Senior Freedom of Information Officer - £44,825 p.a. + benefits

at  Medicines and Healthcare products Regulatory Agency

JOB SUMMARY

We are currently looking for a Senior Freedom of Information Officer to join our Customer Experience Centre Function within the Communications and Engagement Group.
This is a full-time opportunity, on a fixed term contract until 28th March 2025 basis. The role will be based in 10 South Colonnade, Canary Wharf London, E14 4PU. Please be aware that this role can only be worked in the UK and not overseas.
Government departments and agencies are working towards implementing a minimum 60% attendance in office sites.
We are currently implementing a hybrid way of working, with a minimum of 8 days per month working on site to enable the collaboration and contact with partners and stakeholders needed to deliver MHRA business. Attendance on site is driven by business needs so depending on the nature of the role, this can flex up to 12 days a month, with the remainder of time worked either remotely or in the office. Some roles will need to be on site more regularly.

JOB DESCRIPTION

This role offers the opportunity to be at the forefront of taking forward one of the Agency’s key priorities - to become patient-centred and putting our customers first. Reporting to the Freedom of Information (FOI) Manager, you will be responsible for responding to complex, technically and legally challenging information access requests in line with the requirements of the Freedom of Information Act 2000 (FOIA). Responsible for the delivery of all FOI request handling processes; the escalation and approval point for all responses sent, and guide colleagues within your immediate team and the wider organisation to make sure that MHRA meets its obligations under the FOIA. In addition to this, you will also support the FOI manager when the role of commissioning and handling of Parliamentary questions and correspondence transitions to CEC. You will play an important role in shaping the future development and implementing of standards of Transparency across the Agency.

PERSON SPECIFICATION

Our successful candidate will:

• Aptitude for following process and procedure and ability to spot risks/issues/process improvements.
• Experience of working alongside and leading staff outside the immediate team, with the ability to influence and lead delivery. Ability to support others, prioritise, coordinate and support the wider, changing needs of the business.
• Ability to interpret current affairs, MP interests and departmental policy through a political and parliamentary lens is crucial.
• Proven ability to analyse and accurately interpret data from various sources to support decisions. Must be able to demonstrate the ability to present reasonable conclusions from a wide range of complex and sometimes incomplete evidence. Ability to make decisions confidently even when details are unclear or if they prove to be unpopular
• Experience of working alongside and leading staff outside the immediate team, with the ability to influence and lead delivery. Ability to support others, prioritise, coordinate and support the wider, changing needs of the business.

If you would like to find out more about this fantastic opportunity, please read our Job Description and Person Specification!
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Benefits

Alongside your salary of £44,825, Medicines and Healthcare Products Regulatory Agency contributes £12,985 towards you being a member of the Civil Service Defined Benefit Pension scheme. Find out what benefits a Civil Service Pension provides.

• Annual Leave: 25 days annual leave on entry, rising by one day for each completed year of service to a maximum of 30 days and pro-rata for part-time staff. PLUS 8 bank holidays
• Privilege Leave: 1 day
• Hours of Work: 37 hours (net) per week for full time staff in all geographical locations, including London and pro rata for part-time staff
• Occupational Sick Pay (OSP): One month full pay/one month half pay on entry, rising by one month for each completed year of service to a maximum of five months full pay/five months half pay
• Mobility: Mobility clause in contracts allowing staff to be mobile across the Civil Service
• Civil Service Pension Scheme. Please see the link for further information http://www.civilservicepensionscheme.org.uk/ For enquiries relating to the Civil Service Pension Schemes please contact MyCSP’s Pension Service Centre directly on 0300 123 6666
• Flexible working to ensure staff maintain a healthy work-life balance
• Interest free season ticket loan or bike loan
• Employee Assistance Services and access to the Civil Service Benevolent Fund
• Eligibility to join the Civil Service Motoring Association (CSMA)
• Variety of staff and Civil Service clubs
• On-going learning and development

Things you need to know

SELECTION PROCESS DETAILS

We use the Civil Service Success Profiles to assess our candidates, find out more here.

• Online application form, including questions based on the Behaviour, Experience and Technical Success Profiles. Please ensure all application questions are completed in full; your application may not be considered if any responses are left blank. Our applications are CV blind, and our Hiring Managers will not be able to access your CV when reviewing your application.
• Interview, which can include questions based on the Behaviour, Experience, Technical and Strengths Success Profiles.

Applicants are assessed on whether they meet any mandatory requirements as well as the necessary skills and experience for the role. Applications are scored based on the competency-based answers provided- ensure you have read these thoroughly and allow sufficient time. You can view the competencies for this role in the job description.

NATIONALITY REQUIREMENTS

This job is broadly open to the following groups:

• UK nationals
• nationals of the Republic of Ireland
• nationals of Commonwealth countries who have the right to work in the UK
• nationals of the EU, Switzerland, Norway, Iceland or Liechtenstein and family members of those nationalities with settled or pre-settled status under the European Union Settlement Scheme (EUSS) (opens in a new window)
• nationals of the EU, Switzerland, Norway, Iceland or Liechtenstein and family members of those nationalities who have made a valid application for settled or pre-settled status under the European Union Settlement Scheme (EUSS)
• individuals with limited leave to remain or indefinite leave to remain who were eligible to apply for EUSS on or before 31 December 2020
• Turkish nationals, and certain family members of Turkish nationals, who have accrued the right to work in the Civil Service

Further information on nationality requirements (opens in a new window)

KEY RESPONSIBILITIES:

• Manage complex and high-profile FOI requests as required, following internal processes to meet statutory deadlines. Using expertise to advise agency wide colleagues and interpret complex information in order to support the drafting of clear, accurate, legally compliant FOI responses.
• Develop and maintain an up-to-date knowledge of FOI law and practice to be applied both when dealing with own cases and when providing guidance to colleagues inside and outside the FOI team.
• Develop and propose original ideas and solutions to increase transparency across the agency and improve the FOI processes. Implement changes and deliver training to continuously improve processes, outcomes and awareness.
• Approve colleagues’ FOI responses confirming responses are legally compliant and that all internal processes have been followed. Deputise for the FOI Manager