Compliance Officer

We are looking for a Compliance Officer to support compliance activity across the Federation with particular focus on policies, academy websites, Data Protection and Information Management, including Freedom of Information requests.

The role will entail regular and varied engagement with Head Office and academy staff.

The successful candidate must have excellent administrative skills and a meticulous eye for detail. A background in education is not essential. Training and professional development will be a fundamental part of the role, with opportunities to progress within the organisation.

About Us

The Harris Federation is a not-for-profit charity with almost 25 years’ experience of education in and around London. We have built our reputation on a family of Academies that, across the board, are setting standards of excellence and fulfilling high expectations.  Harris Federation exists to support and assist Academies to build upon their existing strengths to achieve rapid educational transformation.  Harris Academies comprise academies in both the secondary and primary sectors, traditionally sponsored Academies as well as schools which have chosen to convert to Academy status.  We also work alongside parent groups in promoting Free Schools.

Main Areas of Responsibility

Reporting to the Federation’s Compliance & Information Manager, you will be responsible for assisting with Head Office Compliance team activity.  Specific areas of responsibility will include:

Federation Policies:

• Coordinate the review of Federation Policies and key documents, including sending calling notices to policy owners, liaising with the CEO’s office over submissions to the Main Board, liaising with Human Resources with regards to policy sign-off by staff, and drafting policy update communications to the Federation.
• Maintain a central policy register, ensuring key documents and SharePoint sites are accurate and kept up to date.
• Quality assurance of policies, including proof-reading, formatting and engaging policy owners over queries regarding content.

Website Compliance:

• Deliver termly academy Website Manager Training (to include website compliance and technical guidance) and one-to-one training to new website managers, as required.
• Keep abreast of DfE updates on requirements to publish information on Federation/academy websites.
• Publish mandatory Federation Policies to Federation and academy websites (where applicable).
• Carry out spot checks on academy websites and liaise with Primary and Secondary central administrative teams to ensure compliance with DfE guidelines.

Data Protection:

• Monitor completion and maintain records of Federation ‘All Staff Data Protection Awareness Training’; assist with the delivery and design of data protection awareness training.
• Assist with central data protection compliance activity as directed, including: the compilation of data protection impact assessments and updating the various internal Data Protection SharePoint sites.
• Assist with maintaining the Federation’s Records of Processing Activities, both at Head Office and academy level.

Information Management:

• Assist with various information management initiatives to improve how the Federation manages, stores and shares paper and electronic data.
• Assist with responding to Freedom of Information requests, including:

1. the tracking and collation of information for Freedom of Information requests.
2. preparation draft responses to FOI requests.
3. maintenance of FOI records via the Federation’s central register, which records where information is held and a record of all responses/acknowledgments and the information supplied.

Qualifications & Experience

The successful candidate will have:

• Graduate level of education
• Good working knowledge of Microsoft Office 365 applications
• Working knowledge of the UK General Data Protection Regulation and its practical implementation
• Previous experience in an education management, compliance, operations and/or data protection role
• Experience of working in a professional and high-paced environment
• Proven and well-developed interpersonal skills, including good communication both written and verbal.
• Good administrative skills with an excellent eye for to detail, including proof reading skills, with the ability to maintain a high level of accuracy
• Professional working ethic and a commitment to high standards
• Ability to ensure that confidentiality is maintained at all times
• Commitment to safeguarding and promoting welfare of children and young people
• Ability to work as part of a team building and maintain good working relationships with colleagues

Next Steps

If you have any questions about this opportunity, please contact careers@harrisfederation.org.uk to arrange a conversation with the Head of Compliance.

Before applying, please download the Job Pack for full details on the job responsibilities and person specification. You will need this when completing your application.

Please note: we may hold interviews as and when applications are received and we reserve the right to offer to a candidate prior to the closing date. We only accept applications submitted online via our careers website and which are completed before the closing deadline. With this in mind, we encourage you to apply as soon as possible and advise you check the job information as per the listing on our careers site.

Rewards & Benefits

Our people are at the heart of our success. We have developed a strong culture of collaboration and best practice, with professional development and career planning at its centre. We invest in our staff with support, coaching, mentoring, and a wide range of top-quality training programmes delivered at every level to senior leadership.

We look for talented individuals who share our vision for creating exceptional places of learning, and are committed to ensuring that every child in London has access to the best possible education.

In addition to the opportunities for career progression, training and development, we also offer a competitive rewards and benefits package which includes our Harris Allowance, a Performance and Loyalty Bonus, Pension Scheme, a Wellbeing Cash Plan and many other benefits.

We also operate a flexible hybrid working policy, details of which can be discussed at interview.

Safeguarding Notice

The Harris Federation and all our academies are committed to ensuring the highest levels of safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children, and we expect all our staff and volunteers to share in this commitment. All offers of employment are subject to an Enhanced DBS check, references, and where applicable, a prohibition from teaching check will be completed for all applicants. Before applying, please review our Policy Statement on the Recruitment of Ex-Offenders.

Equal Opportunities

The Harris Federation is an equal opportunities employer and welcomes applications from all suitably qualified candidates.

As a provider of employment and education, we value the diversity of our staff and students, and all our staff are equally valued and respected. We are committed to providing a fair, equitable and mutually supportive learning and working environment for our students and staff.