Freedom of Information Officer

Are you passionate about transparency, public service and making a real impact If so, Braintree District Council are looking for a dynamic and driven Freedom of Information Officer to join our small but mighty team.  Location: Braintree, Essex, CM7 9HB Salary: £30,313 to £34,612 per annum Job Type: Full-time, Fixed term for 2 years About Us: Braintree is an ambitious and dynamic Council and is becoming one of the fastest growing Districts in the East of England with three growing towns, London just 45 minutes away and the district located directly between the international transport centres of Stansted Airport and Harwich and Felixstowe International Ports. We have a deserved track record for delivering and a strong reputation within the business community. Freedom of Information Officer – The Role: This is a full-time opportunity on a fixed term contract for two years to provide additional support to the Freedom of Information (FOI) function. The role sits within our Performance and Improvement Team and you will play a crucial role in ensuring the public has access to information in accordance with the Freedom of Information Act and Environmental Information Regulations. You will be responsible for processing and managing FOI and EIR requests, providing guidance and training to colleagues across the Council and working with the Governance Team as appropriate to ensure compliance with key data protection and information access legislation. Freedom of Information Officer – Key Responsibilities: – Process and manage Freedom of Information (FOI) requests, and Environmental Information Regulations (EIR) requests, in line with the Councils procedures and case management system, ensuring they are handled within statutory timescales – Provide practical guidance, training and support on FOI, EIR across all Council services – Regularly monitor and report on the performance of FOI and EIR request handling, identifying areas for improvement and implementing necessary changes – Identify and manage risks associated with the handling of FOI and EIR requests, ensuring that any potential issues are addressed promptly and effectively Freedom of Information Officer – You: – Practitioner Certificate in FOI/EIR desirable but not essential – Experience in handling FOI/EIR requests within a local authority or similar public organisation – Experience in engaging with stakeholders to provide guidance and support on FOI/EIR matters – Experience in preparing and delivering training sessions on FOI and EIR – Knowledge of the Freedom of Information Act 2000 and Environmental Information Regulations and their application to local authorities – Highly organised and detail-oriented with a good understanding of transparency and open data for the public sector Freedom of Information Officer – Benefits: Braintree District Council is a great place to work. We pride ourselves on our creative, innovative and forward-thinking approach which is led by our staff. We are committed to having an engaged workforce who understand our strategy and how they can help deliver it. Some of the benefits of working for Braintree District Council are: – Competitive pay and benefits -Hybrid working arrangements are available in this role (home/office based) subject to business need – Local government pension scheme – Learning and development for all staff  – Staff discounts at local businesses – Staff recognition schemes – Extensive health and wellbeing programme including discounted gym membership Closing date: Midnight on Monday 4th August Interviews w/c 18th August To submit your application for this exciting Freedom of Information Officer opportunity, please click ‘Apply’ now