Bristol, Darlington, London, Manchester, Wolverhampton
Job Summary
We are MHCLG
Do you excel at staying organised and focused, even when priorities shift, proactively planning your work while confidently managing competing demands?
Are you able to analyse information and present it in a clear and concise way to different audiences?
If so, we have an exciting opportunity for you to join the Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government (MHCLG) as a FOI Business Partner and we’d love to hear from you!
The Freedom of Information (FOI) team manages all Freedom of Information and Environmental Information Regulations (EIR) casework for the department. We are part of the Executive Team and Central Operations Division and serve as the primary contact for inquiries regarding the Freedom of Information Act 2000 and the Environmental Information Regulations 2004. We manage FOI and EIR requests on behalf of the department, track statutory deadlines, and advise on disclosure decisions. We support transparency while protecting sensitive information.
Job Description
- Managing Freedom of Information casework to defined quality and timeliness standards including clearance through business areas, private offices and Communications as appropriate.
- Analysing and using a range of relevant, credible data from internal and external sources to manage cases, support decisions and identify trends.
- Building effective stakeholder relationships across business areas, understanding the sensitivities of those business areas and effectively advising on handling of FOI requests.
- Working with others to progress casework, identify areas for improvement and enhance existing policies to align with departmental priorities and emerging issues.
- Actively seeking out learning and development opportunities to improve skills & knowledge, especially around new developments in FOI and FOI case law.
- Gathering feedback about our service and providing training as required.
- Work flexibly to support the delivery of wider team priorities as need arises.
- Frequent travel to the London office would be required if not based there.
- Managing Freedom of Information casework to defined quality and timeliness standards including clearance through business areas, private offices and Communications as appropriate.
- Analysing and using a range of relevant, credible data from internal and external sources to manage cases, support decisions and identify trends.
- Building effective stakeholder relationships across business areas, understanding the sensitivities of those business areas and effectively advising on handling of FOI requests.
- Working with others to progress casework, identify areas for improvement and enhance existing policies to align with departmental priorities and emerging issues.
- Actively seeking out learning and development opportunities to improve skills & knowledge, especially around new developments in FOI and FOI case law.
- Gathering feedback about our service and providing training as required.
- Work flexibly to support the delivery of wider team priorities as need arises.
- Frequent travel to the London office would be required if not based there.
Person specification
- Excellent communication skills, including the ability to draft clear and concise reports and guidance for a range of stakeholders. Ability to communicate, influence and operate clearly and effectively at all levels.
- Strong organisational skills - ability and experience in managing competing priorities and meeting deadlines in a dynamic environment
- Ability and experience in building productive relationships with a wide range of stakeholders to secure co-operation and support to achieve objectives.
- Ability to analyse information from multiple sources, quickly draw conclusions and simplify complexities to communicate this to non-experts.
- Self-motivation, with the ability to take initiative, work independently, and drive tasks forward without close supervision.
- Good attention to detail
- Good Team player: willingness to develop and support the continual improvement of the team and analytical function.
- Experience of working in a Freedom of Information environment or the ability to learn regulatory compliance at speed.
Alongside your salary of £36,169, Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government contributes £10,478 towards you being a member of the Civil Service Defined Benefit Pension scheme. Find out what benefits a Civil Service Pension provides (opens in a new window).
At MHCLG we offer many benefits that range from tailored career pathways and flexible working to MyLifestyle Staff Benefits Scheme, Childcare Vouchers, and Cycle to Work Schemes. For more information, please click here.
Artificial intelligence
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 see our candidate guidance (opens in a new window) for more information on appropriate and inappropriate use.
Selection process details
Application and Selection
The application process will be split into 2 stages, testing the following Success Profiles:
Behaviours , Experience
Stage 1: Sift
- Behaviour: Making effective decisions (Lead Behaviour)
- Behaviour: Communicating and influencing
- Behaviour: Working together
- Behaviour: Delivering at pace
There is a 250-word limit per question.
When Writing Your Application, Remember
- the assessor won’t be reading your answers sequentially
- do not assume that the same assessors will have read all of your answers
- if talking about something in your first answer, make sure that you write the second answer as if you had not written the first (and so on!)
Most of our campaigns utilise multiple assessors and so it is possible that each of your answers would be viewed by different assessors.
