Information Rights Team Leader

Are you ready to lead a high‑performing Information Rights service at the heart of a national organisation protecting animal and plant health?

Do you have the expertise to ensure compliance with information rights legislation while championing transparency, accountability, and best practice?

At the Animal and Plant Health Agency, this is an opportunity to take on a pivotal leadership role within our Knowledge and Information Management (KIM) Team, where you’ll shape how we manage, protect, and provide access to information across a complex organisation.

Why Join APHA?

At APHA, we are proud to be an organisation where our people feel valued, heard, and empowered to be their authentic selves.

We put people first, with a strong focus on wellbeing, flexibility and a supportive working environment

We recognise that diversity of thought, experience, and background strengthens our organisation — enabling us to be more innovative, make better decisions, and deliver the best outcomes for the public we serve.

We are committed to being an inclusive and equitable employer, ensuring everyone has the opportunity to thrive. We actively welcome applications from individuals of all backgrounds, particularly those from underrepresented groups, as we continue to build a workforce that reflects the communities we serve.

Join us and be part of a supportive, inclusive environment where your contribution matters and your voice is valued.

As Information Rights Team Leader, you will lead APHA’s Information Rights service, taking responsibility for managing requests under:

• The Freedom of Information Act (FOI)
• The Environmental Information Regulations (EIR)
• The Data Protection Act (data subject requests)

You will ensure requests are handled effectively and in line with legislative requirements, while promoting a culture of openness and continuous improvement.

Key Responsibilities

You will:

• Lead and develop APHA’s Information Rights service, ensuring it operates effectively and delivers to a high standard
• Provide expert advice on information rights legislation, supporting colleagues and senior stakeholders
• Ensure compliance, managing requests in line with statutory deadlines and regulatory expectations
• Oversee complex casework, including internal reviews, ICO investigations, and tribunal contributions
• Maintain and develop policies and guidance, ensuring they reflect current legislation and best practice
• Manage APHA’s publication scheme, ensuring timely and accurate publication of responses

You will also:

• Act as lead user for the eCase system, supporting effective case management across the team
• Promote understanding of information rights, building capability across APHA
• Work collaboratively with colleagues across the Defra Group and wider profession
• Lead and support team members, fostering their development and performance
• Contribute to the wider KIM agenda, promoting strong records and information management practices

Leadership & Impact

In this role, you will:

• Inspire and guide a small, dedicated team
• Influence senior stakeholders, providing clear, confident advice
• Shape organisational practice, strengthening how information is managed and protected across APHA

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, Strengths, Experience and Technical skills.

Application Process

As part of the application process, you will be asked to complete:

• A CV submitted through an on-line tool accessed through the Civil Service Jobsite; there is no requirement to upload your personal CV.
• A 750-word Personal Statement detailing your suitability for the role based on the 'Essential Experience' bullet points within the Person Specification section of the advertisement above.
• A 250-word statement demonstrating how you meet the technical skill –

Please explain how you have used Freedom of Information Act exemption to protect commercially sensitive information.

Your CV should consist of your career history, including any key achievements and your main responsibilities in each role and be no longer than 2 pages. Your CV will be used to provide further context to your Personal Statement and will not be scored.

Further details around what this will entail can be found on the application form.

Sift

Should a large number of applications be received, there will be an initial sift assessing the Personal Statement. Those who pass the initial sift will be progressed either to a full sift or straight to interview.

Sift and interview dates to be confirmed.

Interview

If successful at application stage, you will be invited to interview where you will be assessed on Behaviour, Experience, Technical and Strength questions. The Behaviours and Technical are as follows:.

Behaviours

• Making Effective Decisions
• Working Together

Technical

• Knowledge and use of Information Rights legislation

During the interview, Experience will be assessed through questions.

Your interview will be virtual via MS Teams.

After the interview

Once all the interviews have been conducted, candidates will be notified of the outcome by email. If you are successful at the interview stage, we will be in touch to offer you a role. Offers will be made in merit order.

