Information Rights Officers

We lead the UK’s diplomatic, development and consular work around the world. We employ around 17,000 staff in our global network of 281 offices worldwide. Our UK-based staff work in King Charles Street in London, Abercrombie House in East Kilbride and in Milton Keynes.

The Historical Information Rights (HIR) Team responds to requests from members of the public for information that is over twenty years old. The FCDO has generated some of the world’s most important records relating to global history, and this role will give you the opportunity to work directly with these unique records, develop knowledge of information rights legislation and an understanding of the ways in which releasing historical information can affect international relations today.

Main purpose of the job: When you join us as an Information Rights Officer, you’ll be responsible for the handling of historical information requests from the receipt of an initial enquiry through to the final response. These requests will come from members of the public, and you’ll work within the framework of the Freedom of Information Act (FOIA), Environmental Information Regulations (EIR) and the General Data Protection Regulations (GDPR). Managing, prioritising and responding to all requests efficiently and effectively, you’ll conduct comprehensive searches of our paper and electronic records to identify information relevant to the request, recording your findings accurately. You’ll liaise with a variety of stakeholders, including the FCDOS Sensitivity Review Service, for their views on the suitability for release of information. You’ll also draft legally compliant responses within the relevant statutory deadlines, including preparing and despatching copies of information which has been approved for disclosure.

In addition to these responsibilities, you’ll also liaise with and support The National Archives (TNA) relating to information requests they receive for records which have been transferred closed from public access by the FCDO under the Public Records Act. You’ll obtain quality review decisions from subject matter experts and communicate these to TNA’s Freedom of Information team.

Who we’re looking for: To be a success in this unique role you should be highly resilient, possess the time management skills necessary to manage multiple strands of work at the same time, and be capable of prioritising your tasks and working at pace as you deliver to tight deadlines. It’s vital that you have strong attention to detail and the ability to draft high quality responses which stand up to legal scrutiny, while your natural curiosity will allow you to search large amounts of information in a structured and methodical way, recording results clearly and concisely. Flexible and adaptable to changing circumstances, your excellent communication skills and proactive approach will see you collaborating and liaising with a diverse range of colleagues and stakeholders. In addition, we’ll also expect you to have a genuine interest in and aptitude for developing and deepening your knowledge of information rights legislation.

Please be aware that you must be a British Citizen at the time of application and will be required to attain Developed Vetting (DV) security clearance. We operate an agile workforce, so from time to time you may be asked to undertake other duties that we may reasonably require. We value diversity and inclusion and actively encourage and welcome applications from all communities. Everyone here gets the support to develop their skills and capabilities as well as benefits that help to make the most of life in and out of work, including a Civil Service pension. Use your talent and experience to shape our nation’s future, and deliver tangible improvements to millions of lives, including your own.

Closing date: 20 April 2026.