Data Rights Manager

The Data Rights Manager is central to the Group’s commitment to protecting personal data and complying with the UK GDPR, the Data Protection Act 2018 and evolving legislation, including the Data Use and Access Act 2025. The person in post will support the delivery of a robust, evolving data protection compliance programme regulated by the Information Commission and aligned to the Group’s values.

The role holder will lead a specialist team responsible for receiving, verifying and responding to data protection rights requests from customers and their representatives, ensuring all requests are managed accurately and within strict statutory timeframes. Effective workload management and oversight will be essential to maintaining service quality and regulatory compliance.

This role will also oversee complex and highly sensitive information requests from employees, former employees, contractors and applicants. The role holder will ensure investigations and responses are handled with empathy, professionalism and discretion, supporting the team through challenging and often contentious cases.

As a key part of the Group’s personal data risk management framework, this role will identify emerging trends, provide regular reporting and empower the team to research and resolve complex issues. By doing so, the role protects the Group from regulatory action, financial penalties, reputational damage and loss of trust.

This role can operate from either our Head Office campus in Binley, Coventry or our Manchester office but as a Group role, travel to both locations will be required. A team-led hybrid working arrangement is in place.

For this role you’ll need to have:

• You’ll have current or recent leadership experience from a regulated environment, ideally financial services.
• Sound knowledge of the UK’s data protection regime and an understanding of where the UK fits in comparison to the overall European data protection context.
• GDPR / SARs legislation experience.
• Strong attention to detail, written and verbal communication skills.
• Strong decision making skills that affect individuals and companies as a whole.
• Good awareness of the risks and consequences of unlawful disclosure of personal data.
• Ability to review large documents containing technical language, to digest and share that information in an appropriate manner.
• Proven experience in providing advice, guidance, and support to other parts of the business to make sure data protection obligations are met.
• The ability to create and maintain process documentation and MI, ensuring that decisions are made in a consistent and defensible manner.

Experience in these areas would be helpful:

• Financial Services background

In 2025, Coventry Building Society purchased The Co-operative Bank. Bringing together our purpose-led building society with the UK’s original ethical bank was the start of an exciting journey.

Trusted by over four million people, we’re a mutually owned business free from shareholders, and with our combined experience of almost 300 years, our ethics and dedication will continue to guide us. Together, we have shared values and an ethical approach towards our members, customers and colleagues.

We’re officially recognised as a ‘Great Place to Work’ and our benefits go beyond basic pay, with a discretionary bonus scheme, a culture of reward and recognition and comprehensive support for wellbeing. 

We’re serious about equality, of race, age, faith, disability, and sexual orientation and we celebrate diversity. By working together, we know you’ll build more than just a career with us.

Flexibility and why it matters

We understand the need for flexibility, so wherever possible, we’ll consider alternative working patterns. Have a chat with us before you apply to see what the possibilities are for this role.                 

Proud to be a Disability Confident Committed Employer

We’re proud to offer an interview or assessment to every disabled applicant who meet the minimum criteria for our vacancies. As part of the application process, disabled applicants can opt in for the Disability Confident Interview Scheme. If there are ever occasions where it is not practicable to interview all candidates that meet the essential criteria, such as when we receive a high number of applications, we commit to interviewing disabled candidates who best meet the minimum essential and desirable criteria.