Information Governance Officer

About the role

Information Governance Officer

Permanent, Full Time

£28,349 to £33,351 per annum

Location: Chelmsford

Closing Date: 20th June 2025

This position has been classed as an anywhere worker role but has an expectation that the successful candidate will attend the office, in Chelmsford 1 day per month, with the remaining time for remote working if desired, in line with the organisation’s needs.

Are you an Information Governance professional? Are you seeking a new challenge in a fast-paced local government environment? We have fixed term and permanent opportunities to join our team at the centre of the organisation.

We are looking for individuals who have experience in information governance, data protection and information rights to join our dynamic team.

The post holders will be required to prepare cases for disclosure under the subject access provisions of the Data Protection Act 2018, Freedom of Information Act 2000, and the Environmental Information Regulations 2004.

To read more about our business area, please visit:

Corporate Services and Transformation

The Opportunity

You will be required to understand the complexities around information disclosures as influenced by legislation including the Human Rights Act, Mental Capacity Act, and common law of confidentiality; and maintain detailed records of decisions/risk assessments and exemptions applied.

You should have good legislative and practical knowledge in this field and the ability to convey this to colleagues, partners, clients, and other stakeholders, as well as apply this knowledge to information right requests and complaints. Strong ICT skills are also required.

Accountabilities

Responsible for managing a large and widespread workload ensuring completion to tight statutory timescales; and maintain detailed records of decisions/risk assessments and exemptions applied.
The resilience to prepare cases for disclosure under the relevant legislation. This does sometimes involve preparing potentially distressing information.
Specific individual and shared targets and objectives are defined annually within the performance management framework.

The Experience You Will Bring

Educated to RQF Level 3 (A-level) including English and Maths, or equivalent by experience.
Completion of relevant professional qualifications is highly desirable.
Evidence of continuing professional development in Information Governance and Transparency.
Experience of working within an information governance, data protection, information rights environment, particularly in recent years.
Good interpersonal skills, particularly oral and written communications skills, presentation of text and other materials to the good standards and attention to detail.
Excellent ICT skills and good working knowledge of Microsoft is essential.
Experience of managing a diverse workload is essential.
Proven experience of working effectively with internal and external customers

Why Essex?

As one of the largest and most dynamic UK local authorities, Essex offers a stimulating public service environment. Covering over 1,420 square miles and serving 1.8 million residents, we’re committed to transformational change and delivering better quality at lower cost. Recognised in the top three of the latest IMPOWER index for productivity, we ensure everyone matters in Everyone's Essex. With flexible working options and a focus on innovation, whether you are looking to develop your career or contribute to the local community, Essex is the ideal place for you.

In February 2025, Greater Essex was accepted onto the Government’s devolution priority programme, which will see local authorities in Essex work towards establishing a Mayoral Combined County Authority by May 2026. You can read more about devolution and local government reorganisation (LGR) on our careers site.

Essex County Council is proud to be a Disability Confident Leader. We’re committed to interview all disabled applicants who choose to apply under our Job Interview Scheme if they meet the minimum requirements of the job. Please speak to our Recruiters if you require any reasonable adjustments during the process. We’re also committed to interview all veterans and care leavers, who meet the minimum requirements of the role for which they are applying.

Once you’ve secured your role within Essex County Council you will receive many great employee benefits, including support for unpaid carers and flexible working arrangements to accommodate their needs.

At Essex County Council, we value integrity and ethical behaviour. We kindly ask that you embrace our code of conduct and the Nolan principles, including throughout the recruitment process. Your commitment to these standards helps us maintain a positive and respectful workplace for everyone.

As part of employment with Essex County Council (ECC) should your role require a DBS check you will be required to register with the DBS update service. The DBS update service ensures all registered DBS certificates are kept up to date and allows authorised parties to view the status of your certificate. This is an annual subscription, and you will be responsible for ensuring this is maintained. For further information on the DBS update service please go to https://www.gov.uk/dbs-update-service

Essex County Council is committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children and vulnerable adults, and expects all employees and volunteers to share this commitment.

If you would like to be kept up to date on other relevant opportunities, blogs, news, events and industry related news at Essex County Council, please join The Essex Talent Community

If you have queries on this role or require anything further, please email jamielea.wallis@essex.gov.uk

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