Foi Assessor

**Details**:
**Reference number**:

- 269238**Salary**:

- £29,835**Job grade**:

- Higher Executive Officer**Contract type**:

- Permanent**Business area**:

- Public Access and Government Services; Information Rights**Type of role**:

- Knowledge and Information Management**Working pattern**:

- Flexible working, Full-time, Job share, Part-time**Number of jobs available**:

- 2Contents

Location

About the job

**Benefits**:
Things you need to know

Location
- London, London (region), TW9 4DUAbout the job

**Job summary**:
Domesday Book. Shakespeare’s will. Tweets from Downing Street. War time records. These are just some of the 11 million items held by The National Archives. With a collection like this - the largest in the world - it’s no surprise that we handle between 5-10% of all Freedom of Information (FOI) requests received by the Government. As an FOI Assessor, you’ll have a great opportunity to work with closed historical records and make decisions regarding their access. Join us and you’ll work in an organisation that offers great support and exceptional benefits.

**About the role**

The majority of the FOI requests we receive are for closed historical information. The role of FOI Assessor requires an individual capable of managing a heavy workload with good decision-making and communication skills to ensure The National Archives meets its legal obligations under FOI.

Working in a team of FOI Researchers and Assessors, supported by FOI Team Managers, you will join one of two units within TNA:

- our MOD Access team, managing FOI requests related to a military personnel records, where you will develop a deep understanding of this unique collection; or
- our FOI Centre, responding to requests in relation to the rest of the historic and corporate records held by TNA. Your portfolio will include a variety of government departments and arms-length bodies.

**Job description**:

- Full job description attached (see below).**Person specification**:
**About you**

To join us, you must be able to carry out research using complex documents and the ability to summarise findings clearly. Ideally you will have knowledge of the FOI Act and related legislation (although this is not essential and training will be provided). It’s equally important that you have the judgement to make key FOI and access decisions and the ability to escalate issues when required. Excellent team working skills, a flexible approach and a high standard of written and verbal communication are essential too. You’ll also need to demonstrate the ability to work well under pressure in order to manage casework and meet deadlines, whilst providing a professional service to the public and other government departments.

Join us here in beautiful Kew, just 10 minutes’ walk from the Overground and Underground stations, and you can expect an excellent range of benefits. They include a pension, flexible working and childcare vouchers, as well as discounts with local businesses (e.g. beauty salons and bars). We also offer wellbeing resources (e.g. on-site therapists) and have an on-site gym, restaurant, shop and staff bar.

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 travel regularly to our Kew site.

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.

**How to apply**:
**Essential criteria**:
We will assess you against these criteria during the selection process:

- 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 experience of assessing information in accordance with Freedom of Information exemptions
- Customer care skills with an understanding of the