About the job

Job summary

Between 5% and 10% of all Freedom of Information (FOI) requests made to government departments are handled by The National Archives (TNA). The great majority of these are for access to closed historical information. Working in Freedom of Information at TNA requires someone who is able to respond to these requests using knowledge of the FOI Act, coupled with judgement and research skills to analyse information and make high quality decisions within a tight timeframe.

Roles are currently available in TNA’s Information Rights Department in both our FOI Centre – managing FOI requests for a variety of historic records and TNA’s corporate information – as well as in our MOD Access Service Team – managing FOI requests related to military personnel records. You will develop a deep understanding of our unique collections while working as part of a leading FOI Team, capable of reaching conclusions with government officials and liaising with the public about their requests whilst developing your expertise as an information professional.

Job description

• To take responsibility for completing Freedom of Information requests within statutory deadlines  

 

• To carry out research into and produce reports on closed records held by The National Archives in response to Freedom of Information requests

 

• To assess whether or not Freedom of Information exemptions apply to information contained within above records

 

• Strong negotiation and influencing skills when dealing with other government departments regarding the release of information

 

• For roles within the FOI Centre, you will be expected to gain knowledge of specific records series held by The National Archives and to produce guidelines regarding potential areas of sensitivity. You will also deliver FOI training to The National Archives and other government colleagues regarding The National Archives’ FOI procedures

 

• For roles within the MOD Access Service Team, you will help develop TNA’s knowledge of this extensive collection, understanding how to manage complex, personal and sensitive information in the context of military personnel records. You will develop an understanding of roles within the team, to flex accordingly due to the demand of the service.

A combination of onsite and home working is available and applicants must be able to regularly travel to our Kew site.

Person specification

We would particularly like to encourage applicants from backgrounds currently underrepresented in archives, including those who identify as Lesbian Gay Bisexual Transgender (LGBT+), from Black, Asian and minority ethnic cultural backgrounds, those who are neurodivergent, and those with hidden or visible disabilities.

SC-level Security Clearance or willingness to obtain SC clearance is mandatory for this role and requires that you have lived in the UK for the last 3 years. The length of required residency may depend on individual circumstances

How to apply:

If you are an internal applicant: please do not use the link on this page. Please apply via your employee Workday account.

If you are an external applicant: to submit your application please click the 'Apply at advertiser's site' button on this page.

You will be asked to provide details of your work experience and write a personal statement. In your personal statement please explain, using examples, how you meet the essential criteria given below. You may draw on knowledge, skills, abilities, experience gained from paid work, domestic responsibilities, education, leisure interests and voluntary activities. Please note selection for interview will largely be based on the information you provide in this section.

Essential Criteria:

• Able to carry out research into records using complex documents and to summarise findings clearly

 

• High standard of communication, both written and verbal; evidence of highly developed drafting skills and an ability to write persuasively for different audiences. 

 

• Confident and able to negotiate and influence at a senior level within TNA and across government departments.

 

• Experience of working to tight deadlines and ability to work well under pressure, able to prioritise a heavy workload with little supervision

 

• Ability to make decisions, using sound judgement, escalating issues as required

 

• Excellent team player, able to work on own initiative under pressure and with a flexible approach to work.

 

Desirable Criteria:

 

• Knowledge of Information Rights legislation – ideally with experience of assessing information in accordance with Freedom of Information exemptions

 

• Customer care skills with an understanding of the needs of researchers and users of The National Archives

 

• The ability to develop and adapt training materials, as well as deliver training to a range of audiences

Benefits

Alongside your salary of £31,178, The National Archives contributes £8,418 towards you being a member of the Civil Service Defined Benefit Pension scheme. Find out what benefits a Civil Service Pension provides.

Things you need to know

Selection process details

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
• Complete the “Assistance required” section in the “Additional requirements” page of your application form to tell us what changes or help you might need further on in the recruitment process. For instance, you may need wheelchair access at interview, or if you’re deaf, a Language Service Professional

Feedback will only be provided if you attend an interview or assessment.

Security

Successful candidates must undergo a criminal record check. Successful candidates must meet the security requirements before they can be appointed. The level of security needed is security check (opens in a new window).

See our vetting charter (opens in a new window). People working with government assets must complete baseline personnel security standard (opens in new window) 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) (opens in a new window)
• nationals of the EU, Switzerland, Norway, Iceland or Liechtenstein and family members of those nationalities who have made a valid application for 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

Further information on nationality requirements (opens in a new window)

Working for the Civil Service

The Civil Service Code (opens in a new window) sets out the standards of behaviour expected of civil servants.

We recruit by merit on the basis of fair and open competition, as outlined in the Civil Service Commission's recruitment principles (opens in a new window). The Civil Service embraces diversity and promotes equal opportunities. As such, we run a Disability Confident Scheme (DCS) for candidates with disabilities who meet the minimum selection criteria. The Civil Service also offers a Redeployment Interview Scheme to civil servants who are at risk of redundancy, and who meet the minimum requirements for the advertised vacancy.