Data Privacy & Risk Officer 

Contract type: Permanent – 35 hours per week 

Location: London, UK

UK hybrid working – a minimum of 40 % of working time is spent face-to-face (London office, external meetings or travel). 60/40 hybrid working at WaterAid means roughly three days wherever you work best and two days together in person. 

Salary: £41,325 per year with excellent benefits.

*We offer competitive, market-aligned salaries based on the grade and scope of each role. Roles are offered at the advertised starting salary, with any exceptions considered only in exceptional circumstances. 

Change starts with water. Change starts with you. 

Every day, millions of people live without clean water, decent toilets and good hygiene. WaterAid exists to change that – for everyone, everywhere. Join us, and your energy will help unlock people’s potential and create a fairer future. 

About WaterAid 

We’re a global federation driven by one vision: a world where everyone, everywhere has clean water, sanitation and hygiene by 2030. Powered by our values of Respect, Accountability, Courage, Collaboration, Integrity and Innovation, we work alongside communities, partners and supporters to make change happen. 

About the team 

The Data Protection function sits within the Legal & Compliance Team. This team is responsible for promoting compliance with various legal requirements and codes of practice. It is a close-knit, collaborative team, that works hard to support WaterAid and each other.

The Legal and Compliance Team sits within the Finance, Technology, and Strategic Planning Directorate.

About the role 

As our Data Privacy & Risk Officer, you will maintain and develop WaterAid’s data protection compliance and risk management maturity. You willwork closely withthe Data Protection Manager (for data privacy) and the Executive Director, Finance, Technology and Strategic Planning (for risk management) to drive sustainable change. 

In this role, you will: 

• Collaborate closely with the Data Protection Manager to establish and maintain robust data protection standards and practices across WaterAid, ensuring adherence to regulatory requirements and best practices 
• Support the response to information rights requests, e.g. Subject Access Requests, Right to Erasure, etc. 

• Coordinate and deliver training relating to applicable data protection requirements 
• Co-ordinate the risk management process, including liaison with relevant functions on functional risk registers, preparing the organisational risk register for review by the Executive Director, Finance, Technology and Strategic Planning and subsequent review by the Executive Leadership Team

• Maintain WaterAid UK’s Risk Management Policy and arrange training

• Champion WaterAid’s commitment to equity, inclusion and safeguarding. 

To be successful, you will need: 

• Familiarity with key data protection principles and a proven ability to learn
• Ability to handle information with appropriate care, sensitivity and confidentiality
• Excellent attention to detail

• To be resourceful, adaptable, with a willingness to take on new challenges  

• A collaborative and can-do approach
• The ability to work autonomously

Although not essential, we’d prefer you to have: 

• Relevant experience working in a data protection role or to hold a qualification relating to data protection or risk management
• Familiarity with data protection documents such as Legitimate Interest Assessments (LIAs), Data Protection Impact Assessments (DPIAs) and Record of Processing Activities (ROPAs)
• Experience delivering data protection training
• Experience of data protection legislation in territories outside the UK
• Experience in risk management

• Experience working with Director Level staff

View the full job description here

Closing date: Applications close 12:00 PM UK time on Wednesday 21 October. First round interviews are expected to take place during the week commencing 2 November. 

How to apply: Click Apply to upload your CV only and Cover Letter. Your Cover Letter will be assessed against the Essential and Desirable Requirements set out above as further detailed in the Job Description.

Can I use Artificial Intelligence (AI) technology in my application? 

At WaterAid, we strongly advise against using AI technology at any stage of the recruitment process. Our goal is to ensure a fair and transparent process that provides every applicant with an equal opportunity to succeed. We value hearing about your unique experiences and perspectives in your application, and, if shortlisted, during the interview as well. 

Pre‑employment screening 

To apply for this role, you must be able to demonstrate your eligibility to work in the respective country. All pre-employment checks will be carried out according to local law and WaterAid’s Safer Recruitment policy. All UK based roles require a basic Disclosure and Barring Service (DBS) check. 

Our benefits

• 36 days’ holiday (including 8 Bank Holidays) 

• Option to buy an extra 5 days’ annual leave 

• Employer pension contribution up to 10 % 

• Flexible and hybrid working arrangements 

• Season ticket loan 

• Free annual eye tests 

• ‘Give as you Earn’ charitable giving scheme 

• Enhanced parental leave (maternity, adoption/surrogacy, shared parental and paternity) 

• Sabbaticals 

• One paid volunteer day each year 

As part of our annual leave policy, all employees receive three additional days of annual leave on top of their standard allocation of 25 days. These days are designated to cover the period when our UK office closes between Christmas and New Year, allowing all UK WaterAiders to take a well-deserved break. 

These days are automatically scheduled and cannot be changed or moved. Annual leave is accrued based on your start date. If sufficient leave has not been accrued by the time of the closure, the 3 days will be taken as unpaid leave or pro-rated, depending on your circumstances. 

Our People Promise 

We will work with passion and focus to make sure everyone everywhere has clean water, decent toilets and good hygiene. WaterAid is a place of purpose – where people have a real commitment and shared responsibility for the impact we have. We are a global community with diverse backgrounds and perspectives, motivated by inspiring, stimulating work. We are determined to be a place where people feel safe and able to contribute their voice and truly live our values. 

Equal Opportunities 

We welcome applications from people of all backgrounds, beliefs, customs, traditions, ways of life and status. This includes, but is not limited to, race, ethnicity, caste, colour, gender, language, religion, political or other opinion, national or social origin, property, birth, disability status, neurodiversity, age, marital and family status, sexual orientation and gender identity, health status, place of residence, economic and social situation. 

Safeguarding 

We are committed to protecting everyone we come into contact with. We have a zero- tolerance approach to abuse of power, privilege or trust across our global work, and to any form of inappropriate behaviour, discrimination, abuse, bullying, harassment, or exploitation. Safeguarding the people and communities we work with, our staff, volunteers and anyone working on our behalf is our top priority, and we take our responsibilities extremely seriously. All offers of employment are subject to satisfactory references and appropriate screening checks (which can include counterterrorism, safeguarding and criminal records checks). 

Together, we’ll change the world through water.  

Join us and be part of the change!