Group Data Protection Officer
The Group Data Protection Officer executes data governance policies and procedures. He/She ensures the Data Protection Act is implemented and enforced within the respective teams and users within the organisation. He partners with business and project teams to support business objectives and strategies and align them with the organisations’s data protection guidelines and policies. He directs a team of professionals and third-party vendors or service providers towards reaching organisational goals in accordance with the data governance and data protection policies. He manages risks and data breach incidents. The Group Data Protection Officer is an expert in local and regional data protection practices and legislative requirements, as well as the Personal Data Protection Act 2012. He also provides expert advice to the organisation on the potential implications of data protection on the organisation’s policies, procedures and projects. The Group Data Protection Officer is an expert in understanding the nuances data protection laws, and keeps abreast of the changing landscape to be able to advise and guide the organisation towards compliance. He is an expert in communicating across cultures and domains, and is able to drive the organisation’s data protection culture.
What Does a Group Data Protection Officer Do?
Key Responsibilities & Tasks
Ensure organisation’s compliance to Personal Data Protection Act (PDPA)
- Drive the development of the organisation’s regional Data Protection Management Programme (DPMP)
- Endorse the organisation’s data protection policies and DPMP
- Oversee the assignment of roles and responsibilities to ensure compliance with the PDPA
- Oversee data transfer activities and provide advice on personal data protection law in other countries
- Establish a group and/or regional-level data governance strategy, and audit and compliance strategy to strengthen internal controls
- Advise on data ethics and data governance, and facilitate business functions in their strategic utilisation of data assets to generate business value for the organisation
- Inform and advise on data protection laws and the organisation’s policies
Manage risks associated with collection, use, disclosure and storage of personal data
- Oversee measures for the safeguarding of data protection for internal data sources
- Develop remediation actions to minimise the risk of personal data protection breach, and managing data breach incidents at group/regional level
- Commission the conduct of Data Protection Impact Assessments (DPIA)
- Approve the DPIA plan and proposed action plans and solutions arising from the DPIA
- Develop strategies and guidelines on ethical data collection and usage practices
- Establish guidelines for cloud and on-site storage practices that would ensure protection of data from threats
Manage data breaches
- Evaluate the organisation’s response to the data breach incident
- Oversee the conduct of investigations into data breaches
- Lead in public communication of data breaches to regulatory authorities and stakeholders
Drive awareness of PDPA requirements in the organisation
- Champion the organisation’s data protection culture
- Act as a subject matter expert in cross-border data protection compliance
- Collaborate with regional offices to ensure compliance with cross border data protection requirements
- Manage the assignment of responsibilities to deliver compliance with data protection laws and policies of the organisation
- Formulate strategies and standards on due diligence policies and frameworks for the entire organisation
Handle queries, complaints and disputes on the organisation’s management of personal data
- Oversee requests for disclosure of data to public agencies, courts, and law enforcement agencies
- Represent the organisation in cross-border disputes relating to data protection
- Act as the point of contact for International and Regional Regulations that govern Data Protection and Privacy
- Oversee the necessary safeguard measures for data protection for the internal data sources
Advise on data innovation projects in the organisation
- Determine the need to value the organisation’s data to gain competitive advantage
- Generate potential use cases of data form the ecosystem the organisation operates in
- Keep abreast of evolving data innovation needs and expectations and its impact on the organisation
- Explore new ways to harness data in delivering innovative products and/or services
- Formulate data protection and privacy strategies during the entire data-related product development lifecycle
Manage people and organisation
- Review operational strategies, policies and targets across teams and projects
- Develop strategies for resource planning and utilisation
- Review the utilisation of resources
- Oversee the development of learning roadmaps for teams and functions
- Establish performance indicators to benchmark effectiveness of learning and development programmes against best practices
- Implement succession planning initiatives for key management positions
Do You Have the Skills for This Role?
A Group Data Protection Officer needs 5 core competencies. Here's what's required and at what level.
