FOI Manager

Job summary

The Domesday Book. Shakespeare’s will. Tweets from Downing Street. War time records. These are just some of the 11 million items held by The National Archives. With a collection like this – the largest in the world – it’s no surprise that we handle over five percent of all Freedom of Information (FOI) requests received by the Government. As FOI Manager, you’ll have a great opportunity to work with closed historical records. You’ll ensure decisions regarding their access are efficiently and appropriately managed to keep operations running smoothly. Join us and you’ll work in an organisation that offers great support and exceptional benefits.

Job description

The majority of the FOI requests we receive are for closed historical information. Your key responsibilities will involve ensuring we comply with legal obligations set by FOI, EIR and DPA Acts. This includes managing FOI casework and FOI staff Assessors & Researchers - who undertake the bulk of review work. As well as managing the FOI caseload, you’ll be a source of expertise, guiding the Head of Centre and giving advice on difficult cases. As part of the FOI Management team, you’ll be responsible for deciding our legal position on appeals and tribunals. This means working closely with senior figures from The National Archives managers to information rights units across government. At the same time, you’ll promote FOI knowledge across the organisation. You’ll give updates on guidelines, consider feedback and shape future operations.

To join us, you should have good knowledge of FOI and Data Protection Acts OR significant relevant experience involving researching, analysing and summarising complex information. It is equally important that you have the ability to prioritise workload according to tight deadlines and have judgment to make key FOI and access decisions, together with the confidence to defend them. Strong communication skills are essential – especially as you’ll be influencing senior figures and explaining points of law in detail. You’ll need to inspire a dedicated team to meet deadlines and perform. If you’re an experienced leader, ideally with FOI knowledge, we’d like to hear from you.

This is a full time post. However, requests for part-time working, flexible working and job share will be considered, taking into account at all times the operational needs of the Department. A combination of onsite and home working is available and applicants should be able to regularly travel to our Kew site for a minimum of 60% of their work time.

Person specification

Essential criteria:

• Demonstrable knowledge of information rights legislation including the Public Records Act 1958 and the Freedom of Information Act 2000; OR significant relevant experience, demonstrating the ability to carry out research into information and records, analyse contents and summarise findings clearly and concisely
• Experience of mentoring, motivating or managing staff who work under pressure to meet tight deadlines to deliver agreed goals and objectives
• Ability to prioritise and balance managing own workload, deadlines, alongside providing support to a wider team
• Excellent standard of communication, both written and verbal; ability to manage and engage with staff and stakeholders to clarify goals and activities; evidence of highly developed drafting skills and ability to write persuasively, for different audiences
• Experience of establishing relationships with a range of stakeholders to support delivery of objectives; ability to negotiate to achieve outcomes at a senior level, both internally and externally
• Confidence to use judgment and knowledge to make difficult decisions and defend them

Application Process

• Interview: Interviews will be held on-site and will include a presentation. More details on this will be provided in the interview invitation.

• Personal Statement: We ask all applicants to submit work history details and a personal statement. We recommend that you write 250-300 words per criteria.

Selection for interview will be based on the 3 essential criteria listed below so please ensure that your application demonstrates in detail how you meet these requirements.

• Demonstrable knowledge of information rights legislation including the Public Records Act 1958 and the Freedom of Information Act 2000; OR significant relevant experience, demonstrating the ability to carry out research into information and records, analyse contents and summarise findings clearly and concisely
• Experience of mentoring, motivating or managing staff who work under pressure to meet tight deadlines to deliver agreed goals and objectives
• Ability to prioritise and balance managing own workload, deadlines, alongside providing support to a wider team

If we receive a large number of applications candidates will initially be assessed on the following criteria:

• Demonstrable knowledge of information rights legislation including the Public Records Act 1958 and the Freedom of Information Act 2000; OR significant relevant experience, demonstrating the ability to carry out research into information and records, analyse contents and summarise findings clearly and concisely

Applicants invited to interview will be assessed against all of the essential criteria (see person specification above).

