Information Rights Manager
Job summary
UKRI
Salary: £37,841 per annum.
Band: UKRI Band D.
Contract Type: Fixed Term (12 months).
Hours: Full-time/ Part Time (minimum 0.8 FTE) (flexible working available).
Location: Polaris House, Swindon, Wiltshire - Hybrid working available.
Closing Date: Tuesday 14th April 2026.
Job description
About the role
The Information Governance Group supports UK Research and Innovation (UKRI) in meeting its statutory responsibilities under information rights legislation, including the Data Protection Act and UK General Data Protection Regulation (UK GDPR), and the Freedom of Information Act and Environmental Information Regulations.
The Information Rights Manager will support the Group in embedding strategy, policy, and culture to ensure UKRI meets its legal obligations, and promoting best practice in information governance and transparency.
They will provide advice on information rights across UKRI, including to change programmes and large projects. They will also support the development and implementation of policy and guidance in this area, and the delivery of training.
The role requires an in depth understanding and good working knowledge of data protection and freedom of information legislation.
Your responsibilities:
Reporting to a Senior Information Rights Manager, the Information Rights Manager will:
- Provide expert advice on information rights, including conducting Data Protection Impact Assessments (DPIAs), supporting data protection by design and by default, and advising on accountability and transparency, and information rights requests and access.
- Prepare responses to data subject rights and FOI/EIR requests, and support others across the team in responding to complex cases, including data protection complaints and FOI internal reviews. This includes gathering contributions from across UKRI, evaluating the information provided, advising on applicable exemptions, drafting responses (including public interest tests), and preparing information for release, applying redactions where necessary.
- Support the review and development of information rights policies, procedures, processes, and guidance, and promoting good practice through a variety of channels.
- Pro-actively review new and emerging guidance, legislation, standards etc, and work with others across the Group to respond to and disseminate change.
- Undertake any other tasks as may be required, including support to other teams across the Group.
Person specification
The below criteria will be scored during Shortlisting (S), Interview (I) or both (S&I).
Essential
- Demonstrable experience working with data protection legislation in a complex organisation (S&I).
- Proven ability to interpret legislation and guidance relating to data protection (I).
- Effective communication skills (S&I).
- Strong team working skills, with the ability to engage effectively with subject matter experts and other stakeholders beyond the immediate team. (S&I).
- Ability to formulate clear advice to stakeholders on information rights legal, regulatory and policy issues (I).
- Effective written skills and attention to detail (S&I).
- Ability to multi-task, prioritise own workload, and work proactively (S&I).
- Flexible approach to working to meet changing business priorities, and meet targets and deadlines (S&I).
- Proficient IT skills (S).
- Demonstrable analytical, research and problem-solving skills (I).
Desirable
- Professional data protection qualification (or equivalent). (S).
- Experience of working in a public sector organisation. (S).
- Experience working with Freedom of Information legislation/Environmental Information Regulations. (S&I).
Proven ability to interpret legislation and guidance relating to Freedom of Information (I).
Benefits
Alongside your salary of £37,841, UK Research and Innovation contributes £10,962 towards you being a member of the Civil Service Defined Benefit Pension scheme. Find out what benefits a Civil Service Pension provides.We recognise and value our employees as individuals and aim to provide a favourable pay and rewards package. We are committed to supporting employees' development and promote a culture of continuous learning!
A list of benefits below:
- An outstanding defined benefit pension scheme.
- 30 days' annual leave in addition to 10.5 public and privilege days (full time equivalent).
- Employee discounts and offers on retail and leisure activities.
- Employee assistance programme, providing confidential help and advice.
- Flexible working options.
Plus many more benefits and wellbeing initiatives that enable our employees to have a great work life balance!
For further information on our benefits please see:
Benefits of working at UK Research and Innovation (UKRI)
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
UKRI is an Equal Opportunity & Disability Confident Employer.
Please apply online, if you experience any issue applying, please contact Recruitment@ukri.org
Please note, if you will require sponsorship to work in the UK, as part of your sponsorship application, you and any dependants travelling with you, will be required to pay costs directly to The Home Office for the application before you start your role with us. UKRI is normally able to reimburse some, or all of these fees after you have become an employee and this can be discussed with the Hiring Manager. For more information, please visit https://www.gov.uk/skilled-worker-visa/how-much-it-costs or contact Recruitment@ukri.org.
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
Working for the Civil Service
Please note this Post is NOT regulated by the Civil Service Commission.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
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 : UKRI Recruitment Team
- Email : Recruitment@ukri.org
Recruitment team
- Email : Recruitment@ukri.org
Salary range
- £37,841 per year