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HMRC's Information Rights Unit (IRU) oversees the department's obligations under the Freedom of Information Act (FOIA), the Environmental Information Regulations (EIR) and Data Protection Act Subject Access Requests (SARs).
The Data Protection Act (DPA) 2018 regulates how HMRC processes information relating to individuals. The Act gives individuals the right to request personal information about themselves. This is known as a SAR.
The FOIA gives people a right of access to information held by public authorities. We aim to make the department more open and accountable. We also help the public understand better how we carry out our duties, why we make the decisions we do and how we spend public money.
The EIR operate in a similar way to the FOIA although they relate specifically to official environmental information.
HMRC currently deals with about 3,000 FOIA requests and over 100,000 SARs each year. How we handle them can have a significant impact on the department's reputation and each has a strict deadline within which to respond.
The IRU manages the departmental process for FOIA requests and SARs and provides advice to business areas across HMRC on handling this correspondence.
Job descriptionThe Information Rights Technical Adviser will act as a subject matter expert on the application of Freedom of Information Act (FOIA) and Data Protection Act (DPA) legislation within HMRC. They will manage a caseload of complex requests across both regimes, including FOI/SAR internal reviews and Information Commissioner's Office (ICO) complaints, ensuring compliance with statutory deadlines and high-quality responses. The postholder will provide technical advice and escalation support to Information Rights Advisers, lead on complex redaction tasks, and deliver training on FOIA and DPA legislation and processes across HMRC.
Person specificationKey Responsibilities Technical Expertise and Advice
- Act as a technical expert on FOIA and DPA legislation and its application within HMRC.
- Provide advice and guidance to Information Rights Advisers on complex cases and technical queries.
Case Management
- Actively manage a caseload of FOIA requests and SARs, ensuring processes are followed and statutory deadlines met.
- Take ownership of complex cases, including FOIA/SAR internal reviews and ICO complaints, working with information owners across HMRC.
Redaction and Compliance
- Undertake complex redaction tasks for FOIA and SAR cases across HMRC.
- Ensure compliance with legislation and internal policies in all case handling.
Training and Guidance
- Lead training sessions on FOIA and SAR processes and legislation within the IRU and across HMRC.
- Keep guidance documents updated, working with Business Support colleagues for administrative support.
Continuous Improvement- Identify opportunities to improve technical processes and share best practice across the unit.
Quality assurance
- Conduct quality checks on HO advisers' work to ensure compliance and accuracy.
- Work with G7 and G6 leads to develop the Quality Assurance framework within the IRU.
Essential Criteria:
- In-depth knowledge of FOIA and DPA legislation and its practical application.
- Strong analytical and problem-solving skills for handling complex cases.
- Excellent written and verbal communication skills for drafting responses and delivering training.
- Ability to manage multiple priorities and meet statutory deadlines.
- Proven experience providing technical advice and guidance to colleagues, supported by evidence of tangible positive outcomes or improved organisational practice.
Desirable Criteria:
- Experience managing FOIA/SAR internal reviews and ICO complaints.
- Familiarity with case management systems and redaction tools.
- Previous experience delivering training or guidance in a technical area.
Further Location Information Please ensure that you only apply for a location that you are willing and able to work from, as we will only make one offer of employment. Any additional notes included in a 'Further Location Preferences (optional)' field within the application form, will not be considered. Please be aware that you cannot change your location preference after submitting your application.
Office ClosuresIf your location preference is for the following site, it's important to note that this is not long-term site for HMRC and we will require you to move to a new building in the future, subject to our location strategy and the applicable employee policies at that time.
For more information on where you might be working,
review this information on our locations (opens in a new window) This site is:
- Benton Park View, Newcastle - moving to Pilgrims Quarter, Newcastle
You will be given more information about what this means at the job offer stage.
This vacancy is only available at the specified locations, alternative locations are not available.
Your office location is contractual so if you are successful, there is an expectation that you will attend that office location as required by the business. You need to consider how you will meet this requirement before you apply and discuss any concerns with the vacancy holder before accepting any role.
Additional Security Information Please note that if you are appointed to 100 Parliament Street, as a condition of working in this location you will be required to obtain Counter Terrorist Check (CTC) level clearance.
To obtain this level of clearance, you will normally need to meet the minimum UK residency period, which for CTC is 3 years UK residency prior to your vetting application.
You may not be able to start in the location until clearance is granted.
If you have any questions about this residency requirement, please speak to the vacancy holder for this post.
Behaviours We'll assess you against these behaviours during the selection process:
- Managing a Quality Service
- Making Effective Decisions
Technical skills We'll assess you against these technical skills during the selection process:
- 15-minute technical presentation
BenefitsAlongside your salary of £45,544, HM Revenue and Customs contributes £13,194 towards you being a member of the Civil Service Defined Benefit Pension scheme.
Find out what benefits a Civil Service Pension provides (opens in a new window).HMRC operates both Flexible and Hybrid Working policies, allowing you to balance your work and personal commitments. We welcome applications from those who need to work a more flexible arrangement and will agree to requests where possible, considering our operational and customer service needs.
