London, Wilmslow
Job Summary
Equality, Diversity and Inclusion Business Partner – Maternity cover fixed term contract up to 12 months
Full time / Part time
Salary: £57,815 - £65,021 per annum
Location: Hybrid
Contracted to our Wilmslow or London office. We will be relocating our Wilmslow office to Manchester city centre from 28 September 2026. Once the move takes place your contracted head office will be Circle Square, Manchester. Through hybrid working we offer flexible home and office-based working opportunities and there will be times when you will be expected to attend the office to collaborate with colleagues or travel due to business need.
Why work for the ICO?
- 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 (employer contribution around 28.9%).
- 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 website .
Job Description
As a talented and strategic Business Partner, you will be responsible for leading and driving the delivery of our organisational EDI objectives and our overall approach to Inclusion and Wellbeing.
Job Description
Providing subject-matter expertise to enable delivery, you will be a credible and strategic partner, drawing on your technical and experiential know-how and insights to ensure effective delivery of our EDI objectives and that all of our work is aligned to our overall strategy and vision with respect to EDI.
An inspirational leader, you will own the overall delivery of your area and team, managing programmes of work through to completion and evaluating the impact and outcome
As part of the People Services Extended Management Team, you will collaborate with the other People Services departments to ensure work is joined up and co-created to successfully deliver people programmes and will provide leadership to the whole directorate as part of the extended management team.
Key Responsibilities
- Contribute to the strategic leadership of the People Services directorate, and the wider ICO, by ensuring that plans and objectives are established and implemented that deliver our EDI objectives.
- Design, build and implement EDI training interventions for all ICO colleagues to build and embed an inclusive culture.
- Develop a suite of EDI tools to support the implementation of our strategy and devolved model of responsibility.
- Analyse and interpret EDI reporting and targets achieved in line with agreed measures on overall representation, and our EDI objectives.
- Chair the EDI Steering Group, using the feedback and insight from the group to support the EDI Board and its development and implementation of the EDI strategy, targets and measures to support the ICO’s overall delivery
- Lead and coordinate the ICO’s Speak‑Up Champions network, acting as the primary point of contact and ensuring volunteers are supported to effectively guide and assist colleagues experiencing bullying, harassment and discrimination.
- Partner with the EDI Networks to provide feedback on interventions and where we could achieve a diverse and inclusive working environment for all.
- Keep up to date with developments across ICO departments and functions and be knowledgeable about the work of the organisation in order to understand the implications for EDI.
- Ensure that ICO leaders, people managers and people receive effective and appropriate advice and support on EDI related matters.
- Support embedding the ICO’s values into organisational processes and practices.
- Provide effective leadership to the Inclusion and Wellbeing team, ensuring that they are clear about expected standards of performance, motivated and developed to deliver on time, with professional services, plans and initiatives.
- Work with senior leaders and managers within the directorate to continually review and monitor progress against the People Plan and objectives.
- Manage and monitor contracts between the ICO and external suppliers for relevant services, ensuring value for money and high standards are consistently delivered.
- Deliver compliance with legislative, regulatory, financial and governmental reporting requirements within the EDI function.
As a talented and strategic Business Partner, you will be responsible for leading and driving the delivery of our organisational EDI objectives and our overall approach to Inclusion and Wellbeing.
Key Responsibilities
- Contribute to the strategic leadership of the People Services directorate, and the wider ICO, by ensuring that plans and objectives are established and implemented that deliver our EDI objectives.
- Design, build and implement EDI training interventions for all ICO colleagues to build and embed an inclusive culture.
- Develop a suite of EDI tools to support the implementation of our strategy and devolved model of responsibility.
- Analyse and interpret EDI reporting and targets achieved in line with agreed measures on overall representation, and our EDI objectives.
- Chair the EDI Steering Group, using the feedback and insight from the group to support the EDI Board and its development and implementation of the EDI strategy, targets and measures to support the ICO’s overall delivery
- Lead and coordinate the ICO’s Speak‑Up Champions network, acting as the primary point of contact and ensuring volunteers are supported to effectively guide and assist colleagues experiencing bullying, harassment and discrimination.
- Partner with the EDI Networks to provide feedback on interventions and where we could achieve a diverse and inclusive working environment for all.
- Keep up to date with developments across ICO departments and functions and be knowledgeable about the work of the organisation in order to understand the implications for EDI.
- Ensure that ICO leaders, people managers and people receive effective and appropriate advice and support on EDI related matters.
- Support embedding the ICO’s values into organisational processes and practices.
- Provide effective leadership to the Inclusion and Wellbeing team, ensuring that they are clear about expected standards of performance, motivated and developed to deliver on time, with professional services, plans and initiatives.
- Work with senior leaders and managers within the directorate to continually review and monitor progress against the People Plan and objectives.
- Manage and monitor contracts between the ICO and external suppliers for relevant services, ensuring value for money and high standards are consistently delivered.
- Deliver compliance with legislative, regulatory, financial and governmental reporting requirements within the EDI function.
