Information Rights Officer

Directorate: Resources

Section: Corporate, Property and Information Governance

Location: Civic Centre

Grade: Level 8

Salary: £33,699 - £36,363 per annum

Hours: 37 hours per week

This advert is open to both internal and external applicants.

About us

We are a city of strengths, with a proud heritage and bright future. Working for Stoke-on Trent City Council is more than just a job, it's about making, protecting and improving the services for the local population, reducing inequalities and improving independence for the people who live and work in the city. And that's where you come in. We are always looking for people of the highest calibre with skills, knowledge and experience to help us deliver our compelling vision.

Stoke-on-Trent City Council's diverse and talented workforce is its greatest asset and most valuable resource. The skills, knowledge and experience of our c.4,600 employees are essential to delivering our ambitions and vision for our organisation and Stoke-on-Trent. We want to be an employer that people are proud to work for, and where our staff are supported, developed and rewarded in an inclusive way that helps them to excel and to deliver the high-quality services that our residents need.

Further information on the Council and our directorates

The Role

The Information Rights Team is part of the wider Legal Services team within the Resources Directorate. The Information Rights Officer role is to action requests for information under legislation including the Data Protection Act, the Freedom of Information Act and the Environmental Information Regulations and to coordinate and monitor requests for information.

Key Responsibilities

• To ensure requests for information are managed in line with legislation and standards
• To resolve day to day and ongoing Data Protection, Freedom of Information issues
• To develop and implement a robust Information Rights service to ensure the City Council meets its legal and statutory requirements
• To consult effectively with the other directorates of the City Council to ensure effective delivery of the Information Rights agenda and equating essential requirements with resources available
• To provide analysis and reports as and when directed

About You

• Experience of, or equivalent qualification in Freedom of Information legislation and data protection
• Understanding and awareness of the sensitive nature of a political environment
• Good interpersonal skills
• Ability to meet strict deadlines
• Excellent computer skills
• Proven record of working to tight deadlines and being able to manage own workload effectively to meet personal and team targets
• Able to make clear effective decisions in a complex and challenging environment

What we offer

• A competitive salary based on your skills, experience and talent
• Hybrid and flexible working options
• An excellent local authority benefits pension scheme
• Professional development through learning opportunities, regular training sessions and apprenticeship and management schemes

Further information on our Rewards and Benefits can be found here.

For more information on the role, please contact the Recruiting Manager Hayley Garner,

Pre-Employment Checks

• Right to Work in the UK
• Proof of address
• Satisfactory references
• Occupational Health Clearance
• Evidence of professional qualifications or registrations
• DBS check at the appropriate level (if applicable for the role)

The Council will not accept any speculative CVs from employment agencies.

No agency terms and conditions accompanying any such CVs will be accepted by the Council.

Any unsolicited information sent by an employment agency will be treated as the property of the Council.

Please note that if an employee who is currently at risk of redundancy within the organisation applies for this vacancy their application will receive priority. If this happens you will be advised accordingly.

Equality, Diversity and Inclusion

At Stoke-on-Trent City Council, we believe our strength comes from the diversity of our community, and we want our workforce to reflect that. We welcome applications from individuals of all backgrounds and experiences. We understand that some people, especially those from underrepresented or marginalised backgrounds, may hesitate to apply if they don't meet all the listed requirements. If this role interests you and you think you could be a good fit, we encourage you to apply. We are proud of what makes each of us unique and are committed to creating a workplace where everyone feels included, can be themselves, and can succeed together.