Belfast
JobTitle:Head of Legal Reportingto:DirectorofGovernanceandSupportServices Grade:PO5 (NJCScale):£49,282to£52,413 Salary: per annum Location:Belfast Main purpose of job The postholder will be responsible for providing legal support to the Ombudsman, Deputy Ombudsman, the NIPSO SMT and NIPSO operational teams to ensure that NIPSO delivers its statutory functions and responsibilities across a range of areas including public and administrative law, freedom of information, data protection and employment law. This will include providing strategic advice, liaison with external solicitors or counsel when required, acting astheNIPSO DataProtection Officer,providingsupport totheOmbudsman in herroleas the Northern Ireland Local Government Commissioner for Standards and fulfilling the role of team manager for the NIPSO legal team. Summary of principal duties and responsibilities: In conjunction with the Director of Governance and support services, develop a plan tomaximise the contribution of the legal team to the effective operation of NIPSO. IdentifylegalriskinlinewithNIPSOriskappetitestatementandcontributetothemanagement of risk through input into NIPSOs risk register ProvidetimelyandeffectivelegaladvicetosupportdecisionmakingacrossNIPSOs statutory remit. LeadoncomplexpublicandadministrativelawmattersincludingcoordinatingNIPSOs response to litigation. Lead and develop the NIPSO legal team and the staff allocated to the team to ensure the delivery of a high-quality legal service. ManagethebudgetandperformanceoftheNIPSOlegal team Provideadviceandlegal briefingstotheOmbudsman,DeputyOmbudsmanandSenior Management Team across a range of legal areas. DraftresponsestolegalchallengeincludingdraftingofresponsestoInformationTribunals, Pre Action Protocols, Judicial Reviews and High Court Appeals Liaise with external legal representatives such as solicitors and counsel instructed to act on behalf of NIPSO including the management of costs Develop, maintain and oversee a register of corporate legal advice to support decision making across the organisation Draft information sharing protocols and memorandum of understanding agreements and maintain a list of all current protocols Lead the Data Protection function to include the implementation of data protection policies, completion of compliance audits and preparation of reports as necessary Maintain policiesand procedures on dataprotection including ICOregistration,trainingof staff, and Privacy Notices and ensure that they are in line with best practice Provide internal advice on sensitive, high profile and, or complex data protection issues including investigation of potential data breaches and associated reporting to the ICO as required. ManageandassistwherenecessaryNIPSOsresponsetorequestsforinformationincluding SubjectAccessRequests,FreedomofInformationRequestsandEnvironmentalInformation Requests Provideadvice,guidanceandtrainingtostaffonNIPSOspecificlegislation ProvideguidanceandassistwithcarryingoutDataProtectionImpactAssessmentsonnew, or amended systems, projects and services Providelegaladvice,supportandrepresentation(includingdraftinghighqualityandtimely correspondenceandapplicationoftheappropriateprocedures)totheOmbudsmaninher quasi-judicial role as the Northern Ireland Local Government Commissioner for Standards (the Commissioner) ManageandmaintainNIPSOsInformationAssetRegisterandRecordofProcessing Activities Providelinemanagement andprofessionaldevelopmentofstaff assignedtothepost holder and contribute to NIPSOs organisational strategy Maintain a good understanding of the principles and practices within the organisation Outreach and communications Contributetoexternalcommunications(newsletters,briefings,andinformationmaterial)to inform relevant stakeholders of the Offices role and remit AssistwiththepreparationofreportsandpresentationsfortheOmbudsmanandDeputy Ombudsman as appropriate Deliver training to non-legal staff on legal specific issues as required General Responsibilities & Duties AdheretotheNIPSOvaluesoffairness,impartiality,openness,respectandintegrity. Adhere to and promote the Office policies on Equality of Opportunity and Dignity at Work,demonstratingacommitmenttotheprinciplesofequality,fairnessanddiversity in all aspects of work. Have due regard for your own safety and that of others, behaving appropriately at all times and reporting all accidents no matter how minor. Takeresponsibilityforthedevelopmentofownskillsandknowledgethroughproactive engagement in the internal performance review processes; and Undertake ad-hoc, cross-functional project work supporting the development of the Office and service provision as reasonably requested by your line manager. This job description is subject to review and amendment as the demands of the role and the organisation evolves. Therefore, the postholder will be required to be flexible and adaptable and aware that they may be asked to perform tasks, duties and responsibilities which are not specifically detailed in the job description, but which are commensurate with the role PERSON SPECIFICATIONESSENTIAL CRITERIA Applicantsmust,asat theclosingdateforreceiptofapplications,beabletodemonstrateby providing personal and specific examples on their application form that they have: Qualifications Be qualified as a barrister or solicitor and capable of becoming entitled to practice in Northern Ireland with at least three years post qualification experience. (AF) Goodunderstandingofpublic/administrativelaw.