Information Governance Officer
IPSA is independent of Parliament and government. We make fair and impartial decisions about MPs’ pay, pensions and business costs. We provide effective regulation of MPs’ pay and business costs on behalf of the public and publish the data to provide public access to information about MPs’ pay, pensions and claims.
In order to execute our responsibilities, we collect and process a variety of data, some of which are personal/sensitive and classified up to OFFICIAL: SENSITIVE. We must ensure that it’s compliant with relevant data protection legislation and that our people are appropriately trained to handle this sensitive data.Our Information Governance Officers are at the forefront of this. They assist the Data Protection Officer (DPO) in responding to Freedom of Information Act (FoIA) requests appropriately, and in delivering FoIA and data protection advice and guidance, together with appropriate records management.
The postholder will need to be able to engage confidently and effectively with all areas of the organisation, as well as with external stakeholders, the general public, and the media.
This role sits within the Policy & Engagement Directorate and reports to the (DPO).
Key responsibilities- Respond to all Freedom of Information Act requests within the statutory timeframe, including liaising with all areas of the organisation to obtain relevant information.
- Assist with the processing of data subject access requests (DSARs) and other areas of GDPR compliance.
- Assist with the design and development of records management processes and undertake records surveys.
- Provide guidance and support to colleagues to embed good records management practice - particularly relating to the retention and disposal of records, access controls and the development of file plans.
- Liaise with colleagues to ensure IPSA’s FOI Publication Scheme is kept up to date.
What we're looking for
You’ll be a dedicated Information Governance professional with a genuine enthusiasm in information access rights and data compliance. You’ll know from experience the kinds of complex challenges faced by an organisation in relation to the management of large quantities of data, and the importance of public transparency.You’ll have a background in processing information access requests, and an interest in continuously developing your own knowledge in the field.
You’ll be an effective communicator who appreciates the needs of colleagues, stakeholders and the public and you’ll be skilled at communicating clearly and concisely and in a timely manner. Your eye for detail will enable you to solve problems across the full spectrum of Information Governance activities, and your collaborative approach will ensure that the organisation feels both supported and involved in our data compliance.
The experience and technical level required for the role, along with personal qualities, skills, attributes, and qualifications (where relevant) are listed below.
Essential- Relevant experience in a similar role, in a comparable organisation(s) or operating environments.
- Practical and demonstrable experience in dealing with requests made under the Freedom of Information Act 2000 and Data Protection Act 2018.
- Practical and demonstrable experience of records management, plus an awareness of current records management issues and applying principles of good practice.
- An understanding of data protection procedures - e.g. data sharing agreements, incident reporting, data protection impact assessments, etc.
- IT skills - MS Office Suite (Outlook, Word, Excel, PowerPoint, Teams) and SharePoint.
- Proven ability to plan and organise workload, and to manage time effectively to meet tight deadlines.
- Experience working in a confidential environment demonstrating a high level of personal integrity, discretion and objective independence when dealing with sensitive or confidential matters.
- Excellent interpersonal skills and a high level of written and verbal communication, in particular the ability to provide clear, accurate advice verbally and in writing.
- An understanding of public sector transparency, including publication schemes, and the adaptability to implement changes to policy and procedure in an environment that is constantly developing.
- Able to work inclusively and flexibly in a diverse and inclusive work environment, in a team and independently with colleagues at all levels.
- Able to develop learning agility, demonstrate an ability to be successful in new and different situations, and exhibit inter-personal flexibility.
- Records or archive management qualification (or equivalent experience), or FoIA/ DPA practitioner qualification.
- Experience of working in a public sector organisation and understanding of the political landscape.
- Demonstrable project management experience.
- Experience of remote/ hybrid working.
Interview process and timeline
Interviews will be virtual via Microsoft Teams, so you’ll need access to a secure WIFI network and a private space.
Our interviews are competency and values-based. We’ll ask you a series of questions designed to help assess your suitability for the role and for IPSA. We may also ask you prepare a presentation and undertake a pre-released task to help assess your suitability.
The closing date for this role will be 16 February 2025, so we encourage you to submit your application without delay. Shortlisting will take place in w/c 17 February 2025. Interviews will take on 24 and 25 February 2025 - please make a note of these dates in your diary as we will be operating a tight interview schedule.
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