We offer a generous leave allowance, starting at 25 days and increasing by a day for every year of qualifying service up to a maximum of 30 days.
- Pension - We make contributions to our colleagues' Alpha pension equal to at least 28.97% of their salary.
- Family friendly policies.
- Personal support.
- Coaching and development.
To find out more about HMRC
benefits and find out what it's really like to work for HMRC
hear from our insiders or visit
Thinking of joining the Civil Service Things you need to knowArtificial intelligenceArtificial intelligence can be a useful tool to support your application, however, all examples and statements provided must be truthful, factually accurate and taken directly from your own experience. Where plagiarism has been identified (presenting the ideas and experiences of others, or generated by artificial intelligence, as your own) applications may be withdrawn and internal candidates may be subject to disciplinary action. Please see our
candidate guidance (opens in a new window) for more information on appropriate and inappropriate use.
Selection process detailsThis vacancy is using
Success Profiles (opens in a new window), and will assess your Behaviours, Experience and Technical skills.
How to Apply As part of the application process, you will be asked to provide the following:
- A name-blind CV including your job history and key achievements from your career which reflects key responsibilities of the role. Provide specific instances from your career detailing successes where you can.
- A 750-word Personal Statement. Your Personal Statement should be used to describe how your skills and experience from your career reflect the essential criteria of the role, using specific examples from your career where you can.
Please evidence any Desirable Criteria where applicable (up to 250 words max). This is not essential for the role but may be considered by the vacancy holder where candidates have the same score at interview.
SiftIn the event of a large number of applications being received, an initial sift may be held on your CV. Those who pass will have their full application reviewed.
At full sift, your CV and Personal Statement will be assessed, with the successful candidates being invited to interview.
We may also raise the score required at any stage of the process if we receive a high number of applications.
Interview The interview will be 1 hour in duration and will be held by a 3-person panel. During the panel interview, you will be asked two behaviour-based questions, behaviours outlined below, and one experience-based question. You will also be required to deliver a 15-minute technical presentation which will include follow up questions. You will be given details of the presentation if you are invited to interview.
Behaviours
- Managing a Quality Service
- Making Effective Decisions
When answering you will be required to provide a specific instance from your career which demonstrates the technical skill, experience or behaviour in question. You would be advised to prepare specific examples from you career in advance.
You will be advised to apply the
STAR format (Situation, Task, Action, Result) technique when delivering examples. You would be encouraged to prepare demonstrable examples of your experience ahead of the interview to ensure meaningfulness and completeness.
Interviews will take place via video link. Sift and interview dates to be confirmed.
Eligibility Please take extra care to tick the correct boxes in the eligibility sections of your application form. Mistakes sometimes happen but if you contact us later than two working days (Monday-Friday) before the vacancy closes, we may not be able to reopen your application for you. If you do make a mistake with your eligibility form, or have withdrawn yourself in error and need your application reinstated whilst the campaign is still live, please contact us via:
unitybusinessservicesrecruitmentresults@hmrc.gov.uk - Use the subject line to insert appropriate wording for example - 'Please re-open my application -
[insert vacancy ref] & vacancy closing date
[insert date]'. To check that you are eligible to apply for this role,
please review the eligibility information before submitting your application .
The HMRC app can help you with your application The
HMRC app can provide you with your past 5 years' employment history, making the process of filling in your application quicker and easier.
If successful in your application, you will need your National Insurance number for the onboarding process.
Download the
HMRC app now and save your National Insurance number to your digital phone wallet.
How to download the HMRC app and sign up for an account Download the free
HMRC app from the App Store or Google Play store.
If you have an HMRC online account already, sign straight in using your ID and password. If not, you can prove your identity by answering some questions or providing your photo ID.
You'll then be able to access the app quickly and easily by signing in using a 6-digit PIN, your fingerprint, or facial recognition.
You can find guidance for technical issues on GOV.UK:
Technical support with HMRC online services .
Reserve ListA reserve list may be held for up to 6 months from which further appointments may be made for the same or similar roles - if this applies to you, we'll let you know via your Civil Service Jobs account.
Merit List After interview, a single merit list will be created, and you will only be considered for posts in locations you have expressed a preference for. Appointments will be made in strict merit order in line with the set number of roles in each location.
Criminal Record CheckApplications received from candidates with a criminal record are considered fairly in accordance with the DBS Code of Practice and the Recruitment of ex-offenders Policy.
Hybrid working at HMRCHMRC is an office-based organisation, and colleagues are expected to spend 60% of their working time in the office. Our offices provide opportunity for interaction, collaboration which aids learning and development and a sense of community. Where the role allows it, and where the home environment is suitable, colleagues can work from home for up to 2 days a week, averaged over a calendar month (or a proportionate amount of time for colleagues who work less than full time).
Reasonable Adjustments We want to make sure no one is put at a disadvantage during our recruitment process. To assist you with this, we will reduce or remove any barriers where possible and provide additional support where appropriate.
If you need a change to be made so that you can make your application, you should:
Contact the UBS Recruitment team via
unitybusinessservicesrecruitmentresults@hmrc.gov.uk as soon as possible before the closing date to discuss your needs.
