Position Details
Legal Services
Location: University of Birmingham, Edgbaston, Birmingham UK
Full time starting salary £30,062 to £31,900, with potential progression to £35,883
Grade: 5
Full Time, Permanent
Closing date: 21st June 2026
Role Summary
We are looking for a talented and enthusiastic individual to join our well‑established and highly regarded team, and welcome applications from individuals with, and without, legal qualifications.
The role primarily supports compliance work in the areas of freedom of information, data protection, freedom of speech and records management, and includes some administration.
- Ensure consistently high levels of compliance with GDPR (including SAR), FOIA, and other relevant legislation.
- Advise on the application of GDPR, FOIA and other legislation in a higher education context.
- Embed and continuously improve GDPR and FOIA compliance across the institution, including the University’s ROPA, DAR, Data Retention Policy, and related statutory requirements.
- Work with Professional Services and Academic departments to manage the University’s records, ensuring data and information are appropriately managed, stored, accessible and retrievable; draft and develop frameworks, policies and procedures where necessary.
- Develop and support regular training and knowledge dissemination on data protection and records management best practice.
Main Duties
The successful applicant will report to the Head of Information Compliance and Data Management.
Key duties include:
- Draft, enhance, implement, monitor and report on effective compliance practices in relation to GDPR, FOIA and records management across the University, collaborating with stakeholders to promote compliance.
- Review and draft responses to Freedom of Information and Subject Access Requests, ensuring statutory deadlines are met.
- Support Legal Services with data protection and other statutory matters including freedom of speech.
- Identify and solve legal and practical problems, proactively reducing potential risk or liability to the University.
- Provide clear and concise explanations of legal issues to non‑legally qualified members at all levels, and deliver training on statutory compliance.
- Exercise judgement to answer queries and direct work within parameters set by management, resolving more complex queries independently when appropriate.
- Manage small projects on own initiative, carrying out desk research and sourcing data from internal and external sources.
- Use complex University systems and processes to research, analyse and interpret data, producing bespoke reports and resolving issues with data.
- Support the management, development and implementation of operational processes and systems.
- Proactively manage time and caseload, balancing competing priorities and keeping matters on track.
- Be willing to acquire new skills and cover for other team members as appropriate.
Person Specification
The successful applicant should possess:
- Education to A‑Level standard or equivalent, with a minimum of grade C in Mathematics and English at GCSE or equivalent. Previous paralegal or legal executive experience, preferably in data protection or regulatory/compliance, is advantageous.
- Proven ability to plan ahead, anticipate requirements, manage concurrent workloads, and maintain high attention to detail while meeting deadlines.
- Strong written communication skills, including the ability to write for different audiences with accurate spelling, grammar, punctuation and document presentation.
- Highly proficient IT skills, especially complex electronic diaries, email, MS Office (Word, Teams, Excel, PowerPoint); ability to learn new software quickly.
- Interpersonal skills with a proven ability to build effective partnerships and collaborate.
- Excellent oral communication and presentation skills, with confidence and presence in meetings with senior stakeholders.
- Flexibility, pragmatism and resilience; able to work effectively under pressure and deliver to targets.
- High professionalism, tact and diplomacy; discretion regarding sensitive information or issues.
- Willingness to acquire new skills and learn about statutory compliance within the University.
- Commitment to promote and adhere to the University’s agreed values and the Executive Division.
Benefits
• 40 days paid holiday per year (including Bank Holidays and University closed days)• Occupational sick pay• Pension scheme (superannuation)• Cycle to work scheme• On‑site nurseries• Access to sports & fitness facilities and cultural/social activities
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