Head Of Information Access Rights

General Information Salary The national salary range is £42,914 - £46,182, London salary range is £49,325 - £53,081.

Your salary will be dependent on your base location Working Pattern Full Time, Part Time, Flexible Working Vacancy Approach External Location Belfast, London Region London, Northern Ireland Closing Date 17-Sep-2025 Post Type Permanent Civil Service Grade SEO Number of jobs available 1 Reserve List 12 Months Job ID 9513 Descriptions & requirements Job description About the Role: Duties and Responsibilities: The main responsibilities of the role include but are not limited to: Engaging with senior managers regarding the management and access to information requests including taking ownership of FOIs, information requests and DPA compliance and reporting.

Managing and monitoring the progress of requests under the Freedom of Information Act, Data Protection Act and Environmental Information Regulations to meet statutory deadlines Providing advice and guidance to business groups on requests, applications of exemptions and appeals.

Briefing ministers and senior officials on complex information access requests involving public interest tests and restrictions on disclosure of sensitive information.

Raising awareness within the NIO and the Wales Office, promoting information management, ensuring delivery of staff training in information access and personal and that staff awareness remains high.

Ensuring a collaborative and joined up approach to managing requests for information that impact on the work of the Legacy team Assisting records and information management projects and providing input to overall departmental objectives, management, NIO Board and relevant external organisations.

Collaborating with the Data Protection Officer (DPO) to ensure GDPR compliance.

Essential Criteria: Thorough understanding of the Freedom of Information Act (2000); this will include but not be restricted to: Strong understanding of the exemption provisions provided under the FOI Act and how they are applied and a good understanding of Public Interest Tests and when and how they should be applied Strong written and oral communication skills The post holder will need to demonstrate the following in their application and at interview: Desirable Criteria: Certified Data Protection Practitioner qualification Demonstrable experience of managing electronic document and records management systems A sound understanding of the Data Protection Act (2018), in particular a good understanding of the General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR) Behaviours: We will assess you against the following Success Profiles behaviours at the SEO level during the application sift and interview process : Delivering at Pace Managing a Quality Service Communicating and Influencing Experience: Please provide a statement of suitability no longer than 500 words outlining how you meet the essential and desirable criteria and a work history.

Both will be used in order to assess any demonstrable experience, career history and achievements that are relevant to the role.

Your statement of suitability needs to set out evidence of how your experience meets the requirements set out above.

Your layout is entirely your preference; you may choose narrative, bullets, etc.

One narrative example may cover the requirements needed.

You dont have to explain the whole process, just what you have done and the skills and experience you have used.

Share with us what makes you suited to this role and why.

What you can do, the skills you have that are transferable and the life experience or passion you have that are linked to this role.

If you dont have work-based examples then give examples from school/college, clubs, volunteering or other activities you have been involved in.

You will also be asked to complete a CV with details of your education, professional qualifications, previous skills and full employment history.

Your CV will not be formally assessed so please put the main evidence of your skills into your personal statement.

Your CV will be used to add context to your personal statement.

More information on behaviours and success profiles can be found.

Please note that in the event of a large number of applications being received we may run the initial sift on the lead Behaviour Delivering at Pace.

Interview: You will be assessed against the same behaviours at the interview stage and will be asked to provide examples of how you have demonstrated the behaviours.

You will also be assessed using technical or operational questions.

It may help to use one or more examples of a piece of work you have completed or a situation you have been in and use the WHO or STAR model to explain: WHO- What it was? How you approached the work/situation? What the Outcomes were, what did you achieve? or STAR- What was the Situation? What were the Tasks? What Action did you take? What were the Results of your actions? Strengths It is difficult to prepare for strength type questions.

However, you can think through your answers, focus on your achievements and aspects you enjoy and decide how these can be applied in the organisation and role.

While strengths questions are shorter and we do not expect a full STAR response, the panel is interested in your first reaction to the question and information or reasoning to support this.

If you do not have work-based examples then please give examples from school/college, clubs, volunteering or other activities you have been involved in.

All applications for employment are considered strictly on the basis of merit.

Offer Once all interviews have been completed, you will be notified of the outcome by email.

Offers will be made in strict merit order to the highest scoring candidate first.

The successful candidate will be notified of a start date following successful security checks.

Additional information received after the closing date will not be considered.