Complete the "Assistance required" section in the "Additional requirements" page of your application form to tell us what changes or help you might need further on in the recruitment process. For instance, you may need wheelchair access at interview, or if you're deaf, a Language Service Professional.
Technical SupportIf you are experiencing problems that cannot be resolved by our '
help ' section, then
technical support is available. You will receive a reply in 2 working days.
Important information for existing HMRC contractual homeworkers This role may be suitable for existing HMRC employees who are contractual homeworkers. Occasional attendance to the office will be required where there is a business need. Please consider the advertised office locations for this role when applying and only select locations from the 'location preferences' section that you can travel to.
Terms and Conditions Customer facing roles in HMRC require the ability to converse at ease with members of the public and provide advice in accurate spoken English and/or Welsh where required. Where this is an essential requirement, this will be tested as part of the selection process.
HMRC has a presence in every region of the UK. For more information on where you might be working,
review this information on our locations (opens in a new window) .
The Civil Service values honesty and integrity and expects all candidates to abide by these principles. The evidence you provide in your application must relate to your own experiences.
Any instances of plagiarism or other forms of cheating will be investigated and, if proven, the relevant application(s) will be withdrawn from the process.
Recording of interviews is prohibited unless explicit agreement is sought in line with the UK General Data Protection Regulations.
Questions relating to an individual application must be emailed as detailed later in this advert.
Applicants who are successful at interview will be, as part of pre-employment screening, subject to a check on the Internal Fraud Database (IFD). This check will provide information about employees who have been dismissed for fraud or dishonesty offences. This check also applies to employees who resign or otherwise leave before being dismissed for fraud or dishonesty had their employment continued. Any applicant's details held on the IFD will be refused employment.
A candidate is not eligible to apply for a role within the Civil Service if the application is made within a 5 year period following a dismissal for carrying out internal fraud against government.
New entrants will join on the minimum of the pay band.
Please note that, if you are applying for roles on a part-time basis, the salary agreed will be pro-rata, reflective of the working hours agreed within your contract.
If you experience accessibility problems with any attachments on this advert, please contact the email address in the 'Contact point for applicants' section.
For more Information for people applying for, or thinking of applying for, roles at HM Revenue and Customs, please see link:
Working for HMRC: information for applicants - GOV.UK Feedback will only be provided if you attend an interview or assessment.
SecuritySuccessful candidates must undergo a standard (or equivalent) criminal record check.
People working with government assets must complete
baseline personnel security standard (opens in new window) checks.
Nationality requirements This job is broadly open to the following groups:
- UK nationals
- nationals of the Republic of Ireland
- nationals of Commonwealth countries who have the right to work in the UK
- nationals of the EU, Switzerland, Norway, Iceland or Liechtenstein and family members of those nationalities with settled or pre-settled status under the European Union Settlement Scheme (EUSS) (opens in a new window)
- nationals of the EU, Switzerland, Norway, Iceland or Liechtenstein and family members of those nationalities who have made a valid application for settled or pre-settled status under the European Union Settlement Scheme (EUSS)
- individuals with limited leave to remain or indefinite leave to remain who were eligible to apply for EUSS on or before 31 December 2020
- Turkish nationals, and certain family members of Turkish nationals, who have accrued the right to work in the Civil Service
Further information on nationality requirements (opens in a new window) Working for the Civil ServiceThe
Civil Service Code (opens in a new window) sets out the standards of behaviour expected of civil servants.
We recruit by merit on the basis of fair and open competition, as outlined in the Civil Service Commission's
recruitment principles (opens in a new window).
The Civil Service embraces diversity and promotes equal opportunities. As such, we run a Disability Confident Scheme (DCS) for candidates with disabilities who meet the minimum selection criteria.
The Civil Service also offers a Redeployment Interview Scheme to civil servants who are at risk of redundancy, and who meet the minimum requirements for the advertised vacancy.
Diversity and InclusionThe Civil Service is committed to attract, retain and invest in talent wherever it is found. To learn more please see the
Civil Service People Plan (opens in a new window) and the
Civil Service Diversity and Inclusion Strategy (opens in a new window).
Apply and further informationThis vacancy is part of the
Great Place to Work for Veterans (opens in a new window) initiative.
Once this job has closed, the job advert will no longer be available. You may want to save a copy for your records.
Contact point for applicantsJob contact :
- Name : Nicky Vimpany-Preston
- Email : nicky.vimpanypreston@hmrc.gov.uk
Recruitment team- Email : unitybusinessservicesrecruitmentresults@hmrc.gov.uk
Further informationAppointment to the Civil Service is governed by the Civil Service Commission's Recruitment Principles. You have the right to complain if you feel there has been a breach of the Recruitment Principles. In the first instance, you should raise the matter directly via ubsrecruitmentcomplaints@hmrc.gov.uk . Please note that we do not accept complaints or appeals regarding scoring of outcomes of campaigns unless candidates can provide clear evidence that the campaign did not follow the Recruitment Principles. If you are not satisfied with the response, you may bring your complaint to the Commission. For further information on bringing a complaint to the Civil Service Commission please visit their website.