Salary £32,061 - £36,363 per annum | 37 hours per week | Permanent, Full time | County Hall | Preston, Lancashire
International Sponsorship – this role is not open to international sponsorship (Shortage Occupations only)
Lancashire County Council is the fourth largest local authority in England, and we are committed to making Lancashire the best place to live, work, visit, and prosper.
We are currently seeking a highly capable and motivated Information Access Officer to join our Information Governance Team. This is a key role in supporting the council’s commitment to transparency, accountability, and the safeguarding of personal data.
As an Information Access Officer, you will play a vital role in ensuring the council meets its statutory obligations, particularly during periods of organisational change.
You will be responsible for managing requests for information under the Freedom of Information Act 2000 (FOIA) , Environmental Information Regulations 2004 (EIR) , and the UK General Data Protection Regulation (UK GDPR) .
We are looking for a professional with experience of working within a political environment and who has a strong understanding of delivering high-quality, efficient, and inclusive public services.
The successful candidate will demonstrate excellent communication skills and a proven ability to manage complex issues with confidence and discretion.
You will work collaboratively with internal services and external stakeholders to ensure timely and compliant responses to information requests, upholding the council’s legal responsibilities and public service values.
This role is based within a small, supportive team operating in a large and complex public sector organisation. Applicants should be able to evidence relevant experience in a similar role, ideally within the public sector.
This is a full-time, permanent post working 37 hours per week within Governance Services based at County Hall, Preston.
Although the council offers flexible working opportunities, this is NOT a remote working post and regular attendance at the County Council's Preston Office is required in line with service requirements.
Key Responsibilities:
Manage requests for information under the provisions of the Freedom of Information Act 2000 and the Environmental Information Regulations 2004
Manage requests for personal data under the provisions of the UK General Data Protection Regulation and Data Protection Act 2018
Provide advice and assistance to council employees with regards to all aspects of data protection legislation (UK GDPR/DPA), FOI and EIR
Ensure legal knowledge and awareness remain current and in line with legislative updates and best practice
What We’re Looking For:
- Experience in an information governance or compliance setting and a strong understanding of FOIA, EIR, UK GDPR, and the Data Protection Act 2018 and practical experience of supporting individuals to exercise their information rights.
Good general political awareness, with experience of working within or alongside a political organisation or environment.
Strong organisational and time management skills, with the ability to manage multiple priorities under pressure.
Excellent communication skills, with the ability to provide clear, confident advice and support to colleagues and the public.
A commitment to discretion, confidentiality, and the principles of good governance.
Why join us:
You'll be fully supported by your line manager and the rest of the team. You'll learn new skills and feel valued and achieve both a great work/life balance and job satisfaction.
Lancashire County Council offers:
Competitive salary
Great holiday entitlement starting at 26 days per annum plus bank holidays
Opportunities for flexible working
Health and wellbeing
Family friendly employer
Financial and travel benefits
Access to training and development
For further details please follow the link: Staff benefits - Lancashire County Council
Please refer to the job description and personal specification for further information regarding the scope of work and responsibilities for the post. Please ensure you address all the essential criteria from the person specification at the application stage in your supporting evidence. Some criteria will also be addressed further at the interview stage.
Please take care to upload your supporting documentation before submitting your application. No additional documentation will be accepted after the closing date.
If you're already a Lancashire County Council employee you must apply via the internal vacancies option on Oracle Fusion . You can do this by logging into Oracle Fusion and then going to Me - Current Jobs.
Interviews will be held at County Hall, Preston, PR1 8XJ , date TBC
Job Description and Person Specification
In return Lancashire County Council offers a range of benefits, which can be found on LCC Vacancies website.
We reserve the right to close down a vacancy early, before the closing date, if we receive sufficient applications.
