Location
Milton Keynes, GB
Department Name
GC LS TED & FOI G4
About Network Rail
About Network Rail…
Join Network Rail - Where People and Connections Matter
At Network Rail, we're dedicated to keeping passengers and freight moving safely and efficiently across the country. When you join us, you're not just part of a team - you're part of something that matters to millions. We believe that our people are at the heart of what we do, and every role plays a vital part in building a better, more connected railway.
Click here to learn more.
We're committed to creating a diverse, inclusive workplace that reflects the communities we serve. To discover more about our ED&I commitments
click here.
We value flexibility and understand the importance of a healthy work-life balance. As a Disability Confident Leader, we'll do everything we can to accommodate any needs throughout the recruitment process. You can visit
Evenbreaks Career Hive
for advice on accessibility support.
If you're ready to make a real difference, we'd love to hear from you
Vacancy Details
Duration:
Fixed term contract of 12 months.
Location:
This role is based in the Quadrant:MK. This role is a full-time opportunity, flexible working patterns will be considered. For Quadrant:MK, you must live within 90 minutes.
Band & Salary:
Band 5, £29,000 circa.
Brief Description
We are looking for an Information Officer for a secondment opportunity based in Milton Keynes. The job is exciting, difficult and interesting. You need to be able to get to grips with key pieces of legislation (the Freedom of Information Act 2000 (FOIA) and the Environmental Information Regulations 2004 (EIR), UK GDPR), deal with technically and legally challenging issues, write and speak confidently and persuasively, solve problems, make decisions and stay on top of a diverse and challenging case load.
About The Role (External)
About the team..
We're a busy team of ten people. Other than the team manager the team's made up of Information Officers who deal with the bulk of the requests we receive; Request Handling Information Rights Specialists who deal with the most complex and challenging of cases; and Compliance and Appeals Information Rights Specialists who deal with appeals, ICO cases and the courts.
What does the average day look like?
Since 2015 we've been subject to the FOIA and the EIR. Anyone anywhere can ask for any information we hold and we're obliged to provide it unless one of the exemptions of the legislation applies. Sourcing information and working out whether it should be released is an interesting and often complex challenge.
We are funded by the taxpayer and ensuring our compliance with the FOIA and EIR encourages Network Rail to be a more responsible and accountable organisation. The work by our team has contributed to changes in how we work as an organisation such as the Varley Review which changed the way in which we interacted with the environment. We also deal with high profile requests which attract media attention, ranging from serious subjects like industrial action in the rail industry and the Stonehaven derailment to less serious matters like preserving Banksy paintings and how much taxpayers' money we spend on biscuits.
As an Information Officer you'll be dealing with a large and busy workload of 20 to 25 individual cases at any one time. They might touch on commercial, security, legal, data protection, political and any number of any issues. You'll have to work to meet Network Rail's legal obligations and deal with a diverse group of stakeholders (including applicants, colleagues and third parties) to help you do so.
You'll need to be organised with attention to detail and a positive attitude to learning and developing in the role. The cases you deal with will require communication/negotiation with stakeholders, complex administration, an understanding of the law, weighing evidence, nuanced decisions, calculating risk and communicating complex technical and/or legal ideas in an accessible manner.
You'll need to be resilient because the job involves some tough negotiation. You'll need to be capable of picking up new ideas quickly and putting them into practice because there's a lot to learn about the railway and about FOI, and we're a dynamic team that's always looking for ways to improve.
This is a big job but one which is fun and offers lots of opportunity for development. Once people start with us, they tend to stay: that's partially because the job is fun and interesting; partially because we're a friendly, supportive team; and partially because working here allows you to do something that really improves public services.
Who are we looking for?
We're looking for a proactive and adaptable Information Officer who thrives on challenge and enjoys solving complex problems. You'll need to quickly get to grips with key legislation, including the Freedom of Information Act 2000 (FOIA), the Environmental Information Regulations 2004 (EIR), and UK GDPR, and apply it confidently to real-world situations.
You'll be someone who can juggle a diverse and demanding caseload, make nuanced decisions, and communicate clearly and persuasively with a wide range of stakeholders. Attention to detail, resilience, and a positive, solution-focused attitude are essential, as is the ability to think on your feet and learn quickly in a fast-moving, dynamic environment.
This role is ideal for someone who enjoys variety, thrives under pressure, and wants to play a key role in making an organisation more accountable, transparent, and responsive to the public. If you're curious, confident, and ready to take on a challenging yet rewarding role where no two days are the same, we'd love to hear from you.
Essential Criteria
Demonstrable ability to identify/solve problems and make decisions.
* Demonstratable ability to think analytically and absorb technical detail quickly.
* Proven evidence of oral and written communication skills.
* Evidence of Influencing and stakeholder and customer management skills.
* Demonstrable high level of organisational skills and attention to detail.
* Evidence of team work and building positive relationships
Desirable Criteria
* Paralegal/legal background
* Degree in a relevant subject or equivalent
* A working knowledge of the FOI Act / EIR regime and an understanding of current legislative requirements
* An understanding of wider information access legislation such as the Data Protection Act and the principles of good information management.
* Willingness and capacity to undertake formal FOI training.
* IT literate and experienced in using a variety of information management systems
How To Apply (External)
Please see attached job description for full details.
If you require any support with your application, please click here for contact details.
All offers of employment are conditional upon satisfactory completion of pre-employment checks. Click here for more information
Some of our great benefits:
Flexible/hybrid working arrangements considered.
Generous annual leave (28 days plus statutory days), with the option to buy/sell days.
Discounts at stations with your Network Rail pass.
Defined benefit pension scheme
75% subsidy on train tickets.
Interest-free travel loan for train and car park season tickets.
Volunteer leave to make a positive impact.
Plus more….