Head of Data Protection Office 70% (with option to increase up to 100%)

Your new role

Various municipalities in the canton of St. Gallen intend to join the Data Protection Office of the city of St. Gallen. As the head of the inter-municipal data protection office, you will take on the central role in the connected municipalities in ensuring compliance with the cantonal data protection law (sGS 142.1). You will reorganize the office and take on the following main tasks in daily operations:

Consultation and support of municipalities, municipal enterprises, and other public bodies in all data protection matters.

Supervision and execution of tasks according to Art. 30 DSG (e.g., conducting audits, processing reports, project support).

Development of recommendations and support in the implementation of technical and organizational data protection measures.

Statements on draft ordinances or planned data processing activities.

Conducting awareness-raising and training activities on data protection for the connected municipalities.

Collaboration with cantonal, regional, and external specialist offices as well as maintenance of the register of data collections (Art. 37–39 DSG).

Preparation of the annual activity report for the connected municipalities.

This position is for you if you

• have a completed university degree in law.
• have knowledge of Swiss (and ideally cantonal) data protection law.
• have several years of professional experience, ideally in the public sector, in a leadership role or in the field of data protection.
• are interested in developments in IT and digitalization.
• are strong in interdisciplinary collaboration and choose a goal- and practice-oriented approach.
• communicate confidently and appropriately both orally and in writing and possess a high degree of integrity, independence, and assertiveness.

Good reasons to work for the city of St. Gallen:

The regional data protection office

Currently, the Data Protection Office of the city of St. Gallen is attached to the municipal financial control and is responsible for the city departments and enterprises. Through the intended merger of additional municipalities in the canton of St. Gallen, an inter-municipal data protection office is to be established.

The newly organized office represents an independent and autonomous supervisory authority. It supervises the connected municipal administrations and enterprises. It advises the connected public bodies on data protection issues, conducts controls, and raises awareness among the bodies about their data protection obligations and the public about data protection concerns.

In the future, other municipalities will be free to join the inter-municipal data protection office. The optional percentage of employment depends on the number and size of the municipalities to be connected in the future.

What we offer

This is a responsible, versatile, and independent activity with great scope for design and appropriate training opportunities. You will lead close interdisciplinary cooperation with various authorities and administrative offices of the connected municipalities. You can expect modern employment conditions according to the personnel law of the city of St. Gallen and a committed environment with high standards for data protection and citizen proximity.

Our selection process

Do you feel addressed? We will be happy to answer your questions about the position by phone at 071 224 53 82 or by email at daniel.inauen@stadt.sg.ch and petra.ruettimann@stadt.sg.ch. Please submit your complete application exclusively online.

We value diversity in all its forms and look forward to your perspective.