(AF) Haveat leasttwoyearsrelevant workexperienceineachofthefollowingareas: providinglegaladvicetoseniormanagersand staff intheirown orotherorganisations; (AF, I) workingknowledgeofdata protection complianceandbestpractice;(AF, I) working as part of a team to achieve goals; (I) Provenabilitytomanagesignificantworkloadswith limited resourcesanddeliveroutputsin line with client/customer expectations and deadline. (I) Provenabilitytobuildandmaintainproductivenetworkswithcolleaguesandstakeholder organisations. (I) Strong leadership and people-management skills. (AF, I) Excellentdrafting,communicationandstakeholder-engagementabilities.(AF,I) DESIRABLE CRITERIA In addition to the above essential criteria, NIPSO reserves the right to only shortlist those candidateswhocanalsodemonstrate,byprovidingpersonaland specificexamplesonthe application form that they have: HaveaPractitionerCertificateinDataProtection,orequivalent qualification.(AF) developing, reviewing and updating corporate policies and supporting guidance documentation. (AF) SKILLS AND ATTRIBUTES Applicantsmustbeabletodemonstrateevidenceofthefollowingskills,competenciesand attributes which will be tested at interview and through a presentation task: Oral andWrittenCommunication CollaborativeWorking Analytical and Problem Solving Continuous Improvement WORKING FOR US Remuneration ThesalaryforthispostiscurrentlyequivalenttoNJCScale PO5 whichis£49,282to £52,413 Location Therolewillbebased atNIPSO,ProgressiveHouse,33WellingtonPlace,Belfast,BT16HN. Working Arrangements We operate hybrid working arrangements i.e. a mix of working from home and from the officewhich offers employees additional workstyle choices. Candidatesshouldnote that whilstwe do have aflexible approach,theoperational requirements are likely to require office based working a minimum of 2 days per week. Successful applicants also have the opportunity to request Flexible Working from the 1st day of their employment. Management will give full consideration to the flexible working request. However,noemployeecan beguaranteed flexibleworkingandtheneedsof theorganisationwill take priority Working Hours Thepostisfull-time(37hoursperweek),subjecttoa probationaryperiodof9months. Pension The successful candidate will be eligible to join the NICS Principal Civil Service Pension Scheme. Annual Leave Annualleaveentitlementis25daysannualleave,plus12dayspublic holidays. Other benefits We have a generous occupational sick pay and maternity, paternity and adoption leave/pay arrangements, as well as a suite of work-life balance policies. Employees also have access to an Employee Assistance Programme. We provide support for ongoing training and provide development opportunities for all staff. In 2022 we implemented a coaching framework to ensure all employees of NIPSO receive regular support and guidance from their line manager. SELECTION PROCESS Applications for the post can be made on GetGotJobs Portal by clicking APPLY below. Completed application and monitoring forms are to be completed no later than 12noonon15 December 2025. Applicants who meet the shortlisting criteria will be invited to participate in a selection and assessment process. IntheeventofahighvolumeofapplicationsNIPSOreservestherighttoapplyadditionalcriteria in order to achieve a manageable shortlist of applicants. Reasonable Adjustments NIPSO are committed to ensuring equal access to employment opportunities for all individuals. Applications from disabled applicants are welcome. If you require any reasonable adjustments at any stage of the recruitment and selection process, please contact us. Guidance notes for completing your application form NIPSO is committed to providing equality of opportunity for all job applicants. The information you supply on this application form will be treated in the strictest confidence and will be used solely for assessing your suitability for the post. A candidate found to have knowingly given false information, or to have wilfully suppressed any material fact will be liable to disqualification from the process, or if appointed, to dismissal. All appointments are made on merit and in accordance with our Recruitment and Selection Policy. Any canvassing of officers directly or indirectly in connection with an appointment will automatically disqualify the candidate. Applications will only be accepted on the specific NIPSO application form. Incomplete application forms will not be considered. CVs, letters or any other supplementary material will not be accepted in place of, or in addition to, completed application forms and will not be made available to the shortlisting or interview panel. Pleasealsonote: Applicationswhicharereceivedaftertheclosingdateortimewillnotbeaccepted. It is the responsibility of the applicant to ensure the completed form, together with the completed Equal Opportunities Monitoring Form, is returned by the closing date for applications.