Freedom of Information Manager -Access Service Team (MOD)

As the living, growing home of our national story, The National Archives is already a special place to work. We’re an institution nearly 200 years old with a collection spanning 1,000 years of history. But it’s where we go next that makes things really interesting. In our strategic vision: Archives for Everyone, we set ourselves the challenge of becoming the 21st Century national archive - a different kind of cultural and heritage institution: Inclusive, Entrepreneurial, Disruptive. We won’t become this overnight. It will take time, focus, effort and daring. That’s where you come in. Because we can’t do this without you.

Salary: £39,567 per annum
Contract type: Fixed Term Appointment until 30 June 2026
Band: F / Senior Executive Officer
Closing date: Thursday 12th February 2026 at midnight

Between 5 and 10% of all Freedom of Information (FOI) requests made to monitored government bodies are handled by The National Archives. The majority of these are for access to closed historical information. The role of an FOI Manager requires an individual capable of managing a team of information rights specialists to ensure The National Archives meets its legal obligations under FOI. Working within our Information Rights Department, you will join our MOD Access Service Team, managing FOI requests related to military personnel records. You will develop a deep understanding of this unique collection. This is a fixed term appointment to run until at least 30th June 2026, with the possibility of extension.

Responsibilities

• Overseeing FOI activity related to the records in the MOD transfer project throughout The National Archives
• Managing internal appeals and those made to the Information Commissioner’s Office and Information Tribunal
• Managing FOI caseloads
• Liaising with Press Office over high profile/controversial releases
• Keeping the department up to date with case law, ICO guidance on FOI, Data Protection and specific records knowledge
• Using knowledge of information rights legislation to assist in resolving complex or difficult cases

This is a full time post. However, requests for part-time working, flexible working and job share will be considered, taking into account at all times the operational needs of the Department. A combination of onsite and home working is available and applicants should be able to regularly travel to our Kew site for a minimum of 60% of their work time.

Application Process

• Interview: Interviews will be held on-site in Kew, ideally week commencing 23rd February 2026.
• Personal Statement: We ask all applicants to submit work history details and a personal statement, not exceeding 1200 words. Selection for interview will be based on the ‘essential’ requirements in the job description so please ensure that your statement demonstrates in detail how you meet these requirements.

SC clearance/willingness to obtain SC clearance will be required for this role. This requires candidates to have been resident in the UK for at least the past three years. Please do not apply if you have been resident in the UK for less than three years as your application will be rejected.

Role and Responsibilities

• Motivate and provide leadership and day to day management to a team of staff who are required to handle FOI requests for closed archival information
• Ensure a professional service is provided to members of the public and other Government Departments
• Provide FOI induction training
• Conduct research and write reports
• Consult with the Advisory Council on National Archives and Records regarding Public Interest Tests
• Negotiate with senior colleagues from other Government Departments, ensuring the position of The National Archives is clearly and expertly conveyed
• Advise staff under your direct supervision, using your knowledge of information rights legislation
• Investigate internal appeals and manage investigations conducted by the Information Commissioners’ Office into The National Archives’ case handling and application of the law.
• Ensure lessons learnt from these appeals inform the Access Service Team’s future operations and are relayed to other Government Departments
• Draft legally compliant responses, which may be used in evidence by the Information Commissioner and the Information Tribunal
• Maintain and share expert knowledge of FOI, the Data Protection Act, and other information rights legislation by keeping up to date with case law and legal developments
• Take responsibility for managing the workflow of FOI cases relating to identified work streams and ensuring cases are completed within statutory deadlines.
• This will include leading negotiations with other Government Departments to refine procedures for handling requests and to develop policies regarding the review of digital records.
• Additionally, it will involve identifying and troubleshooting potential delays in the process and taking remedial steps to resolve them
• Carry out research into closed documents, concentrating especially on “complex” cases, using your expert knowledge of the law to discuss and progress these with senior members of other Government Departments’ information rights units
• Manage the performance and development of FOI case handlers

Working Conditions

• Normal office environment
• Display Screen Equipment user
• Moving items up to 10kg in weight
• May come into contact with distressing material

Person Specification

Essential Criteria

• Delivering at Pace - Experience of mentoring, motivating or managing staff who work under pressure to meet tight deadlines
• Managing a Quality Service - Ability to prioritise and balance managing own workload, deadlines, alongside providing support to a wider team
• Communicating and Influencing - Excellent standard of communication, both written and verbal; evidence of highly developed drafting skills and ability to write persuasively, for different audiences
• Working Together - Experience of negotiation; ability to influence decisions at a senior level, both internally and externally
• Making Effective Decisions - Confidence to use judgment and knowledge to make difficult decisions and defend them
• Demonstrable knowledge of information rights legislation including the Public Records Act 1958 and the Freedom of Information Act 2000 OR significant relevant experience, demonstrating the ability to carry out research into information and records, analyse contents and summarise findings clearly and concisely

Desirable Criteria

• Qualification in information rights legislation
• Experience of managing staff in an operational or casework environment
• Experience of delivering practical training, targeted guidance and advice to a wide audience of differing needs

Other Requirements

A combination of onsite and home working is available and applicants should be able to regularly travel to our Kew site for a minimum of 60% of their work time. Willingness to be DV cleared if necessary.

Benefits

Generous benefits package, including pension, sports and social club facilities, onsite gym, discounted rates at our on-site cafe and opportunities for training and development. Annual leave entitlement of 22 days per calendar year (rising to 25 after the first year, and incrementally to 30 days after six years) and 10½ days public and privilege holidays per annum.

Reasonable adjustments

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 The National Archives via careers@nationalarchives.gov.uk as soon as possible before the closing date to discuss your needs.

Security

Successful candidates must pass a disclosure and barring security check. People working with government assets must complete basic personnel security standard checks.

Nationality Requirements

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), 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.

Contact Point For Applicants

Name: The National Archives Recruitment Team
Email: careers@nationalarchives.gov.uk