Failure to provide sufficient information in support of an application prior to the closing date will not be considered as grounds for an appeal if an applicant is not shortlisted for interview.

Security Clearance: This role requires National Security Vetting given the access to sensitive information afforded by the job role.

You can find more information by reviewing the information held in the following links: United Kingdom Security Vetting: Applicant - GOV.

UK ( The vetting charter - GOV.

UK ( In addition, t is a minimum UK residency requirement set by the Cabinet Office which is dependent on the security level required for the role.

This role requires SC and to be eligible to apply for this role you should have been present in the UK continuously for the past 5 years.

The successful candidate must be willing to undertake the DV process at a later stage.

Neither Detached Duty terms nor relocation costs will apply to this post.

Further Information: Further information about the post may be obtained from Mary Duggan via email to All applications for employment are considered strictly on the basis of merit.

This job description should not be taken as constituting conditions of employment.

Please note that due to the high interest in NIO opportunities, feedback cannot be given if you are unsuccessful at the sift stage.

Feedback is available on request if unsuccessful following the interview.

Complaints: The Civil Service Code sets out the standards of behaviour expected of civil servants.

Appointment to the Civil Service is governed by the Civil Service Commissions Recruitment Principles.

You have the right to complain if you feel a department has breached the requirement of the Recruitment Principles.

Please contact SSCL () in the first instance.

If you are not satisfied with the response, you may bring your complaint to the Commission.

For further information on bringing a complaint to the Civil Service Commission please visit their web pages: Reserve Lists: In the event that the advertised post following interview, identifies more appointable applicants than available posts, we may hold applicant details on a merit/reserve list for a period of 12 months from which further future appointments can be made.

Candidates placed on a reserve list will be informed of this.

Those candidates who do not wish to remain on the reserve list should contact to be removed from the reserve list.

Additional Information Working Arrangements & Further Information The Mo J offers Hybrid Working arrangements w business need allows.

This is an informal, non-contractual form of flexible working that blends working from your base location, different Mo J sites and / or from home (please be aware that this role can only be worked in the UK and not overseas).

All employees will be expected to spend a minimum of 60% of their working time in an office, subject to local estate capacity.

Some roles will not be suitable for Hybrid Working.

Similarly, Hybrid Working will not suit everyones circumstances.

Arrangements will be discussed and agreed with the successful candidate(s) and subject to regular review.

For nationally advertised role: all successful candidates will be appointed to the nearest viable office nearest to their home postcode and on its respective pay scale.

This will be at either a HQ building (subject to desk allocation, a Justice Collaboration Centre (JCC) or a Justice Satellite Office (JSO) See Map.

All employees will be expected to spend a minimum of 60% of their working time in an office, subject to local estate capacity).

For current Mo J employees, your base location will need to be changed to the nearest viable office (to your home postcode), either at a HQ building, JCC or JSO within the National Office Network and moved its locations respective pay scale (any legacy arrangements/locations will need to be amended).

Some of Mo Js terms and conditions of service are changing as part of Civil Service reform.

The changes will apply to staff joining Mo J who are new to the Civil Service.

Staff joining Mo J from other civil service employers will transfer onto the new Mo J terms if they are already on 'modernised' terms in their current post or onto 'unmodernised' Mo J terms if they are on 'unmodernised' terms at their current post.

Details will be available if an offer is made.

Mo J candidates who are on a specialist grade, will be able to retain their grade on lateral transfer.

All candidates who are currently in receipt of Mark Time / Pay Protection should ensure they are familiar with the new policy on permanent and temporary promotion which can be found on the employee intranet.

Flexible working hours The Ministry of Justice offers a flexible working system in many offices.

Standard full time working hours are 37 hours per week.

Mo J welcomes part-time, flexible and job-sharing working patterns, w they meet the demands of the role and business needs.

All applications for part-time, flexible and job-sharing working patterns will be considered in accordance with the Mo Js Flexible Working policy.

Benefits The Mo J offers a range of benefits: Annual Leave Annual leave is 25 days on appointment and will increase to 30 days after five years service.

T is also a scheme to allow qualifying staff to buy or sell up to three days leave each year.

Additional paid time off for public holidays and 1 privilege day.

Leave for part-time and job share posts will be calculated on a pro-rata basis.

Pension The Civil Service offers a choice of pension schemes, giving you the flexibility to choose the pension that suits you best.

