GENERAL INFORMATION

Salary
The national salary range is £42,914 - £46,182, London salary range is £49,325 - £53,081. Your salary will be dependent on your base location
Working Pattern
Full Time, Part Time, Flexible Working
Vacancy Approach
External
Location
Belfast, London
Region
London, Northern Ireland
Closing Date
17-Sep-2025
Post Type
Permanent
Civil Service Grade

DESCRIPTIONS & REQUIREMENTS

Job description

EXPERIENCE:

Please provide a statement of suitability no longer than 500 words outlining how you meet the essential and desirable criteria and a work history. Both will be used in order to assess any demonstrable experience, career history and achievements that are relevant to the role.
Your statement of suitability needs to set out evidence of how your experience meets the requirements set out above. Your layout is entirely your preference; you may choose narrative, bullets, etc. One narrative example may cover the requirements needed. You don’t have to explain the whole process, just what you have done and the skills and experience you have used. Share with us what makes you suited to this role and why. What you can do, the skills you have that are transferable and the life experience or passion you have that are linked to this role.
If you don’t have work-based examples then give examples from school/college, clubs, volunteering or other activities you have been involved in.
You will also be asked to complete a CV with details of your education, professional qualifications, previous skills and full employment history. Your CV will not be formally assessed so please put the main evidence of your skills into your personal statement. Your CV will be used to add context to your personal statement.
More information on behaviours and success profiles can be found .
Please note that in the event of a large number of applications being received we may run the initial sift on the lead Behaviour Delivering at Pace.

FURTHER INFORMATION:

Further information about the post may be obtained from Mary Duggan via email to Mary.Duggan@NIO.gov.uk
All applications for employment are considered strictly on the basis of merit.
This job description should not be taken as constituting conditions of employment.

JOB DESCRIPTION ATTACHMENT

• 
  2025 Head of Information Access Rights (FOI) Job Description (4).docx (Job Description Attachment)

EXPERIENCE

We will assess your experience for this role via the following methods
CV or Work History, Statement of Suitability
Evidence of Experience
CV or Work History, Statement of Suitability

DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES:

The main responsibilities of the role include but are not limited to:

• Engaging with senior managers regarding the management and access to information requests including taking ownership of FOI’s, information requests and DPA compliance and reporting.
• Managing and monitoring the progress of requests under the Freedom of Information Act, Data Protection Act and Environmental Information Regulations to meet statutory deadlines
• Providing advice and guidance to business groups on requests, applications of exemptions and appeals.
• Briefing ministers and senior officials on complex information access requests involving public interest tests and restrictions on disclosure of sensitive information.
• Raising awareness within the NIO and the Wales Office, promoting information management, ensuring delivery of staff training in information access and personal and that staff awareness remains high.
• Ensuring a collaborative and joined up approach to managing requests for information that impact on the work of the Legacy team
• Assisting records and information management projects and providing input to overall departmental objectives, management, NIO Board and relevant external organisations.
• Collaborating with the Data Protection Officer (DPO) to ensure GDPR compliance.