In the event that we receive a large number of applications, we may conduct an initial sift using the lead behaviour listed in the advert. Candidates who pass the initial sift may be progressed to a full sift or progressed straight to interview.
If you run into any technical problems when applying through Be Applied (for example, trouble logging in or submitting your application), their support team can help. Please contact them at
hello@beapplied.com.
Stage 2: Interview
- Behaviours: Presentation assessing experience, Communicating and influencing, Making effective decisions, Working together, Delivering at pace
- Experience: Experience questions will be based around the essential skills and criteria as listed in the job description.
Candidates will be asked to prepare a short presentation, further details will be provided on invitation to interview. the presentation will be assessing experience
Sift and Interview Dates
Sifting is envisaged to take place starting 13/07/2026.
Interviews are currently being held remotely via videocall. This could be subject to change.
Disability Confident Scheme (DCS)
We are a Disability Confident employer.
We apply a fair and proportionate interview process for all candidates. In line with our commitment to the Disability Confident Scheme (DCS), we aim to progress candidates who apply under the Disability Confident Scheme and meet the required minimum selection criteria.
However, where high application volumes are received, progression to interview may be limited to those who best meet the role criteria. In these circumstances, the benchmark required to proceed to interview may be raised for all candidates.
How We Recruit
Find out more about our recruitment processes here.
- Applying
- Sifting
- Interview
- Interview Results & Feedback
- Reserve List
- Near Miss
- Civil Service Grades
- We are a DCS, RIS & GPTWV employer
- Reasonable Adjustments
How To Apply
Find out everything you need to know before applying here.
You must review the following information from the MHCLG Career's Site before submitting your application. This step is essential to ensure your eligibility for the role and that your application is completed correctly.
- Security Clearance Requirements
- Civil Service Nationality Requirements
- Right to Work
- Civil Service Code and Recruitment Principles
- CV Declaration
- Sponsorships
- Salary and Grade
- Existing Civil Servants
- Conflict of Interest
- Location and Flexible Working
- Internal Fraud Database
- Appeals and Complaints
- Fixed Term Appointments for:
- External Candidates
- Existing Civil Servants (Including Loans)
- Secondments
- MHCLG employees
Security Clearance Requirements
National Office: BPSS
London Office: BPSS + CTC
Feedback will only be provided if you attend an interview or assessment.
Security
Successful candidates must undergo a criminal record check.
Successful candidates must meet the security requirements before they can be appointed. The level of security needed is counter-terrorist check (opens in a new window).See our vetting charter (opens in a new window).
People working with government assets must complete baseline personnel security standard (opens in new window) checks.
Successful candidates must undergo a criminal record check.
Successful candidates must meet the security requirements before they can be appointed. The level of security needed is counter-terrorist check (opens in a new window).See our vetting charter (opens in a new window).
People working with government assets must complete baseline personnel security standard (opens in new window) checks.
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 a new window)
Working for the Civil Service
The Civil Service Code (opens in a 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 a 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.
The Civil Service Code (opens in a 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 a 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.
Diversity and Inclusion
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 (opens in a new window) and the Civil Service Diversity and Inclusion Strategy (opens in a new window).
Once this job has closed, the job advert will no longer be available. You may want to save a copy for your records.
Contact point for applicants
Job Contact
- Name : Tim Hayward
- Email : Tim.Hayward@communities.gov.uk
Recruitment team
- Email : recruitment@communities.gov.uk
Further information
About
If you are unsure about any part of the process or require additional information about the post to enable you to progress your application, you should speak to the Resourcing team - recruitment@communities.gov.uk. Candidates can appeal at any stage of the recruitment process if they believe there has been:
a procedural irregularity
an infringement of the Civil Service equal opportunities policy
exceptional circumstances which were not notified to the interview panel which might have affected performance on the day.
It is important to note that these are appeals about the process not the decision. In the first instance, an appeal should be directed to the MHCLG Resourcing Hub at recruitment@communities.gov.uk.
If the MHCLG Resourcing Hub is unable to satisfactorily resolve your complaint, you may contact put your complaint in writing to the Civil Service Commission, Room G8,1 Horse Guards Road, London, SW1A 2HQ or by email to: info@csc.gov.uk
