite meets its data protection obligations when collecting and processing personal data.

The key aim of the role is to support the Data Protection team with the delivery and continuous improvement of data protection services across the company. As the Data Protection Advisor, you will provide expert advice on data protection issues and be responsible for managing key data protection processes. This is a wide-ranging role and it includes working with all internal stakeholders. You will work across all initiatives with the support of team colleagues to deliver the data protection strategy and improve Unite`s data protection maturity.

What You`ll Be Doing

Relationship building with colleagues across Unite, including senior management and external stakeholders, is key to this role and you will have the experience, confidence and credibility to do this. This work will be shared with a second Data Protection Advisor.

• Provide advice to the business relating to data protection legislation, such as the UK GDPR and Data Protection Act 2018
• Help embed a culture of data protection:
  • Work with the Communications team to drive a strategic communications and awareness plan
  • Work with the Learning & Development team on company-wide eLearning and bespoke, role/task specific training
• Oversee the investigation and end to end handling of, and/or assist with, data protection breaches/ incidents,
• Investigate and respond to data protection related complaints, updating the complaints register
• Conduct/ review DPIAs and other risk assessments as required and review DPIA associated documents (contracts, privacy notices, data sharing agreements, white papers etc) for compliance. Provide technical advice as appropriate
  • Champion data protection by default and design across operational change and projects
• Identify and monitor risks of non-compliance with data protection controls and assist with the development and continual improvement of controls to ensure risks are managed effectively
• Support in keeping Unite`s privacy notices, internal data protection standards and procedures, and the Data Protection team`s processes and FAQs, relevant and up to date.
  • Support with maintaining and updating the Data Protection Toolkit on Unite`s intranet
• Maintain and update the company Records of Processing Activity as required
• Carry out reporting on data protection activity and compliance
• Co-manage and administer the data protection inbox, providing advice and guidance to queries and requests and supporting colleagues across the business with data protection related tasks
• Coordinate and deliver responses to Data Subject Rights Requests (SARs, erasures etc), including conducting system searches for personal data
• Support with team administration eg, deletion of personal data and maintaining team trackers and registers

SUCCESS METRICS

• Embedding of data protection good practice throughout Unite during 2023, in readiness for an `effectiveness audit`
• Closure of all UK GDPR requests within SLA
• No/ Minimal referrals to the ICO from third parties

What We`re Looking for in You

• Accredited or equivalent professional qualification in data protection e.g. BCS or IAPP
• A minimum of three years` experience gained within a privacy role or similar compliance type role
• Excellent understanding of the UK GDPR and Data Protection Act 2018 and international privacy legislation and practices
• Attention to detail, accuracy, and strong organisational skills.
• Experience with documenting, analysing and improving business processes
• Proactive attitude, with a willingness to support all data protection initiatives
• Team orientated and able to work collaboratively with other colleagues to deliver results
• Self-sufficient and able to prioritise and carry out tasks with minimum supervision
• Management a complex and diverse workload and the ability to deal with conflicting and changing demands
• The ability to influence decisions at executive management level
• Excellent verbal, written communication and presentation skills

A flexible approach to working hours around specific deadlines

What You`ll Get in Return

• A discretionary annual bonus so you can share in the company`s success
• 25 days` paid holiday and an annual holiday buying scheme, with 5 additional days awarded for long service
• A generous pension scheme - employer contributions between 5% and 11% depending on how much you save
• Various benefits to support your health and wellbeing including a Healthcare Cash Plan, an Employee Assistance Programme, a Wellbeing platform and a Gym benefit that you can share with your family and friends
• Enhanced Family Leave including 18 weeks full pay for birthing parents and 4 weeks for non-birthing parents
• Lots of other great benefits including an annual ShareSave scheme, Employee Life Assurance, a discounts portal and more!

About Unite Students

Founded in 1991, Unite Students is a FTSE 100 business and the UK`s leading provider of purpose-built student accommodation. You can find us in 25 leading university towns and cities, with 74,000 students calling US home! We are driven by our values, culture, and a commitment to develop diverse and inclusive teams, filled with positive energy and new ideas.

Instinctive inclusion. We know that to create and maintain a happy healthy organisation, we have to work hard to ensure inclusion isn`t just what we do but who we are.

People make Unite Students. Employees, students and neighbours all contribute to building environments where we can all thrive.

Room for Everyone

We`re proud to be an employer that embraces individuality, and we`re passionate about building inclusive teams. We focus on creating a collaborative culture where you can be you, where your voice is heard, and where you can truly belong. We take great pride in being rated Gold Investors in People and are constantly striving to provide the highest standard of learning and development opportunities and professional pathways for our people. Building a home for success, for both our employees and students, requires exceptional people with a passion for creating room for everyone, doing what`s right, keeping US safe, and raising the bar. Join us as we build better experiences for students that live with us.

We are US.