Freedom of Information Manager - Access Service Team (MOD)

Job summary

Between 5 and 10% of all Freedom of Information (FOI) requests made to monitored government bodies are handled by The National Archives. The majority of these are for access to closed historical information. The role of an FOI Manager requires an individual capable of managing a team of information rights specialists to ensure The National Archives meets its legal obligations under FOI.

Working within our Information Rights Department, you will join our MOD Access Service Team, managing FOI requests related to military personnel records. You will develop a deep understanding of this unique collection. This is a fixed term appointment to run until at least 30th June 2026, with the possibility of extension.

Your responsibilities will include:

- Overseeing FOI activity related to the records in the MOD transfer project throughout The National Archives
- Managing internal appeals and those made to the Information Commissioner’s Office and Information Tribunal
- Managing FOI caseloads
- Liaising with Press Office over high profile/controversial releases
- Keeping the department up to date with case law, ICO guidance on FOI, Data Protection and specific records knowledge
- Using knowledge of information rights legislation to assist in resolving complex or difficult cases

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.

Job description

Full job description attached (see below).

Person specification

Application Process

• Interview: Interviews will be held on-site in Kew, ideally week commencing 23rd February 2026.

• Personal Statement: We ask all applicants to submit work history details and a personal statement, not exceeding 1200 words.

Selection for interview will be based on the ‘essential’ requirements in the job description so please ensure that your statement demonstrates in detail how you meet these requirements.

SC clearance/willingness to obtain SC clearance will be required for this role. This requires candidates to have been resident in the UK for at least the past three years. Please do not apply if you have been resident in the UK for less than three years as your application will be rejected

Sponsorship:

We are unable to offer sponsorship for this role.

Essential criteria:

• Delivering at Pace - Experience of mentoring, motivating or managing staff who work under pressure to meet tight deadlines
• Managing a Quality Service - Ability to prioritise and balance managing own workload, deadlines, alongside providing support to a wider team
• Communicating and Influencing - Excellent standard of communication, both written and verbal; evidence of highly developed drafting skills and ability to write persuasively, for different audiences
• Working Together - Experience of negotiation; ability to influence decisions at a senior level, both internally and externally
• Making Effective Decisions - Confidence to use judgment and knowledge to make difficult decisions and defend them
• 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

Desirable criteria:

• Qualification in information rights legislation
• Experience of managing staff in an operational or casework environment
• Experience of delivering practical training, targeted guidance and advice to a wide audience of differing needs

Benefits

Alongside your salary of £39,567, The National Archives contributes £11,462 towards you being a member of the Civil Service Defined Benefit Pension scheme. Find out what benefits a Civil Service Pension provides.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 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 : 02039855979

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…

nationalarchives.gov.uk

Attachments

FOI Manager for MOD AST Job Description Opens in new window (docx, 38kB)