Senior Information Access Officer

Job summary

Senior Information Access Officer

Full time/Part Time

Salary:£44,297 - £49,813 pa, with potential for further progression to £56,082 with our pay progression scheme.

Location: Hybrid

Contracted to our Wilmslow, London, Edinburgh, Belfast, or Cardiff office, however, through hybrid working we offer flexible home and office-based working opportunities. There will be times when you will be expected to attend the office to collaborate with colleagues or travel due to business need.

Why work for the ICO?

• Pay progression scheme.
• Hybrid and flexible working options.
• 25 days paid holiday per year, plus privilege and public holidays.
• Flexi leave (up to 26 additional days leave per year).
• Pension (employer contribution around 28.9%).
• Online discount scheme to save money at major supermarkets, retailers, gyms, restaurants, insurance providers and many more.
• Health Cash Plan.
• Fantastic development opportunities to learn and progress.

Further details can be found on the benefits section of our website

Job description

The ICO must be a model of good practice in complying with the legislation it regulates. The Senior Information Access Officer is responsible for handling the most complex, high profile or novel requests for information from receipt to completion. They are also responsible for providing advice to colleagues across the business and for making decisions about information access issues, including disclosure.

The role is central to protecting the ICO’s reputation as the information rights regulator by ensuring that all statutory obligations in relation to information request handling are met and appropriate codes of practice and guidance are followed.

Key Responsibilities

• Respond to information requests from receipt to completion largely autonomously and in accordance with all statutory obligations, codes of practice and guidance thereby minimising the reputational risk of noncompliance.

• Maintain an in-depth knowledge of the relevant legislation, regulations/codes of practice and tribunal/court decisions in order to be able to take decisions relating to the interpretation, scope and outcomes of information requests including the application of exemptions.

• Maintain up to date knowledge of internal developments/work going on at the ICO, particularly in relation to high profile areas or corporate challenges.

• Provide trusted advice to senior management about information requests which are sensitive or high profile and need senior management sign off, ensuring that such cases are brought to the attention of relevant senior staff, and others with a need to know.

• Take decisions relating to information access, and in particular provide cover for the Group Manager when they are unavailable.

• Exercise discretion and judgement taking into account all relevant factors which might affect the decision-making process.

• Deal with enquiries from the press office and other colleagues about the disclosure of ICO information.

• Respond to requests for the exercise of other individual’s rights under data protection law.

• When complaints are made, respond to the ICO in its capacity as regulator.

• Build an effective network of contacts including senior staff enabling the smooth processing of requests.

• Contribute to the development of the ICO’s information governance strategy and business plan for the Group.

• Contribute to the development and implementation of internal request handling procedures for the effective, consistent, and compliant handling of information requests.

• Conduct internal reviews in line with procedures and guidance.

• Contribute to quality assurance procedures for request handling.

• Work to encourage a consistent approach to information access across the ICO.

• Contribute and assist in the process of transferring records to The National Archives.

• Contribute to local and cross office strategic projects as required.

Person specification

Essential criteria assessed at application stage

• Experience relevant to the role requirements, as described in the role responsibilities and person specification, and accumulated through any combination of academic or vocational qualifications or experience.
• Substantial relevant experience in case handling
• Proven experience of applying information rights legislation or similarly complex legislation
• Around 3 years work experience in an Information Rights role
• Ability to use standard office IT packages.

Essential criteria assessed at interview stage

• Excellent intellectual ability in order to analyse complex legislation and to be able to apply it to particular cases and situations
• Ability to rapidly assimilate and digest large volumes of information.
• Strong interpersonal skills including the ability to negotiate and maintain good relationships with senior staff both internally and externally
• Ability to work under pressure, prioritise and meet deadlines, in particular when handling information requests.
• Strong communication skills including excellent written and verbal skills.
• Proven ability to exercise judgement and ability to take high profile decisions.

Benefits

Alongside your salary of £44,297, Information Commissioner's Office contributes £12,832 towards you being a member of the Civil Service Defined Benefit Pension scheme. Find out what benefits a Civil Service Pension provides.Please visit ico.jobs for full details, including salary and benefits.

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

Equality, diversity, and inclusion

The ICO is committed to promoting and enhancing equality, diversity, and inclusion. We are focused on developing a workforce that is representative of the communities we serve and together we are building an inclusive workplace where all of our colleagues have the opportunity to make a real difference. We are championing this through our Equality Diversity and Inclusion Board together with a number of staff networks. Read more about our commitment on our website.

If you have a disability or impairment and require an alternative application method, please email the HR team at recruitment@ico.org.uk .

Closing Date

Please submit your CV and cover letter by 23:59 on Sunday 1st February 2026. Your cover letter should be no more than 1,000 words and should clearly demonstrate how you meet the essential criteria for the role.

All candidates who meet the minimum criteria and apply in-line with our guaranteed interview scheme for disabled and ethnic minority applicants will be interviewed.

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.

Medical

Successful candidates will be expected to have a medical.

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

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 : recruitment@ico.org.uk
• Email : recruitment@ico.org.uk

Recruitment team

• Email : recruitment@ico.org.uk