Head of Information Rights

Role Purpose

Are you an excellent leader and people manager who has a sound understanding of the evolving information rights policy landscape across government and the accompanying legislative context? Are you looking for a new challenge working at the heart of the justice system?

We are looking for a motivated and collaborative individual to join Security and Information Directorate (SID) within the Ministry of Justice (MoJ).

As Head of Information Access, in the Information Services Division (ISD, which sits in SID), you will support the MoJ on delivering on its transparency obligations and carefully balancing this with the need to protect sensitive information. You will contribute to the effective running and decision-making of the Division. You will be working in a fast-paced environment, balancing competing demands, and delivering challenging objectives.

This is a challenging and fast-paced role that would be suited to an individual with outstanding information access knowledge and interpersonal skills. The successful candidate will need the ability to strategically lead teams with competing demands and deadlines, across a wide spectrum of work, building relationships quickly across key partners to support delivery. They will also be responsible for generating a positive team culture and shared sense of purpose on their team.

Responsibilities include but are not limited to:

1. Define and deliver a strategic vision that sets out how the team will consistently meet the required performance in the immediate and longer term.

2. Review and continuously improve the team and operating model to meet the supply and demand of cases now and in the future by identifying and leveraging opportunities for deployment of digital and technology tools, proactively taking steps towards the digital first agenda.

3. Be an active member of the Information Service Division’s SMT reporting to the Deputy Director Information Service Division.

4. Advising the Permanent Secretary and MoJ’s Executive Committee on information request strategic risks and mitigating actions and ensure their decisions are translated into policy and delivery plans at pace.

5. Be accountable for ensuring high standards are set in terms of legislative and internal targets and further improvements and cost savings are made. 

6. Developing and maintaining influential and effective working relationships with a range of stakeholders within Government including ministers, special advisers, legal, policy, technology, analytical and operational colleagues; developing a strong internal network within MoJ and key contacts in relevant policy departments and at the centre.

7. Developing and maintaining influential and effective working relationships with stakeholders outside the Department and outside government, including large third sector delivery organisations, influential information professional bodies.

8. Representing MoJ at senior level cross-Government meetings.

9. Lead and manage an effective Subject Access Request (SAR), Environmental Information Regulations (EIR), and Freedom of Information (FOI) service for the MoJ, which balances fulfilling statutory obligations with the need to protect sensitive information.

10. You will be accountable for the delivery of the department’s statutory performance obligations, effectively managing any performance issues through maintaining strategic oversight of the MoJ’s information access pipeline and coordination of the day-to-day flow of casework loads, and as required offering support and/or challenge to teams.

11. Build and maintain good relationships with significant business units within MOJ and its agencies, by providing high quality advice on the handling of complex information access requests and the release and/or handling of sensitive information.

12. Ensuring effective recording, compilation, and quality assurance of information access management information, including sharing information with our boards and the generation of quarterly and annual information pack for analysis and publication by the Cabinet Office official statistics team.

Skills and experience

Essential skills:

• Thorough understanding of the Freedom of Information Act (2000); this will include but not be restricted to:

  • a strong understanding of the exemption provisions provided under the FOI Act and how they will apply to the Department’s information

  • a good understanding of the application of Public Interest Tests to present balanced and convincing arguments

• A sound understanding of the Data Protection Act (2018), including:

  • a sound understanding of the administration of Subject Access Requests under both Part 2 and Part 3;

  • a thorough understanding of GDPR compliance requirements for public authorities.

Essential experience:

• Experience in leading and working in a public sector organisation, in a KIM function with responsibility for the leadership of an FOI, EIR and SARs casework team including the identification and mitigation of compliance risks to successfully meet departmental obligations under the DPA 2018 and FOIA.

• Proven track record of leading and motivating large, diverse teams with experience of improving engagement and service delivery responsiveness 

• Experience of developing ambitious visions and strategies based on benefits and setting out persuasive arguments that secure organisational buy-in and translate them into deliverable goals

• A thorough understanding of risk and Issue management with an intrinsic ability to spot problems and resolve or escalate at the right time when necessary.

• Ability to develop clearly articulated, sound proposals to tackle new and complex issues through analysis of multiple and potentially conflicting information sources, including stakeholders’ views and applying appropriate governance procedures including delivery assurance.

• Experience of managing a budget and conducting effective workforce planning and the successful delivery of service as well as value for money through third party suppliers.

• Experience of leading teams through change to achieve results and managing multi-disciplinary teams.

• The ability to clearly define processes and set targets, so everyone understands and owns their roles, responsibilities and legal and regulatory standards are maintained.

• The skill to progress and achieve information access outcomes by, building positive relationships and maintaining a network of contacts and where necessary challenging others’ assumptions and/or compromising to ensure outcomes are delivered.

• Excellent oral and written communication skills, including the ability to speak with authority when dealing with senior officials, leaders, minister and SpAds.

• Tact and discretion, particularly in supporting the deputy director’s responsibilities in respect of sensitive issues and work.

• Experience of working at pace, under pressure, and of taking decisions in a fast-moving environment.

• Ability to work effectively both independently and as part of a team.

• Experience in transforming and continually improving their team’s service to deliver efficiencies, value for money, and deliver against legislation for the public and our service users.

Desirable Experience:

• Holds a knowledge and information management professional qualification or membership of a professional body e.g. Archives and Records Association (ARA), Chartered Institute of Librarians and Information Professionals (CILIP) or Information and Records Management Society (IRMS).

Security clearance level: SC

Key behaviours required for the role include:

• Delivering at pace

• Leadership

• Changing and improving

• Communicating and influencing

• Managing a quality service