Closing date: 05 July 2026
Interview dates: 21 and 22 July (in person)
About us
The Parliamentary and Health Service Ombudsman (PHSO) is a modern, vibrant organisation full of passionate, committed people. We make final decisions on complaints that have not been resolved by UK Government departments and the NHS in England. We work closely with people to understand where, how and why public services sometimes fall short and fail to put people first. And we find ways to put it right.
Based in the centre of Manchester and Westminster, we employ over 600 individuals, collaboratively working together to make voices heard. We have created a diverse and inclusive culture, whilst offering flexibility to give you the autonomy to work in the best way suited to you.
The role
The Information Rights Officer plays a key role in making sure we meet our legal responsibilities around data protection and information rights. You will handle requests for information in line with legislation, providing clear and accurate responses while helping to reduce the risk of non-compliance. You will also offer practical advice to colleagues on how to manage data appropriately.
You will work closely with the Data Protection Officer and wider team to support regulatory responses, maintain accurate records, and contribute to data protection impact assessments. The role also involves delivering guidance and training to colleagues, helping to build understanding of data protection and cyber security across the organisation
This is a varied role that requires strong judgement, attention to detail, and the ability to interpret complex legislation. You will need to manage competing priorities, meet statutory deadlines, and work collaboratively with others to ensure a consistent and high-quality service for information requesters.
What we are looking for:
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experience with disclosure requests and working with Data Protection legislation
- experience of analysing complex legislation and to be able to apply it to particular cases and situations
- excellent communication skills, both written and verbal and the ability to present information clearly
- knowledge of data protection and information rights legislation applied within a public authority
- experience of handling information rights requests
- technical knowledge of current data protection legislation and the role of the data protection officer under GDPR
- industry recognised qualifications in DPA and FOI legislation e.g. CIPP/E, CIPM, University of Maastricht Certified DPO etc or willingness to obtain this qualification.
We recognise the value of lived experience. If you have experience of complaining about any public body, we strongly encourage you to apply.
Our benefits:
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Civil Service Pension scheme
- 32.5 days annual leave (plus bank holidays on top)
- hybrid working, 40 percent office based
- access to a free, confidential Employee Assistance Programme offering 24/7 advice and support from professionals and counsellors
- comprehensive learning and development programme
- employee discount scheme across hundreds of retailers
- paid for professional memberships
How to apply (and how to do well)
You will answer four scored questions at application stage. We use these to shortlist, so your answers matter.
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choose real examples (from professional settings)
- focus on what you did, not what “we” did as a group
- explain your thinking: what you looked at, what you decided, and why
- keep it clear and specific, avoid generic statements
Please do not use AI to write your answers. We need to assess your skills, and applications may be rejected if answers appear AI-generated.
If your examples are very short, mostly opinion-based, or don’t describe a specific situation and outcome, you are unlikely to score well.
Inclusion & Wellbeing
Equality, diversity, inclusion, and wellbeing are vital to the way we work and our culture. We want our colleagues feel included, valued, and supported at work. It is essential that we are representative and accessible for the people who work here and those who use our service.
Actions we take to embed this include:
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an anonymised shortlisting process to make sure it is fair and unbiased
- monitoring the demographic trends in our workforce and making measured, sustained efforts to improve our diversity at all levels
- providing wellbeing support and opportunities for personal and professional development for all colleagues
- creating spaces for connection and engagement through our employee network groups and social clubs
- part of the disability confident scheme
- providing reasonable adjustments
- engaging in regular inclusion learning to enhance the cultural competency of our organisation.
We know the value of having diverse, representative teams across our organisation. Which is why we particularly encourage applications from candidates who are likely to be underrepresented within the team. These include people who are:
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Asian, Black, Mixed Ethnicity or another ethnic background
Contact and important information
If you would like to learn more about the role, please contact Michael Avery, Information Rights Manager,
[email protected]
- Feedback: we do not offer feedback at application stage
- Right to work: we can only consider candidates with the right to work in the UK.
- Sponsorship: we are unable to offer sponsorship (we do not have a licence).
- Applications: we do not accept CVs—please apply via the application form (‘apply now’).
- Agencies: no agencies; applications from individuals only.
- Early closure: we may close the advert early if we receive a high volume of applications.
Important notice: fraudulent job postings
We have been made aware that some websites are falsely advertising job vacancies for the Parliamentary and Health Service Ombudsman (PHSO). We only advertise job vacancies through these official channels:
Do not share personal details with any other websites claiming to represent PHSO. Contact our
recruitment team to report any concerns at
[email protected]
We are changing our name
We are changing our name. Later this year we will become the Public Service Ombudsman. This will make it easier for people to find us and understand what we do. The service we provide will remain the same. Visit our website to find out more.
