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Greater London, England, United Kingdom
Hybrid
Not Available
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 annumJob 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)
Selection process details
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 careers@nationalarchives.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 Commonwealth countries who have the right to work in the UK
nationals of the Republic of Ireland
nationals from the EU, EEA or Switzerland with settled or pre-settled status or who apply for either status by the deadline of the European Union Settlement Scheme (EUSS) (opens in new window)
relevant EU, EEA, Swiss or Turkish nationals working in the Civil Service
relevant EU, EEA, Swiss or Turkish nationals who have built up the right to work in the Civil Service
certain family members of the relevant EU, EEA, Swiss or Turkish nationals
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: careers@nationalarchives.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: careers@nationalarchives.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)
