Eurofins Forensic Services (EFS) employs nearly 700 staff across 7 sites in the UK and is the largest private forensic service provider in Europe. All of our forensic analytical services are accredited to the ISO17025 international quality standard and are subject to regular review and scrutiny by the United Kingdom Accreditation Service (UKAS). We are part of Eurofins Scientific, which is an international life sciences company, providing a unique range of analytical testing services to clients across multiple industries, to make life and our environment safer, healthier and more sustainable. From the food you eat, to the water you drink, to the medicines you rely on, forensics, Eurofins laboratories work with the biggest companies in the world to ensure the products they supply are safe, their ingredients are authentic, and labelling is accurate. Eurofins is dedicated to delivering testing services that contribute to the health and safety of society and the planet, and to its corporate responsibility to protect the environment and ensure diversity, equity, and inclusion across the entire network of Eurofins companies.

In over 35 years, Eurofins has grown from one laboratory in Nantes, France to 61,000 staff across a decentralised and entrepreneurial network of ca. 900 laboratories in 61 countries. Eurofins companies offer a portfolio of over 200,000 analytical methods to evaluate the safety, identity, composition, authenticity, origin, traceability and purity of biological substances and products. In 2022, Eurofins generated total revenues of EUR 6.7 billion, and has been among the best performing stocks in Europe over the past 20 years.

Location:  UK – Feltham, Birchwood, Wakefield, Culham and Tamworth

Please note that travel to sites will be required, combined with hybrid working.

Contract:        Permanent

Hours:            37.5 hours per week (Full-time)

The Role

The Data Protection Officer will take the lead on all Data Protection matters for the Eurofins Forensic Business Lines.

The Data Protection Officer will be responsible for providing expert advice to the business lines and ensuring that Data protection best practices are implemented. 

Key Responsibilities and Accountabilities

• To ensure business lines in scope are compliant with GDPR/DPA and other relevant legislation where applicable.
• To act as the primary point of contact for customers, individuals and regulatory bodies e.g. ICO as required.
• The post holder will collaborate with the wider Eurofins Group on data protection matters and will act as the Privacy Lead.
• To be responsible for escalating and liaising on matters to regulatory bodies if and when required.
• Provide oversight, control and risk management for any data breaches when they occur.
• To develop, maintain and improve the data protection policies and processes.
• To establish and maintain a legal basis register and programme including developing clear data flow maps where required and identify data owners.
• To promote a culture of data protection culture within the business lines in scope.
• To provide training to business lines on data protection.
• To support the business lines in identifying required DPIA has and be responsible for final sign off.
• To support the business lines in completing appropriate responses to DSAR’s.
• To actively progress and maintain a programme of internal and customer/supplier audits.
• The post holder must be willing to travel to all sites within the Eurofins Forensics Business lines
• Undertake any other identified duties as required

The Ideal Candidate

The values on which Eurofins Forensic Services is founded are Customer Focus, Quality, Competence & Team Spirit and Integrity.

In addition, we require an individual with the following qualities:

• Work collaboratively with all Stakeholders.
• Attention to detailed focused with an ability to make informed decisions.
• A good communicator who is able to advocate and implement best security practice.
• A strong track record of upholding good customer relationships.

Knowledge, Experience and Technical Skills

It is essential that the post holder can demonstrate:
• They hold or are actively working towards at least one industry recognised data protection qualification e.g.
-    Certified Information Privacy Owner.
-    Certified Information Privacy Practitioner (CIPP/E).
-    Practitioner Certificate in Data Protection.
•    Expert knowledge of Data Protection Act 2018/ General Data Protection Regulation. 
•    Experience in implementing a Data Protection programme.

It is desirable that the post holder can demonstrate or be willing to achieve in a reasonable timeframe:
•    Awareness of Quality standards ISO17025,ISO17020, ISO9001,Forensic Science Regulators Code Of Practise
•    Awareness of Security Standards ISO27001/27002 /Cyber Essentials +.
•    Previous experience of handling high volumes of special category data in a clinical or Criminal Justice System capacity.

The post holder should have a valid UK driving licence or be willing to travel by other means to the EFS sites.

Company Benefits

In return for your hard work and loyal service, we will offer you genuine career and salary progression through our Career Pathways programme, a competitive salary, and a selection of employee benefits via our flexible benefits menu which includes cycle to work, give as you earn, buy and sell holiday. In addition, we also offer the following:

• Life Assurance (3 times annual salary)
• Scottish Widows Company Pension Plan
• 25 days annual leave plus bank holidays
• Perkbox membership providing access to discount vouchers and wellness hub
• Learning and study support
• Employee Assistance Programme
• Health Cash Plan membership
• Enhanced company sick pay scheme
• Refer a friend scheme
• Subscription to mental wellbeing support
• Free on-site car parking

Please note, benefits may differ for areas outside of the UK to comply with local legislation.

Important Notice for Candidates

Should the successful candidate be UK based, due to the highly sensitive nature of the work we undertake on-site, applicants should note that security clearance will be required for this role. To gain security clearance you must have five years continuous residency in the UK. Security clearance is undertaken by a third party to police personnel vetting standards (NPPV3 and SC), as such any criminal convictions may prevent you from gaining security clearance.

Further information on the security clearance process and requirement can be found at https://www.warwickshire.police.uk/police-forces/warwickshire-police/areas/warwickshire-police/about-us/about-us/police-national-vetting-service/.

In addition, all successful applicants will be required to undertake drug and alcohol testing prior to commencing employment.