Head of Data Protection Office 70% (with the option to increase to 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 cross-municipal Data Protection Office, you will take on a central role in the affiliated 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:

Advising and supporting 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).

Developing recommendations and supporting the implementation of technical and organizational data protection measures.

Providing opinions on draft regulations or planned data processing.

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

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

Preparing the annual activity report for the affiliated municipalities.

This position is for you if you

• have a completed university degree in law.
• bring knowledge of Swiss (and ideally cantonal) data protection law.
• have several years of professional experience, ideally in the public sector, in a managerial position or in the field of data protection.
• are interested in developments in IT and digitalization.
• are strong in interdisciplinary collaboration and choose a goal-oriented and practical 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 affiliated with the municipal financial control and is responsible for the municipal departments and enterprises. With the intended merger of additional municipalities in the canton of St. Gallen, a cross-municipal Data Protection Office is to be established.

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

In the future, other municipalities will be free to join the cross-municipal Data Protection Office. The optional percentage of the position depends on the number and size of the municipalities that will join in the future.

What we offer

This is a responsible, diverse, and independent activity with a great scope for design and adequate training opportunities. You will engage in close, interdisciplinary collaboration with various authorities and administrative offices of the affiliated 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 are 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.