Data Protection Officer

About Us

Here at Travel Counsellors, our customers, communities and colleagues lie at the heart of everything that we do - and that’s what makes us special. For us, relationships come before transactions, and we are there for our customers, connecting with them on a deeply human level through the moments that matter.

We’ve been changing lives for over 28 years as the leading travel marketplace for self-employed travel entrepreneurs, empowering over 1,900 global independent travel agents to run successful leisure and corporate travel businesses. We pride ourselves in remaining a company that truly cares and one that has never wavered from its purpose; to redefine what personal means for a travel business.

Our Travel Counsellors are supported by a team of over 250 super talented people in our Support Offices to help them create unique, inspiring, and exciting experiences for their customers, building lasting personal relationships that brings them back to us, time and time again.

Our unique approach within the workplace – as well as towards customers – has seen us receive numerous awards and accolades, including being named as The Best Place to Work in Travel at the 2022 TTG Travel Industry Awards, as well as being the first travel company to be awarded the Queen’s Award for Enterprise in the Innovation category!

We are currently expanding at a phenomenal rate – on the back of what is our record year in terms of revenue (over £800m) and so are looking for like-minded individuals to join our dedicated Head Office team, to help the company continue to flourish.

Main duties and responsibilities:

This is a new and critical role for Travel Counsellors. We operate internationally in the following territories: United Kingdom, Ireland, the Netherlands, Belgium, UAE and South Africa.

As the Data Protection Officer for Travel Counsellors you will be responsible formonitoring compliance and maintaining effective systems and controls to enable the company to comply with the Data Protection Act 2018, the UK and EU General Data Protection Regulations and other applicable data protection legislation (Data Protection Legislation).

Based on its current activities, Travel Counsellors is not legally obliged to recruit a Data Protection Officer but has decided to do so voluntarily.

This role reports into the Group General Counsel & Company Secretary. The Data Protection Officer will also work closely with the Legal and Information Security teams.

• Serve as the focal point for all activities within Travel Counsellors relating to data protection. Support business activities with risk-based advice.

• Set standards and create policies and procedures globally that meet requirements under Data Protection Legislation.

• Implement and maintain effective systems and controls to manage compliance with Data Protection Legislation.

• Monitor compliance with Data Protection Legislation and the company’s data protection policies and procedures.

• Maintain an accountability framework in line with ICO guidance.

• Regularly update and interface with the executive board.

• Conduct colleague and Travel Counsellor training.

• Advance a culture of data protection awareness at all levels within the organisation and the Travel Counsellor community.

• Conduct internal audits.

• Advise on new business projects involving personal data and support with data protection impact assessments.

• Respond to and advise on data subject rights requests, including implementing processes for appropriate logging and tracking.

• Serve as the primary point of contact and liaison for the ICO and other relevant data protection authorities.

• Identify best practice in order to mitigate risk and make recommendations for continuous improvement.

• Working with the Information Security team, devise and implement appropriate processes for detecting, managing, recording and reporting on actual or suspected data security breaches.

• Review supplier contracts (including standard contractual clauses for data transfers) and other third party data processing and data sharing arrangements in partnership with the Legal team.

• Monitor changes to Data Protection Legislation, advising the company accordingly.

• Ensuring filing and fee requirements with local data protection authorities are achieved

• Work with external legal advisers to advise on data privacy law outside of the EU.

Skills and Experience required:

• University degree 2.1 or above; CIPP/E Certification

• Significant experience of the practical application of Data Protection Legislation from the ground up gained in previous DPO roles in other large data-driven organisations (preferably international in scope). Sound knowledge of information technology to enable effective communication and partnership with the IT team. Experience of working within a Legal function is preferable.

• Proficient in Microsoft Office, PowerPoint and Excel.

• Experience in managing and influencing multiple stakeholders, globally, and comfortable working with C-level executives and private equity representatives.

• Able to work in an agile, high pressured environment and can respond quickly to stakeholder needs.

• Ability to exercise professional leadership and influence change.

• Strong project management skills.

• Commercially aware with a solutions-focused pragmatic approach.

• Excellent communicator with the confidence and credibility to gain the respect of the business and develop strong relationships.

• Excellent writing and presentation skills with a strong attention to detail.

• Team player.

• Highly organised, self-sufficient, and able to prioritise and providetimely responses in a fast-moving environment.

• Adaptable and flexible.

• Seeks to find new and better ways of doing things.

To be successful in this roleyou will be:

• You will be a role model for our business values, using your personality and behaviours, to maintain integrity and a can-do attitude 

• You will have a willingness to go the extra mile and always strive to seek job satisfaction

• You will have the ability to think digitally as we continue to evolve as a digital first business, and that means we need you to have the right knowledge, skills and appetite to effectively use digital systems to support delivery of an efficient, robust finance environment. 

• You always bring your authentic self to work 

• You pride yourself on building loyal and mutual trusting relationships with colleagues, TCs and supplier partners 

• You will respect and value diversity, creating an environment that is inclusive of all 

• You will be focused on your own personal development as well as the future of our business, contributing new and innovate ideas and ways of working 

• You actively seek out opportunities and find meaningfulness at work 

• You will not be afraid to use your voice to challenge or reinforce the status quo, guided by our values and behaviours

• Highly motivated, ambitious, driven by success and comfortable working towards targets

In return you will receivethe following benefits:

• A competitive basic salary + annual company bonus

• Flexible hybrid working model (2 days home, 3 days office)

• Career development and promotional opportunities

• 25 days holidays (increasing to 28 after 5 years of service)

• A Moments That Matter day (annually)

• Enhanced Maternity / Paternity pay

• Holiday buy and sell

• 3 paid days charity leave

• Company events, socials, and incentives

• 3 x death in service

• Company Pension scheme

• Costco Membership

• Salary sacrifice, company car scheme

• Free breakfast, fruit, and hot/cold beverages

• Referral scheme

• Employee discount