Information Rights Officer

As an Information Rights Officer, you will be welcomed into a dynamic and inclusive Data Protection team. The IOPC is on a journey to develop its culture, perspectives and ethos to support the organisation’s core outcomes, and this is your opportunity to enter into the varied world of IOPC data protection, allowing you to develop your mindset and approaches to contribute to improving the police complaints system in England and Wales.

An IOPC Information Rights Officer is part of a wider team that processes freedom of information requests and subject access requests.

The role is primarily, but not solely, concerned with the compliance of information access requests. The role holder will process subject access requests for the IOPC and must liaise with internal and external stakeholders, at all levels of the business, who have a vested interest in the proposed disclosure in order to provide accurate and timely responses that are compliant with legislation. In addition to this they will be involved in quality assuring correspondence, disseminating best practice, training staff and maintaining records as part of a team charged with responsibility for co-ordinating and assuring the IOPC’s compliance with Information Rights legislation.

The role is based in the Data Protection and Freedom of Information Team within the Legal Directorate. The job is based in Sale, Birmingham, Cardiff or Wakefield but may involve some travel to the other IOPC’s offices and elsewhere in England and Wales from time to time.

• Acting as first point of contact for the processing of all subject access requests. Ensuring responses are accurate, compliant and timely.
• Providing high quality advice and support on the application of information rights law through the scoping and draft redacting of subject access request and FOI request responses.
• Providing advice on whether information should be disclosed or refused in compliance with the relevant legislation. With the knowledge and understanding of when to defer to legal for clarification, further understanding, internal and external consultation and guidance in relation to other legislation which may apply to the IOPC’s disclosure.
• Understanding, interpreting and applying any relevant tribunal and Information Commissioner’s Office (ICO) cases and guidance to subject access request and FOI request responses.
• Assessing requests and correspondence to identify the relevant IOPC internal and external stakeholders that may be affected by disclosure
• Working with IAOs and other interested parties, at all levels, so as to identify and understand their concerns about disclosure or exemption application and to provide expert advice on any applicable exemptions from disclosure.
• Responding to requests ensuring that all correspondence and associated disclosures are timely, accurate and compliant with legislation, regulations and policies.
• Providing ongoing advice, training and guidance to the IOPC as whole where required.
• Support the IOPC internal review officers in responding to FOIA and DPA complaints.
• Support the Senior FOI/DPA Advisor and others in undertake internal reviews of responses to subject access requests.
• Provide supporting material to enable representations to information tribunals in respect of FOI cases and the courts in relation to DPA cases.
• Liaising with the Senior FOI/DPA Advisor or the DPO where a disclosure relates to sensitive matters.
• Provide supporting material in regard to requests that potentially attract the exemption under section 36 FOIA.
• Liaising with external stakeholders from where the material originates so as to ensure that their concerns about disclosure are taken into account.
• Ensuring accurate records are kept of requests, responses, disclosures and exemptions and associated correspondence in accordance with FOIA and DPA.
• Support the production of and updating of guidance on the Intranet and support material used by the IOPC in order to promote best practice, in light of the evolving business and legal landscape.
• Support the provision information rights training across the organisation.
• Updating and improving processes within the IOPC to deliver a better information rights service.
• Keeping up to date with statute law, case law and practice relating to information rights legislation, including participating in in-house seminars, and external events. Facilitate knowledge transfer and dissemination to various staff including other FOI & DPA staff.
• Carrying out such other duties and responsibilities of a wider FOI and DPA nature as are required from time to time.

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)

This vacancy is using Success Profiles (opens in a new window), and will assess your Behaviours and Experience.

We'll assess you against these Higher Executive Officer (HEO) Level behaviours during the selection process:

• Communicating and Influencing
• Managing a Quality Service
• Delivering at Pace

This vacancy is using Success Profiles, to find out more, please click here.

Throughout the recruitment process we will also assess your Experience.

As part of the application process, you will be asked to complete four sift Questions based on the essential criteria.

Anticipated assessment and interview dates are estimated to take place in September 2026. Successful candidates will be invited to attend a Success Profile Interview.

Feedback will only be provided if you attend an interview or assessment.