Must-Have Skills (Advanced)
Collaboration
AdvancedInteracting with Others
Developing People
AdvancedInteracting with Others
Self Management
AdvancedStaying Relevant
Learning Agility
AdvancedStaying Relevant
Communication
AdvancedInteracting with Others
SkillsFuture Skill Levels
3 levelsBasic
Recognise and understand fundamental concepts. Apply skills in routine situations with guidance.
Intermediate
Apply skills in varied situations independently. Analyse problems and adapt approaches as needed.
Advanced
Lead and innovate in complex situations. Evaluate strategies, guide teams, and drive improvements.
Technical Skills & Competencies (TSC) Levels
6 levelsFollow
Carry out routine tasks under close supervision. Follow established procedures and guidelines.
Assist
Perform tasks with some independence. Assist in non-routine situations and apply established techniques.
Apply
Apply skills and knowledge independently in varied situations. Analyse problems and adapt approaches.
Analyse
Analyse complex situations and develop solutions. Guide and mentor junior colleagues.
Strategise
Set strategic direction and drive innovation. Evaluate trade-offs and make high-impact decisions.
Transform
Lead industry transformation. Establish standards, shape policy, and provide expert advisory.
Technical Skills & Competencies
A Group Data Protection Officer requires 22 technical skills at specific proficiency levels.
Data Governance
Level 6Governance and Compliance
Establish policies for data security and usage, facilitate industry consensus around data ethics, and provide expert advice on data transfer across geographies
Audit and Compliance
Level 5Governance and Compliance
Establish audit and compliance strategy and objectives for the organisation, ensuring robustness of internal controls are strengthened
Budgeting
Level 5Business Finance
Develop long-term financial plans and budget requirements
Business Agility
Level 5Business and Project Management
Adapt overall processes and create a working environment of business agility
Business Negotiation
Level 5Business Development
Manage and direct negotiations and refining negotiation policies
Business Performance Management
Level 5General Management
Formulate organisational performance systems and key performance indicators in alignment with organisation’s vision, mission and values
Business Risk Management
Level 5Business and Project Management
Critically evaluate, review and drive organisation-wide risk mitigation and management initiatives
Crisis Management
Level 5Business and Project Management
Direct the management of crisis situations
Cyber and Data Breach Incident Management
Level 5Operations and User Support
Formulate incident response strategies and direct teams in the remediation, resolution, communication and post-mortem of large-scale, unpredictable cyber and data incidents
Data Ethics
Level 5Governance and Compliance
Formulate the organisation’s code of ethics, systems and processes to ensure adherence to professional, legal and ethical requirements for data usage
Data Protection Management
Level 5Governance and Compliance
Formulate the organisation’s data protection strategy and ensure effectiveness of Data Protection Management Programme (DPMP)
Data Sharing
Level 5Governance and Compliance
Evaluate the net worth of the organisation’s data to achieve organisational and business goals
Design Thinking Practice
Level 5Design and Architecture
Establish effective design thinking processes, methodologies and frameworks to proliferate design thinking across the organisation
IT Standards
Level 5Governance and Compliance
Set guidelines for IT-related activities in alignment with relevant service, quality and global industry standards
Learning and Development
Level 5People Development
Drive employee developmental programmes in alignment to business needs
Manpower Planning
Level 5Business and Project Management
Formulate organisational manpower plans to bridge gaps between manpower demand and supply based on current and projected needs of the organisation
Networking
Level 5Business Development
Implementing strategies to capitalise on new business opportunities
People and Performance Management
Level 5People Development
Establish organisation-wide performance management strategies
Project Management
Level 5Business and Project Management
Lead end-to-end management of large programmes or multiple projects concurrently, coordinating project interdependencies
Stakeholder Management
Level 5Stakeholder and Contract Management
Define a strategic stakeholder management roadmap, and lead critical discussions and negotiations, addressing escalated issues or problems encountered
Strategy Planning
Level 5Business and Project Management
Formulate the strategies and policies that are forward- looking and focuses on bottom line results
Strategy Implementation
Level 4Strategy Planning and Implementation
Evaluate strategies for critical business functions to ensure plans are realistic and reflect health of business
European Skills Framework
ESCOSkills and knowledge areas required for this occupation based on European classification.
Essential
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