Information Governance Manager - 2026003

Job summary

Who are JNCC?

Established in 1991, we’re the UK’s statutory advisor on issues affecting the natural environment across the UK and internationally. Our primary role is advising all four Governments of the UK. We also work with private sector organisations to support decision making on the sustainable use of marine waters and natural resources around the UK. JNCC is led by the Joint Committee, which brings together members from the nature conservation bodies for England, Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland and independent members appointed by the Secretary of State for the Environment, Food and Rural Affairs under an independent Chair. Support is provided to the Committee by approx. 300 people who bring together scientific and technical expertise, extensive knowledge of policy at global, European and national levels, and skills in working with other organisations. Staff are based in two main offices in Peterborough and Aberdeen.

Why JNCC?

We’re small enough (c.300 staff) that your voice is heard by everyone including the CEO, but big enough that we have all the skills, resources and people you’ll need to get the job done. All our staff are passionate about conservation and making a difference to the world we live in. We have a very flexible, inclusive and welcoming organisational culture. Our Executive Management provides employees with the freedom and tools you will need, and our friendly team will assist you in your role.

JNCC is committed to maintaining employee health and wellbeing, whether it is physically, emotionally, financially or socially, and offers a range of benefits to support employees in this. Such benefits include the option to join the Civil Service Pension Scheme, professional and personal development opportunities as well as an exciting job in a unique environment.

Job description

Post background:

At JNCC, effective knowledge, information, and data management is vital to our role in advising UK governments and partners on how to best deliver positive outcomes for nature. As Information Governance Manager, you will be central to embedding a culture of robust management, working across the organisation to lead, coordinate and support knowledge, information & data governance policies, processes, and technologies.

You will lead the information management and data protection function at the organisation, supported by an Information Governance Officer (direct report), information asset owners across JNCC, and the Defra Data Protection Officer. The information management teamlet forms part of the Digital and Data Solutions Team, a multi-disciplinary team focused on delivering great digital and data services for our users.

It is an exciting time to be joining the organisation, as we are in the early stages of implementing our 2030 Digital Strategy, so this is an ideal opportunity for an individual to shape strategic outcomes for real impact for colleagues and stakeholders. The ‘Managing Assets’ pillar of the digital strategy focuses on modernising how information flows through JNCC, safeguarding and optimising our data and information resources, using effective management to maximise value and upholding stakeholder trust.

In the role, you can expect to work across corporate information management and advising on information governance for individual projects and programmes of work, supporting biodiversity and nature conversation in the UK and internationally.

Expertise and experience in data protection and data management would be helpful but evidence of transferable skills - training, support and advice will be available. The successful candidate would be expected to take, and pass, the UK GDPR Practitioner Certificate within six months of appointment.

Person specification

Post Duties:

The successful postholder will work with the Information Governance Officer and Digital and Data Team Leaders to shape and develop the Information Management capability at JNCC. The main duties of the post are to:

• Strategic Implementation & Leadership: Shape and coordinate the successful delivery of JNCC’s Information Management aims, translating the ambitious vision into an achievable action plan to safeguard, utilise, and maximise value of JNCC’s information.
• Policy, Compliance, and Expert Guidance: Develop, implement, and maintain core Data Governance and KIM policies covering the full information lifecycle. You will provide expert advice on complex information management issues, such as quality assurance, safeguarding controls, master data management, and development of standards.
• Data Protection: act as JNCC’s Data Protection Manager, liaising with DEFRAs Data Protection Officer (DPO) and providing advice on complying with Data Protection legislation in line with Defra group guidance and standards, including use of Privacy Notices, Data Sharing Agreements and Data Protection Impact Assessments (DPIAs).
• KIM (Knowledge & Information Management) Asset Management: be responsible for understanding and managing the organisational KIM risks and issues, and co-ordinating with asset owners to accept, mitigate or resolve them.
• Training and Upskilling: Deliver training, workshops, and meetings to identify issues, propose solutions and continuously develop KIM practices and data protection knowledge of colleagues across JNCC.
• Team and Management Oversight: Provide effective line management for one H grade Information Governance Officer, offering clear direction and support to deliver against departmental objectives.

