Head of Data Protection
Head of Data Protection to lead our GDPR strategy, strengthen governance, manage privacy risk, and shape how we use AI safely and smartly across the business.
We usually respond within three days
💷 Salary: Up to £110,000 depending on experience
💼Contract Type: Fixed term contract until Jan 2027
🏢 Work Life Balance: Hybrid, 1 day per week at our Northampton office
✈️ Candidate Journey: Our goal is to reply to applications within 3 working days. Additionally, we make sure to acknowledge, evaluate, and respond to all applications as a way of showing our appreciation for your time and effort in applying to us.
📆 Interview Process:
- Introductory call with a member of the recruitment team - 30 mins
- Presentation and interview with hiring team - 1.5 hours
Are you ready to join an award-winning business that is reshaping the insurance landscape? Our organisation has transformed the way customers interact with insurers, establishing a benchmark for exceptional service. With our recent digital transformation, we are eager to find passionate and motivated individuals to join us on our journey to success.
We firmly believe that attracting and developing talented professionals is essential for our ongoing growth and success. By investing in our team, we create an environment where innovation thrives and opportunities abound.
Our aim is to innovate, dominate and disrupt niche insurance on a global scale, which means we are seeking innovators and individuals who embrace change with ease. Together, we can drive change and make a significant impact in the industry.
🌟 The Role:
The Head of Data Protection is the organisation’s senior subject-matter expert on data protection, responsible for ensuring the group complies with EU GDPR, UK GDPR, the Data Protection Act 2018, PECR and relevant international data transfer rules.
The role oversees data governance, privacy risk management, training, incident handling, and supports innovation in the role AI can play in enhancing regulatory compliance, improving customer interactions and reducing cost to serve.
🌟 What will you do?
Data Protection Leadership
- Serve as the organisation’s primary Data Protection Officer (DPO).
- Lead the data protection strategy and annual improvement plan in alignment with regulatory and business objectives.
- Act as the point of contact for the ICO, data subjects, underwriters, and distribution partners
Governance & Compliance
- Maintain and continually improve the Data Protection Framework, including policies, procedures, retention schedules, and staff guidance.
- Ensure compliance with EU GDPR, UK GDPR, DPA 2018, PECR and ensuring AI technologies follow the guidance set out in the EU AI Act.
- Oversee Data Protection Impact Assessments (DPIAs), Legitimate Interest Assessments (LIAs), records of processing (RoPA), Transfer Risk Assessments (TRAs) and when required International Data Transfer Agreements (IDTAs) and standard contractual clauses (SCCs) for the EU activities.
- Lead annual privacy audits and compliance monitoring plans.
Risk Management
- Identify, assess, and mitigate privacy risks across operations, marketing, sales, and partnerships with insurers and assistance companies.
- Maintain the privacy risk register and report regularly to senior management, Risk Committee, and Board.
- Advise on high-risk processing activities involving medical data, customer profiling, and fraud detection.
Incident & Breach Management
- Lead the incident response process for data breaches, ensuring timely assessment, containment, documentation, root-cause analysis, and ICO notification where required.
- Train first-line teams to recognise and escalate incidents promptly
Training & Culture
- Deliver staff training, awareness campaigns, and role-specific guidance for sales, call-centre teams, marketing, claims, and underwriting liaison staff.
- Champion a culture of privacy-by-design and ethical data use.
- Review and approve the annual mandatory learning pathways across the group
Commercial & Partnership Support
- Review and negotiate data protection clauses in broker–insurer agreements, TPAs, distribution partnerships, and vendor contracts.
- Oversee data minimisation and secure data-sharing processes with insurers, MGAs, claims handlers, and travel partners.
- Support product development, digital tools, AI/automation initiatives, and customer journeys to ensure compliance from inception.
Monitoring Technologies & AI Compliance
- Oversee privacy compliance in marketing technologies, cookies, analytics, and tracking tools.
- Ensure governance for AI use within underwriting support, claims triage, fraud screening, and customer service bots (aligned to ICO expectations and EU AI Act if relevant for EU customers).
🌟 Essentials:
- Expert knowledge of UK GDPR, DPA 2018, PECR and ICO regulatory guidance.
- Significant experience in data protection roles.