SC clearance/willingness to obtain SC clearance will be required for this role. Applicants should normally have been resident in the United Kingdom for the last 5 years for SC clearance. A lack of UK residency in itself is not necessarily a bar to a security clearance and applicants should contact the Talent Acquisition team (contact details below) for further advice.

We are unable/able to offer sponsorship for this role.

Benefits

Alongside your salary of £40,853, The National Archives contributes £11,835 towards you being a member of the Civil Service Defined Benefit Pension scheme. Find out what benefits a Civil Service Pension provides (opens in a new window).Generous benefits package, including pension, sports and social club facilities, onsite gym, discounted rates at our on-site cafe and opportunities for training and development.

Any move to The National Archives from another employer will mean you can no longer access childcare vouchers. This includes moves between government departments. You may however be eligible for other government schemes, including Tax-Free Childcare. Determine your eligibility at https://www.childcarechoices.gov.uk;

Things you need to know

Artificial intelligence

Artificial intelligence can be a useful tool to support your application, however, all examples and statements provided must be truthful, factually accurate and taken directly from your own experience. Where plagiarism has been identified (presenting the ideas and experiences of others, or generated by artificial intelligence, as your own) applications may be withdrawn and internal candidates may be subject to disciplinary action. Please see our candidate guidance (opens in a new window) for more information on appropriate and inappropriate use.

Selection process details

Reasonable adjustments:

If a person with disabilities is put at a substantial disadvantage compared to a non-disabled person, we have a duty to make reasonable changes to our processes.

If you need a change to be made so that you can make your application, you should:

• Contact The National Archives via careers@nationalarchives.gov.uk as soon as possible before the closing date to discuss your needs
• Complete the “Assistance required” section in the “Additional requirements” page of your application form to tell us what changes or help you might need further on in the recruitment process. For instance, you may need wheelchair access at interview, or if you’re deaf, a Language Service Professional

Feedback will only be provided if you attend an interview or assessment.

Security

Successful candidates must undergo a basic (or equivalent) criminal record check.Successful candidates must meet the security requirements before they can be appointed. The level of security needed is security check (opens in a new window).

See our vetting charter (opens in a new window).People working with government assets must complete baseline personnel security standard (opens in new window) checks.

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)

Working for the Civil Service

The Civil Service Code (opens in a new window) sets out the standards of behaviour expected of civil servants.

We recruit by merit on the basis of fair and open competition, as outlined in the Civil Service Commission's recruitment principles (opens in a new window).The Civil Service embraces diversity and promotes equal opportunities. As such, we run a Disability Confident Scheme (DCS) for candidates with disabilities who meet the minimum selection criteria.The Civil Service also offers a Redeployment Interview Scheme to civil servants who are at risk of redundancy, and who meet the minimum requirements for the advertised vacancy.

Diversity and Inclusion

The Civil Service is committed to attract, retain and invest in talent wherever it is found. To learn more please see theCivil Service People Plan (opens in a new window) and the Civil Service Diversity and Inclusion Strategy (opens in a new window).

Apply and further information

This vacancy is part of the Great Place to Work for Veterans (opens in a new window) initiative.Once this job has closed, the job advert will no longer be available. You may want to save a copy for your records.

Contact point for applicants

Job contact :

• Name : The Talent Acquisition Team
• Email : careers@nationalarchives.gov.uk
• Telephone : 02083925313

Recruitment team

• Email : careers@nationalarchives.gov.uk

Further information

If you feel your application has not been treated in accordance with the Recruitment Principles and you wish to make a complaint, in the first instance, you should contact The National Archives via email: careers@nationalarchives.gov.uk If you are not satisfied with the response you receive from the Department, you can contact the Civil Service Commission at http://civilservicecommission.independent.gov.uk/civil-service-recruitm…

https://www.nationalarchives.gov.uk/