Principal Technology Advisor –eIDAS & Digital Identity

With a background in Public Key Infrastructure, you will bring a technical understanding of the role played by cryptography and certificate authorities in ensuring trusted identities in internet transactions. This may be from involvement in trust services in specific contexts, (ie internet banking, secure messaging services or internet of things), or from a wider consideration of PKI related policies and standards.
You may have relevant experience in digital identity and trust services, such as the current state of the art for qualified trust services, or the direction of travel of digital identity services.
You will be focused on helping shape the future of UK digital identity services that respect and uphold the rights of citizens.
The Information Commissioner’s Office (ICO) is the independent regulator of information rights. In a data-driven world, we provide advice, guidance, and support to organisations enabling compliance with their obligations, as well as protecting individuals and their personal data.
As an employer, we are passionate about making a positive difference to the lives and careers of our people, and we empower you to be curious, impactful, collaborative and respectful., The Technology Department sits within the Regulatory Risk Directorate is the ICO’s centre of technical expertise. The department specialises in new and emerging technologies and their impact on information rights. The Department’s work is high-impact, complex, and at the frontier of advanced technology and policy development. Reporting to the Group Manager of the Identity and Trust team, you will provide expert technical input to the ICO’s work on trust and identity frameworks., + Increase the ICO’s technical capabilities to ensure legislative requirements for the UK’s eIDAS scheme are met. This includes working with the ICO’s eIDAS technical advisor to assess conformance assessments for Trust Service Providers applying to the UK scheme and providing post assessment monitoring and supervision.
+ Keep up with developments in digital identity 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.
+ Maintain up to date knowledge of best practices and industry trends in relation to trust services and digital identity.
+ Develop relationships with key stakeholders and represent the ICO in technical discussions, conferences, and meetings with technical bodies and interest group regarding eIDAS and digital identity.
+ Build strong relationships within the ICO and translate technical insights into impactful actions.
+ Provide in-depth advice on technology projects and support the development of information rights policy generally as required.
+ Understand relevant legislation and broader developments that impact information rights

+ 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 (hashes, asymmetric cryptography, digital signatures and encryption).
+ Up to date knowledge of current trends and practices in system architecture for digital identity or trust services (such as digital signatures, electronic timestamps,
+ Ability to apply technical standards or legislative requirements to the development and application of information and communications technologies
Essential criteria assessed during interview:
+ 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)
+ 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
+ A strong desire and aptitude to continually develop technical knowledge, skills and abilities as technology evolves, Successful candidates must undergo a criminal record check.
People working with government assets must complete baseline personnel security standard (opens in new window) checks.

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.

Salary: Salary: £55,591 - £62,974, with potential for further progression to £70,907 with our pay progression scheme.
Location: Hybrid
Contracted to our Wilmslow, London, Edinburgh, Cardiff or Belfast office, however, we offer flexible home and office-based working opportunities. 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 ., Alongside your salary of £55,591, Information Commissioner's Office contributes £16,104 towards you being a member of the Civil Service Defined Benefit Pension scheme. Find out what benefits a Civil Service Pension provides., 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.