Lead Policy Officer - Scotland

Location: City of Edinburgh

Lead Policy Officer - Scotland page is loaded## Lead Policy Officer - Scotlandlocations:
Edinburgh time type:
Full time posted on:
Posted Todaytime left to apply:
End Date:
January 26, 2026 (9 days left to apply) job requisition :
JR693
** Lead Policy Officer – Scotland
** Full time / Part time Salary:
£34,604 - £39,200, with potential for further progression to £44,137pa with our pay progression scheme.

Location:

Hybrid Contracted to our Edinburgh office, however, we offer flexible home and office-based working opportunities. There will be times when you will be expected to attend the office to collaborate with colleagues or travel due to business need. Please note, from Autumn 2026 our head office will relocate from Wilmslow to Manchester city centre.
** This role is open to secondment opportunities. If you are interested in a secondment with the ICO please email** ******.
*** Pay progression scheme.
* Hybrid and flexible working options.
* 25 days paid holiday per year, plus privilege and public holidays.
* Flexi leave (up to 26 additional days leave per year).
* Pension* Online discount scheme to save money at major supermarkets, retailers, gyms, restaurants, insurance providers and many more.
* Health Cash Plan.
* Fantastic development opportunities to learn and progress.

Further details can be found on the benefits section of our.
** Job summary
** This fixed term appointment offers a unique opportunity to join the Scottish Affairs team, a specialist department within the Strategic Communications and Public Affairs Directorate. As the voice of the ICO in Scotland — and the voice of Scotland within the ICO — the team plays a pivotal role in shaping how the organisation understands, influences, and responds to the Scottish policy landscape.

The Information Commissioner’s Office (ICO) is the independent regulator of information rights. In a data-driven world, we provide advice, guidance, and support to organisations enabling compliance with their obligations, as well as protecting individuals and their personal data.

As an employer, we are passionate about making a positive difference to the lives and careers of our people, and we empower you to be curious, impactful, collaborative and respectful.
** Job description
** You will support colleagues to represent the ICO within Scotland and hold key stakeholder relationships. The Scotland team plays a crucial role in ensuring the ICO delivers its statutory functions and strategic objectives in Scotland and provides expert advice on Scottish public affairs, legislation and policy to internal colleagues. As a member of the Scotland team, the postholder will support senior colleagues to deal with some of the most high profile issues of the day and major public policy.

Issues that you will work on within the Scottish context will include AI, biometrics, data sharing and children’s privacy.

You will manage a portfolio of specific stakeholder relationships within Scotland to the benefit of the ICO and provide them with a professional, proactive and unified service (involving other ICO colleagues as issues dictate). You will provide support to senior colleagues on key strategic relationships.  The role is varied and fast paced and also involves supporting legislative consultation, horizon scanning, parliamentary monitoring, providing regulatory advice and guidance, shaping key ICO guidance and products and working on cross UK regulatory projects.
** Key Responsibilities
*** To develop and manage the ICO’s relationship with specified stakeholders in Scotland, influencing them in a way consistent with the ICO corporate and local business plan objectives.
* To support colleagues in their work dealing with critical and significant relationships and issues in Scotland.
* To represent the ICO at external meetings and events with specified stakeholders including speaking engagements.
* To provide advice on compliance to specified stakeholders.
* To contribute to the development of ICO guidance and other products where Scottish specific content is required.
* To support senior colleagues in undertaking statutory consultations on legislative proposals that involve the processing of…