Person specification
Essential Criteria Assessed At Application Stage:
- Significant experience in Human Resources or Programme Management, preferably in a unionised environment
- Experience of consulting, influencing and engaging leadership on EDI, and or HR initiatives
- Strategic thinking and implementation of EDI theory, application, legislation and policy across the UK
- Experience of leading a holistic approach to Wellbeing which focuses on awareness, prevention and sustainable recovery
Essential Criteria Assessed During Interview:
- A high level of self-awareness, emotional intelligence and aptitude for conflict resolution and dealing with sensitive issues
- Strategic thinking and implementation of EDI theory, application, legislation and policy across the UK
- Excellent project management skills to lead initiatives from planning to implementation and the ability to meet deadlines and prioritise work
- Excellent facilitation, presentation, training delivery and coaching skills, with the ability to adapt style and delivery approach to meet the needs of the audience
- Ability to take complex information and provide clear advice to the relevant stakeholders
- Proven ability to seek out, manage and influence opportunities for continuous improvement and change.
Equality, diversity, and inclusion The ICO is committed to promoting and enhancing equality, diversity, and inclusion. We are focused on developing a workforce that is representative of the communities we serve and together we are building an inclusive workplace where all of our colleagues have the opportunity to make a real difference. We are championing this through our Equality Diversity and Inclusion Board together with a number of staff networks. Read more about our commitment on our website.
Candidates with a disability who meet the minimum criteria for this vacancy will be invited to interview as part of the ICO’s commitment to the Disability Confident Scheme.
As part of the ICO’s commitment to our EDI objectives and creating a workplace that represents the communities and societies we serve, we guarantee an interview to candidates who declare they identify as belonging from an ethnic minority background and who meet the minimum criteria for this vacancy
If you are disabled or have an impairment and require an alternative application method, please email the HR team at recruitment@ico.org.uk
Alongside your salary of £57,815, Information Commissioner's Office contributes £16,749 towards you being a member of the Civil Service Defined Benefit Pension scheme. Find out what benefits a Civil Service Pension provides.
Please visit ico.jobs for full details, including salary and benefits.
Artificial intelligence
Artificial intelligence can be a useful tool to support your application, however, all examples and statements provided must be truthful, factually accurate and taken directly from your own experience. Where plagiarism has been identified (presenting the ideas and experiences of others, or generated by artificial intelligence, as your own) applications may be withdrawn and internal candidates may be subject to disciplinary action. Please see our candidate guidance (opens in a new window) for more information on appropriate and inappropriate use.
Selection process details
Please submit your CV and cover letter by
23:59 on Sunday 10th May 2026 Your cover letter should be no more than 1,000 words and should clearly demonstrate how you meet the essential criteria for the role.
We may close this vacancy early if we receive a high volume of applications. To ensure your application is considered, we encourage you to apply as soon as possible. If you require any reasonable adjustments to support your application, please contact us at recruitment@ico.org.uk.
In the event of a high volume of applications, we may not be able to invite all candidates who meet the minimum criteria to interview. However, we encourage you stay in touch and apply for future roles that match your interests.
All candidates who meet the minimum criteria and apply in-line with our guaranteed interview scheme for disabled and ethnic minority applicants will be interviewed.
Feedback will only be provided if you attend an interview or assessment.
Security
Successful candidates must undergo a criminal record check.
People working with government assets must complete baseline personnel security standard (opens in new window) checks.
Successful candidates must undergo a criminal record check.
People working with government assets must complete baseline personnel security standard (opens in new window) checks.
Medical
Successful candidates will be expected to have a medical.
Nationality requirements
This Job Is Broadly Open To The Following Groups:
- UK nationals
- nationals of the Republic of Ireland
- nationals of Commonwealth countries who have the right to work in the UK
- nationals of the EU, Switzerland, Norway, Iceland or Liechtenstein and family members of those nationalities with settled or pre-settled status under the European Union Settlement Scheme (EUSS) (opens in a new window)
- nationals of the EU, Switzerland, Norway, Iceland or Liechtenstein and family members of those nationalities who have made a valid application for settled or pre-settled status under the European Union Settlement Scheme (EUSS)
- individuals with limited leave to remain or indefinite leave to remain who were eligible to apply for EUSS on or before 31 December 2020
- Turkish nationals, and certain family members of Turkish nationals, who have accrued the right to work in the Civil Service
Further information on nationality requirements (opens in a new window)
Working for the Civil Service
Please note this Post is NOT regulated by the Civil Service Commission.
The Civil Service embraces diversity and promotes equal opportunities. As such, we run a Disability Confident Scheme (DCS) for candidates with disabilities who meet the minimum selection criteria.
Please note this Post is NOT regulated by the Civil Service Commission.
The Civil Service embraces diversity and promotes equal opportunities. As such, we run a Disability Confident Scheme (DCS) for candidates with disabilities who meet the minimum selection criteria.
Diversity and Inclusion
The Civil Service is committed to attract, retain and invest in talent wherever it is found. To learn more please see the Civil Service People Plan (opens in a new window) and the Civil Service Diversity and Inclusion Strategy (opens in a new window).
Once this job has closed, the job advert will no longer be available. You may want to save a copy for your records.
Contact point for applicants
Job Contact :
- Name : recruitment@ico.org.uk
- Email : recruitment@ico.org.uk
Recruitment team
- Email : recruitment@ico.org.uk
Further information
https://ico.wd3.myworkdayjobs.com/en-US/ICO/details/Equality--Diversity-and-Inclusion-Business-Partner_JR740
