FREEDOM OF INFORMATION OFFICER

Are you passionate about transparency and helping people access information they are entitled to? Braintree District Council has an exciting Freedom of Information (FOI) Officer opportunity! Location: Braintree, Essex, CM7 9HB Salary: £32,319 to £36,900 per annum Job Type: Full time, permanent Closing Date: 11th October 2026 About Us: Braintree is an ambitious and dynamic Council and is becoming one of the fastest growing Districts in the East of England with three growing towns, London just 45 minutes away and the district located directly between the international transport centres of Stansted Airport and Harwich and Felixstowe International Ports. We have a deserved track record for delivering and a strong reputation within the business community. Braintree District Council is a great place to work. We pride ourselves on our creative and innovative approach, which is led by our employees, and are committed to having an engaged workforce who understand our strategy and how they can help deliver it. Our people see the difference they make and how the work they do actively contributes to and encourages positive change in the local community. Freedom of Information Officer - The Role: We are looking for a proactive, organised and detail-focused FOI Officer to help the Council respond to Freedom of Information (FOI) and Environmental Information Regulations (EIR) requests accurately, clearly and within statutory deadlines. The role sits within our Performance and Improvement Team and plays an important part in supporting openness, transparency and good information governance across the Council. You will co-ordinate and manage FOI and EIR requests from receipt through to response, including those that may be complex or sensitive in nature, working with services to gather and verify information, review material for disclosure, prepare clear correspondence and ensure requests are progressed in line with statutory timescales. You will also provide practical advice, guidance and training to colleagues, and work closely with the Council’s Governance Team on matters such as exemptions, exceptions, personal data, confidentiality, commercial sensitivity and public interest considerations. Freedom of Information Officer - Key Responsibilities: - Receive, assess and co-ordinate Freedom of Information and Environmental Information Regulations requests, ensuring they are handled within statutory timescales - Work proactively with services across the Council to identify, gather, review and verify information, ensuring responses are accurate, complete and issued on time - Prepare clear, professional response correspondence that explains complex information and legislative reasoning in an accessible way - Provide practical advice, guidance and training to colleagues on Freedom of Information and Environmental Information Regulations requirements - Review information prior to disclosure and liaise with the Governance Team on exemptions, personal data, confidentiality and public interest considerations - Maintain accurate records of requests, decisions, deadlines and disclosures using the Council's case management system - Monitor performance against statutory deadlines, manage competing priorities and escalate risks and delays promptly Freedom of Information Officer - You: We are looking for someone who can bring the relevant experience, sound judgement and a clear understanding of information access, data protection or compliance processes. You may already be working in an FOI, information governance, data protection or compliance role, or have transferable experience that demonstrates the required skills. You will need to be organised, confident in managing competing deadlines, able to interpret information carefully, and comfortable working with colleagues across different services to ensure accurate and timely responses. You will have strong working knowledge of the Freedom of Information Act 2000 and Environmental Information Regulations 2004, excellent written and verbal communication skills and the ability to draft clear, accurate responses and explain complex requirements in practical terms. A good awareness of UK GDPR and the Data Protection Act 2018 is also essential. Benefits: - Flexible working - Hybrid working arrangements are available in this role (home/office based) subject to business need - Opportunities for professional development - Local government pension scheme - Learning and development for all employees - Employee discounts at local businesses - Employee recognition schemes - Extensive health and wellbeing programmes, including discounted gym membership Closing Date: 11th October 2026 Please note that although this vacancy is advertised here, no application is ever submitted through this site. To protect your personal information, you can visit the Braintree District Council website directly and click 'Join our team', then apply via the 'Current Vacancies' link. Alternatively, click Apply today and you'll be redirected straight to the role on our website, where you can complete your application for this exciting Freedom of Information Officer opportunity