Principal Technology Adviser - Identity and Trust

Key responsibilities:

• Provide in-depth advice on technology projects and support the development of information rights policy generally as required.
• Build strong relationships within the ICO and translate technical insights into impactful actions.
• Support the ICO’s supervisory functions for qualified status of trust service providers under UK eIDAS.
• Provide strategic advice to the Commissioner and his senior leadership team, including the delivery of timely and high-quality briefings. 
• Keep up with developments in online trust and their implications for information rights such as: interoperability and technical standards, fraud and security risks and mitigations, or usability and inclusivity considerations for identity management.
• Develop relationships with key stakeholders and represent the ICO in technical discussions, conferences, and meetings with technical bodies and interest groups. 
• Represent the ICO in situations where expert advice or guidance is needed, eg meeting senior technical representative bodies and information rights interest groups, speaking at conferences, etc.

Person specification 

Essential criteria assessed at application stage:

• Substantial experience relevant to the role requirements, as described in the role responsibilities and person specification, and accumulated through any combination of academic or vocational qualifications or experience
• Good knowledge of cryptographic concepts enabled by PKI ( Encryption, digital signatures, authentication, non-repudiation).
• Up to date knowledge of current trends and practices in system architecture for digital identity or trust services 
• Ability to apply technical standards or legislative requirements to the development and application of information and communications technologies
• A strong desire and aptitude to continually develop technical knowledge, skills and abilities as technology evolves

Essential criteria assessed during interview:

• Excellent analytical and research skills demonstrating an ability to identify emerging technology trends, developments and related issues
• Excellent verbal communication and presentation skills including the ability to explain technical matters to a non- technical audience
• Strong interpersonal skills including the ability to build and maintain good working relationships, both internally and externally
• Excellent standard of literacy and effective written communication skills for producing reports, documenting research findings, writing letters and meeting notes
• Ability to deal with a demanding workload which may include conflicting demands on time
• Ability to travel to meetings and events in the UK and overseas (possibly outside office hours)