Eligibility

Please take extra care to tick the correct boxes in the eligibility sections of your application form. We understand mistakes sometimes happen but if you contact us later than two working days (Monday-Friday) before the vacancy closes, we will not be able to reopen your application for you. If you do make a mistake, please contact us via: defrarecruitment.grs@cabinetoffice.gov.uk using the subject line to insert appropriate wording for example – ‘Please re-open my application – [insert vacancy ref] & vacancy closing date [insert date]’

Location

Please be aware that this role(s) will be contractually based in a Defra group workplace/office. The successful candidate is required to carry out all their duties from a UK location (excluding Northern Ireland) and cannot do so from an overseas location at any time.

For most candidates your hours of work will be a blend of working from an APHA workplace (specific to the team location) with working at home.

As part of the pre-employment process for this post, successful candidate(s) will be able to agree a contractual workplace from those locations listed in this advert. The agreed contractual workplace is then the substantive and permanent place of work for the successful candidate(s).

Where the location is ‘National’ the successful appointee should discuss and agree an appropriate contractual location in line with both Defra’s location policy and site capacity, prior to proceeding with pre-employment processes.

The agreed amount of time spent at a workplace for this post will reflect the requirement for Civil Servants to spend at least 60% of their working time in an organisation workplace with the option to work the remaining time flexibly from home. Working time spent at a workplace may include time spent at other organisation allocations including field-based operational locations, together with supplier, customer or partner locations. This is a non-contractual agreement which is consistent with common Civil Service expectations. Travel costs to non-contractual workplaces will be subject to departmental travel and subsistence policies.

Travel costs to contractual workplaces are the responsibility of the employee. The successful candidate is required to carry out all their duties from a UK location and cannot do so from an overseas location at any time.

Defra includes the core department, APHA, RPA, Cefas and VMD

This role is full time only. Applicants who wish to work an alternative pattern are welcome to apply however your preferred working pattern may not be available and you should discuss this with the vacancy holder before applying.

Reserve List

A reserve list may be held for a period of 12 months from which further appointments can be made.

Near Miss

Candidates who are judged to be a near miss at interview may be considered for other positions within Defra Group which may be at a lower grade but have a potential skills match.

Merit Lists

Where more than one location is advertised, candidates will be posted in merit order by location. You will be asked to state your location preference on your application.

Salary

New entrants are expected to start on the minimum of the pay band.

Criminal Record Check

If successful and transferring from another Government Department, a criminal record check may be carried out.

In order to process applications without delay, we will be sending a Criminal Record Check to Disclosure and Barring Service on your behalf. However, we recognise in exceptional circumstances some candidates will want to send their completed forms direct. If you will be doing this, please advise Government

Recruitment Service of your intention by emailing Pre-EmploymentChecks.grs@cabinetoffice.gov.uk stating the job reference number in the subject heading.

Internal Fraud Database Check

Applicants who are successful at interview will be, as part of pre-employment screening subject to a check on the Internal Fraud Database (IFD). This check will provide information about employees who have been dismissed for fraud or dishonesty offences. This check also applies to employees who resign or otherwise leave before being dismissed for fraud or dishonesty had their employment continued. Any applicant’s details held on the IFD will be refused employment.

A candidate is not eligible to apply for a role within the Civil Service if the application is made within a 5-year period following a dismissal for carrying out internal fraud against government.

Reasonable Adjustment

If a person with disabilities is put at a substantial disadvantage compared to a non-disabled person, we have a duty to make reasonable changes to our processes.

If you need a change to be made so that you can make your application, you should:

• Contact Government Recruitment Service via defrarecruitment.grs@cabinetoffice.gov.uk as soon as possible before the closing date to discuss your needs.
• Complete the “Assistance required” section in the “Additional requirements” page of your application form to tell us what changes or help you might need further on in the recruitment process. For instance, you may need wheelchair access at interview, or if you’re deaf, a Language Service Professional.

Accessibility

If you are experiencing accessibility problems with any attachments on this advert, please contact the email address in the 'Contact point for applicants' section.

NSV

For further information on National Security Vetting please visit the following page https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/demystifying-vetting

Childcare Vouchers

Any move to Defra from another employer will mean you can no longer access childcare vouchers. You may however be eligible for other government schemes, including Tax Free Childcare. Determine your eligibility at https://www.childcarechoices.gov.uk

Visa Sponsorship Statement

Please take note that Defra does not hold a UK Visa & Immigration (UKVI) Skilled Worker License sponsor and are unable to sponsor any individuals for Skilled Worker Sponsorship.

Feedback

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