As the living, growing home of our national story, The National Archives is already a special place to work. We’re an institution nearly 200 years old with a collection spanning 1,000 years of history. But it’s where we go next that makes things really interesting. In our strategic vision: Archives for Everyone, we set ourselves the challenge of becoming the 21st Century national archive - a different kind of cultural and heritage institution: Inclusive, Entrepreneurial, Disruptive. We won’t become this overnight. It will take time, focus, effort and daring. That’s where you come in. Because we can’t do this without you. Job Overview Salary: £38,322 per annum Contract type: Fixed Term Appointment until 31st March 2026 Grade: Band F / Senior Executive Officer Closing date: Monday 6th January 2025 at midnight The overall purpose of the role is to manage the developing public service provision to provide and facilitate access to the Ministry of Defence (MOD) Personnel record collection. The full public service provision will take time to establish and in the interim the Access Service team has been set up to manage all access requests The National Archives (TNA) receives. Accordingly there will need to be flexibility to the approach in getting the work done and supporting your team/organisation to resolve the access requests received. The Manager of this service will be responsible both for ensuring we run an efficient and professional customer service, but also recommending and informing the main project team how the public service provision could be developed to ensure we are capable of meeting demand and facilitating the right level of access to these records. This will require understanding of the wider project and the potential opportunities for improving access – commercial digitisation. This role will therefore need to develop knowledge of this collection, the type (FOI/DP) and volume of requests we receive and the needs of the customers/stakeholders – including commercial partners. Consequently an important part of this role will be to keep those involved with the MOD Personnel Project informed of the demands for this service and our performance in meeting these demands. As necessary you will be required to escalate issues around access and compliance to the Head of Information Rights. This role will also involve line managing Access Case Officers and Access Service Advisors who are responsible for responding to requests for access, some of which may be of highly personal and of sensitive nature (medical information). You will provide leadership, direction, oversight and support to this team, providing advice and guidance on how to manage these requests and workloads. As Manager, you will take responsibility for addressing any complaints (FOI internal reviews); liaising as necessary with the Complaints Manager & Head of Information Rights. This is required to ensure not just compliance, but to maintain a level of good customer service; safeguarding TNA’s reputation. Managing a team working to tight deadlines, the role requires you to have good decision making and communication skills, as well as the ability motivate a new developing team, handling potentially heavy, sensitive and complex workloads. We are looking for an individual who is an experienced Manager, capable of leading a team, providing an environment that fosters staff well-being with good prioritisation skills and confidence in your own judgement to meet the demands of this role. This is a full time post. However, requests for part-time working, flexible working and job share will be considered, taking into account at all times the operational needs of the Department. A combination of onsite and home working is available and applicants should be able to regularly travel to our Kew site for a minimum of 60% of their work time. How to apply: To submit your application please click the 'Apply' button on this page. You will be asked to provide details of your work experience and write a personal statement. In your personal statement please explain, using examples, how you meet the essential criteria in the person specification below. You may draw on knowledge, skills, abilities, experience gained from paid work, domestic responsibilities, education, leisure interests and voluntary activities. Please note selection for interview will largely be based on the information you provide in this section. SC-level Security Clearance or willingness to obtain SC clearance is mandatory for this role and requires that you have lived in the UK for the last 3 years. The length of required residency may depend on individual circumstances. Job Description Role and Responsibilities Motivate and provide leadership and day to day management to the Access Service Team staff Advise staff under your direct supervision, using your knowledge of information rights legislation Reporting to the Head of Information Rights you will be responsible for: Overseeing access requests to The National Archives for MOD Personnel records Managing internal appeals and those to the Information Commissioner’s Office and Information Tribunal Liaising with Press Office over high profile/controversial releases Using knowledge of information rights legislation to assist resolving complex or difficult cases Liaise with senior colleagues from the organisation ensuring demands of this service is clearly and expertly conveyed Negotiate with senior colleagues from other Government Departments (MOD), ensuring the position of The National Archives is clearly and expertly communicated Investigate internal appeals and manage investigations conducted by the Information Commissioners’ Office into The National Archives’ case handling and application of the law. Ensure lessons learnt from these appeals Draft legally compliant responses, which may be used in evidence by the Information Commissioner and the Information Tribunal Take responsibility for managing the workflow of cases and ensuring cases are completed within statutory deadlines. Be involved in discussions to refine procedures for handling requests identifying and troubleshooting potential delays in the process and taking remedial steps to resolve them Working Conditions Normal office environment Display Screen Equipment user Moving items up to 10kg in weight May come into contact with distressing material Person Specification Essential: Experience of mentoring, motivating or managing staff who work under pressure to meet tight deadlines Ability to prioritise and balance managing own workload, deadlines, alongside providing support to a wider team Excellent standard of communication, both written and verbal; evidence of highly developed drafting skills and ability to write persuasively, for different audiences Experience of negotiation; ability to influence decisions at a senior level, both internally and externally Confidence to use judgment and legal knowledge to make difficult decisions and defend them Demonstrable knowledge of information rights legislation, both law and practice especially knowledge of the Freedom of Information Act and Data Protection Demonstrable experience of ICT skills including working with Microsoft Office (Word, Excel etc.) Degree in history or related subject, or significant relevant experience, demonstrating the ability to carry out research into records, analyse contents and summarise findings clearly and concisely Desirable: Qualification in information rights legislation Experience of managing staff in an operational or casework environment Experience of assessing information in accordance with Freedom of Information/Data Protection exemptions The 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 and the Civil Service D&I Strategy. Benefits Generous benefits package, including pension, sports and social club facilities, onsite gym, discounted rates at our on-site cafe and opportunities for training and development. Annual leave entitlement of 22 days per calendar year (rising to 25 after the first year, and incrementally to 30 days after six years) and 10½ days public and privilege holidays per annum. Any move to The National Archives from another employer will mean you can no longer access childcare vouchers. This includes moves between government departments. You may however be eligible for other government schemes, including Tax-Free Childcare. Determine your eligibility at https://www.childcarechoices.gov.uk/ ( opens in new window) Reasonable adjustments If a person with disabilities is put at a substantial disadvantage compared to a non-disabled person, we have a duty to make reasonable changes to our processes. If you need a change to be made so that you can make your application, you should: Contact The National Archives via careersnationalarchives.gov.uk as soon as possible before the closing date to discuss your needs Complete the ‘Reasonable Adjustments’ section 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 Feedback will only be provided if you attend an interview or assessment. Security Successful candidates must pass a disclosure and barring security check. People working with government assets must complete basic personnel security standard checks (opens in new window) 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 new window) Working for the Civil Service The Civil Service Code (opens in 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 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. This vacancy is part of the Great Place to Work for Veterans initiative. (opens in new window) Contact point for applicants: Name: The National Archives Recruitment Team Email: careersnationalarchives.gov.uk Further information If you feel your application has not been treated in accordance with the Recruitment Principles and you wish to make a complaint, in the first instance, you should contact The National Archives via email: careersnationalarchives.gov.uk If you are not satisfied with the response you receive from the Department, you can contact the Civil Service Commission at https://civilservicecommission.independent.gov.uk/recruitment/recruitment-complaints/ (opens in new window)