Information Governance Officer

Job summary

This is a key role at the heart of the Crown Office and Procurator Fiscal Service, helping to uphold individuals’ data protection rights while safeguarding sensitive information within Scotland’s justice system. As an Information Governance Officer (SAR Drafter), you will take ownership of Subject Access Requests, carefully analysing, redacting and drafting legally robust responses in line with the Data Protection Act 2018 and UK GDPR.

Working within the supportive and specialist Information Governance and Security Assurance Unit, you’ll collaborate with colleagues across COPFS to locate and assess personal data held in complex systems and records. Your work ensures the right balance between transparency and protection, managing disclosure risks and meeting strict statutory deadlines.

The role suits someone who enjoys detailed analytical work, clear and defensible decision‑making, and producing high‑quality written responses on sensitive and often challenging material. In return, you’ll gain exposure to meaningful, high‑impact work within a flexible, modern organisation committed to public service, professional development and doing the right thing in the public interest.

Job description

SCOPE OF THE ROLE
• Identify, collate, review, and assess personal data for
Subject Access Requests (SARs), applying relevant
exemptions.
• Draft lawful, accurate SAR responses in line with Part 3
of the Data Protection Act 2018, and UK GDPR.
• Direct and advise IGSAU administrative assistants on
the administration of SARs and ensure statutory
deadlines are met.
• Communicate with requesters when clarification or
updates are needed.
• Prepare response packs for approval by the SAR
Manager and maintain accurate records for
compliance.
• Maintain awareness of the risks associated with over‑
or under‑disclosure of personal data and escalate
concerns appropriately.
ROLE SPECIFIC DUTIES
• Locate, review and redact personal data in accordance
with legislation and COPFS guidance.
• Draft accurate SAR responses and support timely
completion of cases.
• Document decisions, searches, and rationale
particularly where exemptions are applied.
• Work with administrators and stakeholders to gather
information and resolve issues.
• Escalate complex SARs, manage complaints, and
assist with responses to the ICO.
• Contribute to SAR training, continuous improvement
and maintenance of best practice.
• Support wider IGSAU colleagues as required.

Person specification

Applicants may have gained relevant experience in a variety of settings, such as information governance, data protection,
compliance, legal administration, casework, or roles involving the review of sensitive personal data and statutory deadlines. You do
not need prior SAR‑specific experience, but you must be comfortable analysing personal data, applying data protection legislation
and guidance, and producing clear, accurate written responses that justify decisions taken in relation to the SAR.

Behaviours

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

• Making Effective Decisions
• Delivering at Pace

Technical skills

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

• See application pack

Benefits

Alongside your salary of £34,936, Crown Office and Procurator Fiscal Service contributes £10,120 towards you being a member of the Civil Service Defined Benefit Pension scheme. Find out what benefits a Civil Service Pension provides.

We offer an excellent range of benefits which include:

• 25 days paid holiday + 11.5 public and privilege holidays (rising to 30 days paid holiday after 4 years).
• Generous Civil Service Pension employer contribution, on average over 28.97% of your pay
• Flexible working hours and family friendly approach to work.
• Cycle to Work Scheme and Season Ticket Loans.
• Employee Wellbeing Support with Mental Health First Aiders and access to an Employee Assistance Programme.

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.Please apply via our website.

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.

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 : Sarah Holmes
• Email : Sarah.holmes@copfs.gov.uk

Recruitment team

• Email : recruitment@copfs.gov.uk

Attachments

Band C Information Governance Officer - SAR - Application Pack Opens in new window (pdf, 233kB)