Data Protection Officer (Volunteer)

Volunteer Role Description
Data Protection Officer (DPO)

Organisation: Advance UK
Role type: Volunteer
Reporting to: Senior leadership or nominated responsible officer
Time commitment: Flexible, dependent on volume of requests

Purpose of the role
Advance UK is committed to handling personal data lawfully, fairly, and transparently. The Volunteer Data Protection Officer supports this commitment by overseeing data protection compliance and responding to individual rights requests under the Data Protection Act 2018 and UK GDPR.

This role is advisory and operational. It focuses on ensuring that requests from individuals are handled properly, on time, and in line with the law, while supporting volunteers and staff to understand their responsibilities.

Key responsibilities

The Volunteer Data Protection Officer will:

  • Respond to data subject rights requests, including Subject Access Requests, requests for rectification, erasure, restriction, and objection, in accordance with statutory timeframes.
  • Assess the scope of each request, identify relevant systems and data sources, and coordinate with staff or volunteers to gather information.
  • Apply appropriate exemptions and redactions where required, balancing the rights of the requester with the rights and freedoms of others.
  • Maintain clear records of requests received, actions taken, and responses issued.
  • Provide advice and guidance to Advance UK on data protection matters, including data minimisation, retention, and secure handling of personal data.
  • Support incident response by advising on personal data breaches, including whether notification to the ICO or affected individuals is required.
  • Promote good data protection practice across the organisation in a supportive and proportionate way.

What this role is not
This role does not involve legal representation, policy enforcement, or disciplinary authority. It is not expected to provide formal legal advice. The role is focused on practical compliance and good governance.

Skills and experience

We are looking for someone who has:

  • A good understanding of the Data Protection Act 2018 and UK GDPR, particularly individual rights.
  • Experience handling or supporting Subject Access Requests or similar information rights processes.
  • The ability to read, assess, and summarise information clearly and accurately.
  • Good judgement, discretion, and the ability to handle sensitive information confidentially.
  • The confidence to ask questions and challenge poor data handling practices constructively.

Formal qualifications in data protection are welcome but not required. Training and support can be provided.

Personal qualities
The ideal volunteer will be calm, organised, fair minded, and able to explain complex issues in plain English. They will be comfortable working independently while knowing when to escalate concerns.

Support and governance
Advance UK will provide access to relevant policies, templates, and systems, as well as a clear escalation route for complex or high risk issues. The organisation recognises the importance of the DPO role and will respect its independence.

Confidentiality and integrity
The Volunteer Data Protection Officer will be required to sign a confidentiality and data access agreement and is expected to act with integrity at all times.

Apply by sending your CV and covering email to [email protected]