Information Governance Officer

Information Governance Officer

Location: Chelmsford, Essex, UK

Contract: Fixed Term, Full Time

Salary: £29,342 to £34,519 per annum

Closing Date: 24th May 2026

Working Style: Anywhere worker (with 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).

The Opportunity

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

For more information about our business area, please visit: Corporate Services

The Role and Responsibilities

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. You will be required to understand the complexities around information disclosures as influenced by legislation, and maintain detailed records of decisions/risk assessments and exemptions applied. You will be responsible for managing a large and widespread workload, ensuring completion to tight statutory timescales, and may involve preparing potentially distressing information. Specific individual and shared targets and objectives are defined annually within the performance management framework.

Experience You Will Bring

Essential

• Proven experience of reading and redacting subject access requests (SARs), preferably in a local authority setting


• 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


• Proven experience of working effectively with internal and external customers

Desirable

• Excellent ICT skills and good working knowledge of Microsoft


• Good interpersonal skills, particularly oral and written communications, presentation of text and other materials to a high standard and with attention to detail


• Completion of relevant professional qualifications is highly desirable


• Educated to RQF Level 3 (A-level) including English and Maths, or equivalent by experience

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 are committed to transformational change and delivering better quality at lower cost. We are recognised in the top three of the latest IMPOWER index for productivity, and we strive to ensure everyone matters in Everyone's Essex. With flexible working options and a focus on innovation, Essex is the ideal place to develop your career or contribute to the local community. 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.

Other Information

Essex County Council is proud to be a Disability Confident Leader. We are committed to interviewing all disabled applicants who meet the minimum requirements of the job under our Job Interview Scheme, and to interviewing all veterans and care leavers who meet the minimum requirements. You will receive great employee benefits, including support for unpaid carers and flexible working arrangements. We value integrity and ethical behaviour and ask that you embrace our code of conduct and Nolan principles throughout the recruitment process. If your role requires a DBS check, you will be required to register with the DBS update service. This is an annual subscription, and you will be responsible for ensuring it is maintained. For more information on the DBS update service, please contact Essex County Council.

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If you have queries on this role or require anything further, please email the recruitment team.

#s1-Gen

Information Governance OfficerFixed Term, Full Time£29,342 to £34,519 per annumLocation: ChelmsfordWorking Style: Anywhere workerClosing Date: 24th May 2026Please note this vacancy is available as a Fixed Term Contract or Secondment opportunity for 18 months.Are you an Information Governance professional? Do you have proven experience of reading and redacting subject access requests, preferably in a local authority setting? Are you seeking a new challenge in a fast-paced local government environment? 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.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 predominantly be required to prepare cases for disclosure under the
subject access provisions of the Data Protection Act 2018, and may be asked to assist with Freedom of Information Act 2000, and the Environmental Information Regulations 2004.To read more about our business area, please visit: Corporate ServicesThe OpportunityThe 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.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.AccountabilitiesResponsible 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 BringEssential: Proven experience of reading and redacting subject access requests (SAR's), preferably in a local authority setting is essential.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.Proven experience of working effectively with internal and external customers.
Desirable:Excellent ICT skills and good working knowledge of Microsoft.Good interpersonal skills, particularly oral and written communications skills, presentation of text and other materials to the good standards and attention to detail.Completion of relevant professional qualifications is highly desirable.Educated to RQF Level 3 (A-level) including English and Maths, or equivalent by experience. 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