- Understanding of medical data processing, special category data handling, and claims processes.
- Strong contract and vendor management knowledge relating to data protection clauses.
- Demonstrated ability to design and implement privacy governance frameworks.
- Excellent stakeholder engagement skills at senior and operational levels
🌟 Bonus skills you may pack in your suitcase:
- Experience with the travel insurance market, underwriting chains, and emergency assistance providers.
- Knowledge of international data transfer and cross-border operations (e.g., global travel assistance, overseas claims).
- CIPP/E, CIPM, BCS DP Practitioner Certificate, or similar qualifications.
- Experience supporting AI or digital innovation environments
- Knowledge of the AU AI Act
We’re assembling a diverse team, where skills, not checkboxes, reign supreme, regardless of race, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity or disability.
Staysure Group welcomes all new starters with open arms, providing training, development opportunities, and great benefits.
- Department
- Risk and Compliance
- Locations
- Northampton
- Remote status
- Hybrid
- Yearly salary
- £95,000 - £110,000
- Employment type
- Contract
Insurance Meets Adventure!🚀
At Staysure Group, we’re not your typical insurance crowd. Our mission? To innovate, dominate and disrupt niche insurance on a global scale. Since 2004, we’ve been selling award-winning insurance products and services, proudly owning a portfolio of market-leading brands.
Our portfolio:
🌟 Staysure and Avanti: Specialising in crafting premium cover for the 45+ crowd, complete with pre-existing medical conditions
🌟 Payingtoomuch: Serves as a go-to price comparison platform, dedicated to helping customers secure the most competitive deals
🌟 Petgevity: Our furry friends deserve the best care, that's why we offer comprehensive insurance for both dogs and cats, ensuring that even those with pre-existing medical conditions are well protected
🌟 ROCK: Our B2B2C partnership travel insurance specialist
Why Staysure?
We excel in a vibrant and fast-moving atmosphere. Our secret sauce? Genuine care for our customers and our people. 🤝❤️
🏆 Awards Galore: We’ve won awards like “Best Travel Insurance Provider” (Moneywise) and “Employee Engagement Champion” (Employee Experience Awards) and many more! These achievements reflect our unwavering focus on excellence.
🚀 High-Growth: Joining us means stepping into a high-growth environment and being part of a vibrant team that encourages innovation and personal growth at every turn.
🎯 OKR Magic: Here, you will be empowered to set ambitious goals and achieve remarkable success in your position. The culture we foster is one of inspiration and motivation, ensuring that you are always challenged to grow and develop your skills.
Benefits of working with us
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Perkbox from day 1! 🎁
Discounts, bonuses and awards!
Perkbox also includes a fantastic suite of tools for looking after your mental wellbeing. -
Take some time for yourself 🛫
26 days paid holidays plus bank holidays, +1 day leave for every years service up to 30 standard days. And the option to buy more (Pro rata for FTC).
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Health and fitness, private medical insurance💪🏥
Following the successful completion of any probation period, membership to the company PMI & gym scheme is offered with the option to add additional family members (excluding less than 12 month contracts).
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Discounted travel insurance 🌴
Discounted travel insurance policies with Staysure.
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Pension 💷
5% matched pension, auto enrolment after 3 months.
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Work hard, play hard 💃
Fantastic team social events, including parties and on-site social Fridays.
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Milestone gifts 📌
Up to 2 milestone gifts per year.
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Fund a goal 🎯
A chance to be nominated to fund a goal you have been striving for up to the value of £2,000.
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Fancy food or a coffee? ☕️
A subsidised on site canteen and Costa Coffee in Northampton.
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Cycle to work 🚴♀️
We'll support you with costs if you're someone who likes to cycle to work.
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Giving back 🫶
We are committed to supporting our community and offer 1 day of volunteering a year for every employee.
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Employee assistance programme 💜
Health Assured who provide mental wellbeing support can be accessed through Perkbox.
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Fancy a change of scenery? 🏞️
With the option to work from anywhere, colleagues can enjoy the benefit of travelling to new destinations, new regions in the UK or visiting family abroad without using their annual leave entitlement for up to 2 weeks per year. This is subject to passing probation.
Already working at Staysure Group?
Let’s recruit together and find your next colleague.