Behaviours

We'll assess you against these behaviours during the selection process:

• Managing a Quality Service
• Communicating and Influencing
• Changing and Improving
• Seeing the Big Picture

Technical skills

We'll assess you against these technical skills during the selection process:

• Deep technical understanding and practical experience in the administration, configuration, and strategic management of M365 or alternative technologies for electronic document and records management and collaboration(e.g. MS Purview, MS SharePoint).
• Ability to translate complex information management and data protection advice into clear, practical guidance for a wide range of stakeholders, from senior leaders to operational teams
• Good understanding of data protection issues (trainable).
• A qualification in a relevant field, including Information Management, Archives and Records Management, Data Protection, or Digital Curation.
• Demonstrable experience in a Knowledge and Information Management or Records Management role, with a proven track record of successfully delivering complex KIM (Knowledge & Information Management) services.
• Demonstrable experience designing, developing, and implementing information management policies and practices across an organisation
• Expertise in applying and interpreting key UK information management legislation and regulations, including the UK Public Records Act, Data Protection Act/UK GDPR, and Freedom of Information Act.
• Proven ability to effectively manage multiple, complex tasks simultaneously, strategically prioritising workload to meet challenging deadlines.

Benefits

Alongside your salary of £41,525, Joint Nature Conservation Committee contributes £12,029 towards you being a member of the Civil Service Defined Benefit Pension scheme. Find out what benefits a Civil Service Pension provides.Equality and diversity

JNCC is committed to creating an environment where everyone feels valued and respected and see this as a good place to work. JNCC has a responsibility to ensure that we have an inclusive culture where discrimination, harassment, bullying and prejudice will not be tolerated. Our selection process is determined on fair and open competition and regardless of age, disability, gender reassignment, pregnancy and maternity, race, religion or belief, sex, sexual orientation, marriage and civil partnership.

Continuous professional development (CPD)

Employees are encouraged to keep developing skills and professional knowledge.
JNCC has made available, and encourages employees to use, on average, five working days per annum for CPD activities with access to related funding

Leave entitlement

JNCC annual leave allowance is 25 days per annum. After five years’ service, leave entitlement increases to 30 days per annum.
In addition to annual leave, JNCC offers 12 public and privilege days per annum, three of which are explicitly reserved for office closure between Christmas and New Year.

Work/life balance

JNCC supports flexible working hours and practices to help employees strike a good balance between work life and personal life.

Our policies are family-friendly and include flexi-time, flexible working patterns, compressed hours and dispersed working. JNCC also offers paid maternity, paternity, adoption and shared parental leave, over and above the minimum statutory entitlements. Some work/life balance benefits are available following a minimum length of service.

Any move 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/

Civil Service Pension

Employees will have the opportunity to join Civil Service pension arrangements, which include a valuable range of benefits. JNCC makes a significant contribution to the cost of employee pensions.

Employee Assistance Programme

JNCC provides employees with a free and confidential support service which gives unlimited access to information, advice and emotional support to help employees prepare for and manage all of life's ups and downs, events and challenges.

Trade Union

JNCC has entered into a partnership agreement with its recognised Trade Unions: Prospect and PCS, which employees are able to join and be involved with.

Salary sacrifice schemes

Employee Discount Scheme

Civil Service Sports Club

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

This vacancy is using Success Profiles (opens in a new window), and will assess your Behaviours, Experience and Technical skills.

• personal statement outlining skills and experience relevant to role.

Please note that candidates invited to interview will be asked to undertake a technical skills assessment on the same day as their interview.

Artificial Intelligence Guidance

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 is 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. Artificial intelligence and Recruitment /Civil Service Careers

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

Security

Successful candidates must undergo a criminal record check.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.

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 : Recruitment Team
• Email : recruitment@jncc.gov.uk

Recruitment team

• Email : recruitment@jncc.gov.uk

Further information

Selection for appointment to the Civil Service is on merit, on the basis of fair and open competition, as outlined in the Civil Service Commission’s Recruitment Principles. In accordance with the Civil Service Commissioners’ Recruitment Principles, our recruitment and selection processes are underpinned by the requirement of appointment on the basis of merit by fair and open competition. If you feel your application has not been treated in accordance with the Recruitment Principles and you wish to make a complaint, you should contact recruitment@jncc.gov.uk in the first instance.

Attachments

Information Governance Manager JD 2026003 Opens in new window (pdf, 154kB)