Head of Data and Information Policy

As the living, growing home of our national story, The National Archives is a special place to work. We’re an institution nearly 200 years old with a collection spanning 1,000 years of history.

We’ve 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: £64,178 - £70,000 per annum

Contract type: permanent

Band: H / Grade 6

Closing date: Monday 28th September at midnight

The National Archives (TNA) operates in an extremely varied, complex and sophisticated policy context. This role will be the chief adviser to the Keeper of Public Records and The National Archives’ Board on all aspects of data and information policy relating to how The National Archives operates and implements its strategy.

This role will lead, nurture and manage relationships with key strategic stakeholders on behalf of the Chief Executive and will support the Deputy Chief Executive in influencing the legislative and data policy landscape across government, so that the interests of The National Archives and the wider archive sector are protected, championed and, where possible, advanced.

This role will lead the work to realise The National Archives’ ministerially-endorsed strategic ambition to “develop proposals for legislative change to the Public Records Act 1958, and the wider regime for access to the historical public record”, in order to unlock the value of archival holdings in the digital age.

This role will be a senior member of the Government and Archives Leadership Directorate, supporting the Deputy Chief Executive to collectively drive delivery of the Directorate’s business. This role will also provide corporate leadership of The National Archives as a key member of its wider Senior Leadership Team, with collective accountability for organisational culture and successful delivery of The National Archives’ strategy.

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.

This role requires the successful candidate to obtain and maintain Developed Vetting (DV) security clearance. Applicants should normally be able to provide a clear, comprehensive, and verifiable record of their residence, employment, education and travel history covering the previous 10 years. Whilst a substantial period of UK residency is generally expected for DV clearance, there is no absolute residency requirement, and all applications are considered on a case-by-case basis.

Periods spent overseas will not necessarily preclude an individual from obtaining DV clearance, provided they can be fully accounted for and appropriately verified. This may include time spent overseas in connection with Crown service, Armed Forces service, diplomatic postings, employment with the UK Government, or accompanying a spouse or partner on such assignments.

Please note that applicants with significant periods of overseas residence may be subject to additional vetting enquiries, which can extend the clearance process. The ability to successfully obtain DV clearance will be a condition of appointment.

We are unable to offer sponsorship for this role.

Application Process:

• Interview: Interviews will be held on-site and will include a peer panel session. This is an informal discussion with a small number of TNA staff which will give you the chance to find out more about the organisation and share any relevant information about yourself. We anticipate running a one-stage interview process. However, depending on the volume and quality of applications received, we may introduce a second interview stage if required.

• Personal Statement: We ask all applicants to submit work history details and a personal statement, not exceeding 1200 words

Selection for interview will be based on the ‘essential’ requirements in the job description below so please ensure that your application demonstrates in detail how you meet these requirements.

Artificial 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 visit the Civil Service Careers website where you can find further information on the use of AI in the application guidance section.

Job Description

Role and Responsibilities

Leadership and influencing:

• Leadership of a central hub of expert advisers on all aspects of information policy, such as copyright, use and re-use of public sector information, and official publishing.

• Leadership of The National Archives’ strategic priority to develop proposals for legislative change to the Public Records Act 1958, and the wider regime for access to the historical public record, to inform policy solutions to current legislative challenges.

• Leadership and influencing of all relevant legislation and data policy reform across UK Government, so that the interests of The National Archives and the wider archive sector are protected, championed and, where possible, advanced.

• Collective strategic corporate leadership of The National Archives as a key member of its wider Senior Leadership Team, including leadership contribution as a senior member of the Government and Archives Leadership Directorate.

Domain knowledge and technical expertise:

• Lead domain expert for the interpretation of the Public Records Act 1958 as it pertains to the Keeper of Public Records’ and the Secretary of State’s rights and responsibilities under the Act.

• Sets policy for the management of Crown copyright across the UK Government and devolved administrations, including oversight of how the UK Government Licensing Framework is operating and managed.

• Lead domain expert for the management of Crown rights as assets and how the Principal Accounting Officer rules apply to such management in accordance with Annex 6 of Managing Public Money.

• Lead adviser on policy issues and changes to statutory and prerogative responsibilities relating to the King’s Printer, associated offices, and official publishing.

• Lead technical expert on information law issues affecting the wider archives sector.

Strategic relationship management:

• Lead policy representative for The National Archives at a domestic and international governmental and sector level.

• Leads the expert relationship on emerging policy initiatives with the Office of the Information Commissioner and the Office of the Scottish Information Commissioner.

• Leads and champions the strategic policy interests of The National Archives with the Intellectual Property Office, data policy officials across government, the Royal Household, Ordnance Survey, and the Master of the Rolls as Chair of the Advisory Council on National Records and Archives.

• Leads the relationship with government legal advisers in the Treasury Solicitors’ team on a range of policy and legal issues.

Working Conditions

• Normal office environment

• Display Screen Equipment user

Person Specification

Essential criteria:

• Sophisticated understanding of the interfaces between at least two of the following areas of law and how they impact access to data and information: the Public Records Act 1958, the Freedom of Information Act 2000, the Re-Use of Public Sector Information Regulations 2015, GDPR and associated Data Protection legislation.

• Proven track record as a credible and trusted policy adviser to a Chief Executive, and/or Board-level equivalent(s).

• Demonstrable knowledge of how to employ domain knowledge and technical policy expertise with legal professionals, in order to protect and promote organisational rights and responsibilities.

• Excellent communication and analytical skills. In particular, this role will often have to communicate highly nuanced, dense or specialised policy concepts and positions so you will need to have experience in ‘translating’ such complexity to non-specialists, in both oral and written briefings.

• Dynamic self-starter who can proactively build and nurture relationships with senior stakeholders and expert policy, legal, governmental, archive sector, data professional and political networks, both domestically and abroad.

• Deep strategic thinker, with sound judgement, confident political awareness and commercial acumen.

• Commitment to self-development and a flair for motivating, inspiring and enabling the development and impact of others.

• Aptitude for ensuring appropriate governance – including sound budget management – through effective communication and reporting on progress, issues, opportunities, and risks to the Executive Team, the Board and ministers (where appropriate).

Other Requirements

• A combination of onsite and home working is available and applicants should be able to regularly travel to our Kew site.

• Must be prepared to travel to other central government locations and attend other national and international locations as required.

• Occasional overnight stays will be required.

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 30 days per calendar year 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)