Training The Ministry of Justice is committed to staff development and offers an extensive range of training and development opportunities.

Networks The opportunity to join employee-run networks that have been established to provide advice and support and to enable the views of employees from minority groups to be expressed direct to senior management.

T are currently networks for employees of minority ethnic origin, employees with disabilities, employees with caring responsibilities, women employees, and lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender employees.

Support A range of Family Friendly policies such as opportunities to work reduced hours or job share.

Access to flexible benefits such as voluntary benefits, retail vouchers and discounts on a range of goods and services.

For moves to or from another employer or moves across the Civil Service this can have implications on your eligibility to carry on claiming childcare vouchers.

You may however be eligible for alternative government childcare support schemes, including Tax Free Childcare.

More information can be found on or Childcare Choices.

You can determine your eligibility at Paid paternity, adoption and maternity leave.

Free annual sight tests for employees who use computer screens.

Working for the Civil Service The Civil Service Code 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.

Should you feel that the recruitment process has breached the recruitment principles you are able to raise a formal complaint in the following order To Transformative Business Services (Monday to Friday 8am - 6pm) or e mail ); To Ministry of Justice Resourcing team (); To the Civil Service Commission (details available ) As a Disability Confident employer, Mo J are committed to providing everyone with the opportunity to demonstrate their skills, talent and abilities, by making adjustments throughout all elements of the recruitment process and in the workplace.

Mo J are able to offer an interview to disabled candidates who meet the minimum selection criteria, except in a limited number of campaigns.

For more information on applying for a role as a candidate with a disability or long-term condition, please watch our animated videos.

You will be able to request reasonable adjustments to the recruitment process within the application form.

If you need additional help completing the application form, please contact the TBS Recruitment Enquiries Team.

Diversity & Inclusion The Civil Service is committed to attract, retain and invest in talent wver it is found.

To learn more please see the Civil Service People Plan and the Civil Service Diversity and Inclusion Strategy.

A Great Place to Work for Veterans The "Making the Civil Service a Great Place to work for veterans" initiative includes a guaranteed interview scheme to those who meet the minimum criteria to provide eligible former members of the Armed Forces with opportunities to secure rewarding jobs.

Allowing veterans to continue to serve their country, and to bring highly skilled individuals with a broad range of experience into the Civil Service in an environment, which recognises and values your previous service in the Armed Forces.

For further details about the initiative and eligibility requirements visit: Redeployment Interview Scheme Civil Service departments are expected to explore redeployment opportunities before making an individual redundant.

The Mo J is committed, as part of the Redeployment Interview Scheme, to providing opportunities to those who are 'at risk of redundancy'.

Mo J is able to offer an interview to eligible candidates who meet the minimum selection criteria, except in a limited number of campaigns.

Candidates will not be eligible for the Redeployment Interview Scheme if they are applying on promotion.

Civil Service Nationality Rules 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) Reserve list A reserve list may be held for up to 12 months from which further appointments may be made for the same or similar roles.

Contact Information Mo J: If you require any assistance please call (Monday to Friday 8am - 6pm) or e mail Please quote the job reference: 9513 HMPPS If you require any assistance please call (Monday to Friday 8am - 6pm) or e mail Please quote the job reference: 9513 Job Description Attachment 2025 Head of Information Access Rights (FOI) Job Description (4).docx (Job Description Attachment) Select new file Application form stage assessments Behaviours A sift based on the lead behaviour, Delivering at Pace, may be held if a large number of applications are received.

If a large number of applications remain after the initial sift, your application will be progressed to a full sift, w all behaviours will then be considered.

Behaviours Application Form Question Word Limit 250 Delivering at Pace Managing a Quality Service Communicating and Influencing Experience We will assess your experience for this role via the following methods CV or Work History, Statement of Suitability Evidence of Experience CV or Work History, Statement of Suitability Interview stage assessments Interview Dates Not decided yet Behaviours Delivering at Pace Managing a Quality Service Communicating and Influencing Use of Artificial Intelligence (Al) You must ensure that any evidence submitted as part of your application, including your CV, statement of suitability and behaviour examples, are truthful and factually accurate.

Please note that plagiarism can include presenting the ideas and experiences of others, or generated by artificial intelligence, as your own.

Level of security checks required Security Clearance (SC)

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