Principal Technology Adviser

Principal Technology Adviser 

Fixed Term up to 18 months

Full time / Part time 

Salary:          £55,591 - £62,793 pa, with potential for further progression to £70,907 pa 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. Please note, from Autumn 2026 our head office will relocate from Wilmslow to Manchester city centre.  

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 . 

About us

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. 

Job Summary

The Technology Department is the ICO’s centre of technology policy and technical expertise. It specialises in developing novel policy and regulatory interventions in relation to new and emerging technologies. The department’s work is impactful and at the frontier technology and policy development. 

We are recruiting a Principal Technology Advisor (PTA) who will provide expert technical input to the ICO’s work on online tracking and advertising technologies (Adtech). Our Online Tracking Strategy outlines our current projects and areas of focus.

Job Description

Reporting to the Group Manager of the Online Tracking team, you will join a team of technology, policy and legal experts and lead our work on ensuring online tracking services and products comply with data protection law, respecting individuals’ rights and bringing wider benefits to society and the economy.

You will help the ICO respond to the use of these technologies by providing expert insight into how they work, how they are used, and the impact they can have. You will be able to assess other emerging technologies (for example Privacy Enhancing Technologies) enabling you to join the dots between a range of technological developments and their effect on society and the wider economy.

You may have relevant experience in the adtech industry with publishers, advertisers or wider parts of the supply chain.

You will enjoy substantial autonomy, often working directly with more senior colleagues, including members of the ICO Executive and Senior Leadership Teams, and will regularly provide advice and expertise in internal briefings and at external events and meetings. You may also work directly with external researchers or technologists, and industry for as part of this role.

Key responsibilities:

• As Principal Technology Advisor for Online Tracking you will have the following specific responsibilities:
• Provide expert input on the development and use of online tracking technologies. For example, contributing technical analysis to internal reports or policy papers.
• Anticipate and analyse future technological, political, social, legal developments in online tracking that impact on information rights, with a particular focus on the use of technologies in the adtech industry.
• Research, monitor and investigate the domain, keeping abreast of developments and their potential impact on information rights and the ICO. This will include technical reports that will inform ICO positions and engagements with legislators and industry. 
• Lead forward-looking policy initiatives making a tangible contribution to shaping the information rights agenda and ensure the ICO engages with key technology decision makers, designers and influencers in the UK and internationally.
• Develop relationships with key actors in the field and ensure the ICO has a credible voice in discussions concerning the use of technologies to deliver personalised services and adtech, seeking opportunities to positively influence and change behaviours and practices. This may include industry trade bodies, for example. 
• 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.
• Communicate complex technology policy issues to both technical and non-technical audiences. For example, supporting our investigation colleagues undertake their work.  

Person specification 

Essential criteria assessed at application stage:

• Substantial experience relevant to the role requirements, as described in the role responsibilities, and accumulated through any combination of academic or vocational qualifications or experience.
• Experience of working in a technology and/or digital focused environment, ideally with relevant privacy and regulatory elements.
• Experience of leading successful projects from concept to sign-off.
• Excellent analytical and research skills demonstrating an ability to identify emerging technology trends, developments, and issues.
• Ability to prioritise and mange competing workloads and priorities.

Essential criteria assessed during interview:

• Experience of leading successful projects from concept to sign-off.
• Expert knowledge of tracking and personalisation technologies, the technical and research landscape, principles and practices, and industry developments in the adtech space
• Excellent analytical and research skills demonstrating an ability to identify emerging technology trends, developments, and issues.
• A strong desire and aptitude to continually develop technical knowledge, skills and abilities as online tracking technology evolves.
• Excellent written communication skills, including the ability to analyse complex information and legislation, and to formulate clear and persuasive arguments for a range of audiences.
• Excellent verbal communication and presentation skills and an ability to represent the ICO with a range of stakeholders.
• The ability to use good judgement and problem-solving skills in order to take sound and potentially high-profile decisions.
• Ability to prioritise and mange competing workloads and priorities.
• 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 issues.
• Ability to prioritise and mange competing workloads and priorities.

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 [email protected]

Closing Date 

Please submit your CV and cover letter detailing your suitability to the role by 23:59, Sunday 31 August 2025  

We reserve the right to close this vacancy before this date should we receive sufficient applications. Please apply as soon as possible to ensure your application is considered.