Senior Information Rights Officer

The role is part of the Information Rights Team, which is responsible for ensuring that UKHSA responds to requests made under statutory access schemes such as Freedom of Information and Data Protection. You will be responsible for providing expert advice, developing a high standard of quality assurance, including requests made in accordance with the Freedom of Information Act (FOIA), the Environmental Information Regulations and subject access requests under the General Data Protection Regulation, as well as Coroner’s Investigations and briefings to deliver the service.

You will be working with a highly motivated and passionate group of people and will be working alongside them in an exciting and fast-paced environment with the opportunity to make your mark and influence government policy and delivery. In line with the UKHSA values, we are inclusive, insightful and impactful in our work.

The Information Rights Team is part of UKHSA’s Parliamentary and Public Accountability team, which works directly with requesters, regulators, OGDs, Ministers’/CEO offices, Parliament and members of the public in the delivery of UKHSA’s obligations with respect to Parliament and the public. This is an excellent opportunity for staff wishing to join the Parliamentary and Public Accountability team and be part of a busy friendly team delivering high quality and important work.

The post holder will be part of the Information Rights team within the Parliamentary and Public Accountability Team. Responsibilities will include:

• Co-ordination and drafting of responses to requests made under FOIA, the Data Protection Act and other statutory information access schemes, ensuring responses comply with the relevant legislation
• Provision of expert advice and guidance, developing a high standard of quality assurance, to support the business of the team in its centralised statutory information access service

The postholder will help lead the team to undertaking activities relating to reporting, engagement, continuous improvement, learning and development and wellbeing.

In line with our work to increase cross-team working within the Parliamentary and Public Accountability Team, and to role model a one team ethos, the postholder may also be required to undertake projects outside their immediate area of responsibility to support parliamentary, complaints and enquiries team activity.

Location

Role available at all core and scientific locations with hybrid working available

Birmingham, Chilton, Leeds, Liverpool, London, Porton Down

Essential Criteria:

It is important through your application and Statement of Suitability of 1000 words that you give evidence and examples of proven experience of each of the essential criteria (for full details of all essential criteria please refer to the attached job description, you must review this to produce your statement of suitability):

Essential

• BCS Practitioner Certificate in Freedom of Information and/or GDPR (or equivalent qualification)
• A sound practical knowledge of the Freedom of Information Act 2000, and ability to guide others on the application of exemptions including conducting public interest tests
• Experience in a public sector organisation with complex stakeholder interactions and exposure to a broad range of the organisation’s functions and activities
• Ability to deal with conflicting demands and pressures and able to solve complex problems, whilst remaining calm under pressure and demonstrating a high level of resilience
• Excellent communication and interpersonal skills with the ability to influence and inspire colleagues at all levels, building trust with stakeholders to achieve goals
• An understanding of and commitment to diversity and inclusion and good working relationships
• Excellent IT skills - Microsoft, Excel, Adobe

Desirable

• Educated to degree level (or equivalent experience)
• Staff management experience and leadership capability
• Ability to motivate and manage staff
• Experience of working within a correspondence or communications function in a fast-paced scientific or health setting with a primary role of communicating written information to the public.
• Demonstrate problem solving, negotiation, conflict resolution and facilitation skills