Disclosure Manager in Birkenhead

As the Disclosure Manager within the Information Rights Team, you will be responsible for the efficient management of a team of Disclosure Officers who coordinate responses to requests for information under freedom of information (FOIA), environmental information regulations (EIR), and data protection legislation. You will have responsibility for ensuring the team operates effectively, promoting compliance and adherence to statutory timeframes for responses, and ensuring the quality of responses.

You will provide advice, guidance and support for disclosure matters across the organisation, driving a positive information rights culture. In this role you will maintain effective records management, update SharePoint sites, handle internal review requests, and support the Information Rights Manager with complaints and ICO correspondence, interpret legislation and regulatory guidance, deliver timely and high-quality advice on information rights issues, and participate in the FOIA publication scheme review.

Additional responsibilities include designing and implementing information rights training, conducting monitoring and audit activities to ensure compliance, compiling information for the Freedom of Information disclosure log, and providing statistical returns to the Cabinet Office. The Disclosure Manager is expected to deputise for the Information Rights Manager and cover for team members, as well as undertake any other tasks appropriate to the grade and role description.

Person specification

• Practitioner qualification in Freedom of Information such as the British Computer Society Certificate Practitioner level (or equivalent Freedom of Information qualification, e.g., PDP training, Act Now training, Level 4 Data Protection and Information Governance apprenticeship) OR willingness to complete the qualification once in post;
• Practitioner qualification in Data Protection such as the British Computer Society Certificate Practitioner level (or equivalent Data Protection qualification, e.g., PDP training, Act Now training, Level 4 Data Protection and Information Governance apprenticeship).

You will have experience in:

• Current working knowledge and practical application of freedom of information legislation within a comparable organisation;
• Current working knowledge of data protection legislation within a comparable organisation;
• Line management experience of a team of information rights practitioners;
• Track record of working on own initiative and as part of a wider team, providing advice to achieve common goals;
• Evidence of managing conflicting priorities and meeting demanding deadlines;
• Excellent written and oral communication skills, being able to explain the application of rules and legislation;
• Knowledge and experience of monitoring information rights compliance.

Qualifications

• Practitioner qualification in Freedom of Information such as the British Computer Society Certificate Practitioner level (or equivalent Freedom of Information qualification, e.g., PDP training, Act Now training, Level 4 Data Protection and Information Governance apprenticeship) OR willingness to complete the qualification once in post;
• Practitioner qualification in Data Protection such as the British Computer Society Certificate Practitioner level (or equivalent Data Protection qualification, e.g., PDP training, Act Now training, Level 4 Data Protection and Information Governance apprenticeship).

Where an individual taking up the responsibility will be based in Swansea Office, the ability to speak Welsh is desirable. This will not be tested in the application or interview process. Applicants must have the appropriate right to work in the UK.

For more information about the role, please see the attached job description.