Network Rail
About Network Rail
At Network Rail, we’re dedicated to keeping passengers and freight moving safely and efficiently across the country. When you join us, you’re not just part of a team – you’re part of something that matters to millions. We believe that our people are at the heart of what we do, and every role plays a vital part in building a better, more connected railway.
We’re committed to creating a diverse, inclusive workplace that reflects the communities we serve. We value flexibility and understand the importance of a healthy work-life balance. As a Disability Confident Leader, we’ll do everything we can to accommodate any needs throughout the recruitment process.
If you’re ready to make a real difference, we’d love to hear from you!
Vacancy Details
Duration: Fixed term employment for 12 months with the potential to extend or become permanent.
Salary: £29,000 circa.
Our Benefits
- Flexible/hybrid working arrangements considered
- Generous annual leave (28 days plus statutory days), with the option to buy/sell days
- Discounts at stations with your Network Rail pass
- Defined benefit pension scheme
- 75% subsidy on train tickets
- Interest-free travel loan for train and car park season tickets
- Volunteer leave to make a positive impact
- Plus more….
All offers of employment are conditional upon satisfactory completion of pre-employment checks.
About the Team
We’re a busy team of ten people. Other than the team manager, the team’s made up of Information Officers who deal with the bulk of the requests we receive; Request Handling Information Rights Specialists who deal with the most complex and challenging of cases; and Compliance and Appeals Information Rights Specialists who deal with appeals, ICO cases and the courts.
About the Role
Since 2015, we’ve been subject to the Freedom of Information Act (FOIA) and the Environmental Information Regulations (EIR). Anyone anywhere can ask for any information we hold, and we’re obliged to provide it unless one of the exemptions of the legislation applies. Sourcing information and working out whether it should be released is an interesting and often complex challenge. We are funded by the taxpayer, and ensuring our compliance with FOIA and EIR encourages Network Rail to be a more responsible and accountable organisation.
The work by our team has contributed to changes in how we work as an organisation, such as the Varley Review, which changed the way in which we interacted with the environment. We also deal with high-profile requests which attract media attention, ranging from serious subjects like industrial action in the rail industry and the Stonehaven derailment to less serious matters like preserving Banksy paintings and how much taxpayers’ money we spend on biscuits.
As an Information Officer, you’ll be dealing with a large and busy workload of 20 to 25 individual cases at any one time. They might touch on commercial, security, legal, data protection, political, and any number of issues. You’ll have to work to meet Network Rail’s legal obligations and deal with a diverse group of stakeholders (including applicants, colleagues, and third parties) to help you do so.
You’ll need to be organised with attention to detail and a positive attitude to learning and developing in the role. The cases you deal with will require communication/negotiation with stakeholders, complex administration, an understanding of the law, weighing evidence, nuanced decisions, calculating risk, and communicating complex technical and/or legal ideas in an accessible manner. You’ll need to be resilient because the job involves some tough negotiation.
You’ll need to be capable of picking up new ideas quickly and putting them into practice because there’s a lot to learn about the railway and about FOI, and we’re a dynamic team that’s always looking for ways to improve. This is a big job but one which is fun and offers lots of opportunity for development. Once people start with us, they tend to stay; that’s partially because the job is fun and interesting; partially because we’re a friendly, supportive team; and partially because working here allows you to do something that really improves public services.
Your Experience and Skills
We’re looking for a proactive and adaptable Information Officer who thrives on challenge and enjoys solving complex problems. You’ll need to quickly get to grips with key legislation, including the Freedom of Information Act 2000 (FOIA), the Environmental Information Regulations 2004 (EIR), and UK GDPR, and apply it confidently to real-world situations.
You’ll be someone who can juggle a diverse and demanding caseload, make nuanced decisions, and communicate clearly and persuasively with a wide range of stakeholders. Attention to detail, resilience, and a positive, solution-focused attitude are essential, as is the ability to think on your feet and learn quickly in a fast-moving, dynamic environment.
This role is ideal for someone who enjoys variety, thrives under pressure, and wants to play a key role in making an organisation more accountable, transparent, and responsive to the public. If you’re curious, confident, and ready to take on a challenging yet rewarding role where no two days are the same, we’d love to hear from you.
Essential Criteria
- Demonstrable ability to identify/solve problems and make decisions.
- Demonstrable ability to think analytically and absorb technical detail quickly.
- Proven evidence of oral and written communication skills.
- Evidence of influencing and stakeholder and customer management skills.
- Demonstrable high level of organisational skills and attention to detail.
- Evidence of teamwork and building positive relationships.
Desirable Criteria
- Paralegal/legal background.
- Degree in a relevant subject or equivalent.
- A working knowledge of the FOI Act / EIR regime and an understanding of current legislative requirements.
- An understanding of wider information access legislation such as the Data Protection Act and the principles of good information management.
- Willingness and capacity to undertake formal FOI training.
- IT literate and experienced in using a variety of information management systems.
