Information Governance Officer

Bath Spa University; Bath; On-site; GBP 40,000 - 44,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Hybrid working

On-site nursery

Local Government Pension Scheme/UKPS

Job summary

Bath Spa University in Bath, Somerset, is seeking an Information Governance Advisor to join the Governance Legal and Compliance team. You will manage information rights requests, assess evidence, and provide practical data protection guidance across projects, research and partnerships.

You will investigate incidents, coordinate evidence for reviews and regulatory enquiries, and help maintain retention schemes and publication processes.

Qualifications

• Experience in information governance, information rights, compliance, records management or comparable regulatory work.
• Ability to interpret requirements, assess evidence and reach balanced, reasoned decisions.
• Clear written and verbal communication; able to explain requirements to non-specialists.
• Ability to work independently, manage competing priorities and deadlines; seek senior advice when needed.
• Willingness to pursue a relevant information governance qualification if not already held.
• Experience in higher education, the public sector or another complex regulated organisation.

Responsibilities

• Manage information rights requests, assess evidence and reach balanced disclosure decisions within statutory deadlines.
• Provide practical advice on data protection risks in projects, research, technologies and supplier arrangements.
• Investigate personal data incidents and complaints, recommending remedial action and coordinating evidence for reviews and enquiries.
• Support processing records, information asset records and retention arrangements; maintain the Publication Scheme; analyse casework and risk trends.
• Develop and deliver training and guidance, lead policy updates and contribute to a resilient service.

Skills

Information governance

Data protection

Regulatory work

Risk assessment

Written communication

Independent work

Qualification pursuit

Higher education experience

Education

Data protection qualification

Records management qualification

Job description

Department: Governance Legal and Compliance

Location: Bath, Somerset - Newton Park

Compensation: Grade 7 - starting from £39,560 rising to £44,352 per annum

Application Deadline: 9 November 2026

Department: Governance Legal and Compliance

Location: Bath, Somerset - Newton Park

Compensation: Grade 7 - starting from £39,560 rising to £44,352 per annum

Description

From information rights dilemmas to new research and technologies, help Bath Spa University put responsible information use into practice.

Join our Information Governance Team in a varied role where you’ll take ownership of cases, turn complex requirements into clear advice and work with colleagues across the University to protect people’s information and support openness.

About the Role

You will manage information rights requests, assess evidence and reach balanced disclosure decisions within statutory deadlines, escalating complex or higher risk matters appropriately. Working with colleagues across the University, you will provide practical advice on data protection risks in projects, research, technologies and supplier and partnership arrangements.

Your work will also include investigating personal data incidents and complaints, recommending remedial action and coordinating evidence for reviews, appeals and regulatory enquiries. You will support processing records, information asset records and retention arrangements; maintain the Publication Scheme; and analyse casework and risk trends to inform improvements and assurance reporting.

You will develop and deliver training and guidance, lead defined improvement activities such as policy updates, and contribute to a resilient service through effective prioritisation, knowledge sharing and collaborative working.

About You

• Relevant experience in information governance, information rights, compliance, records management or comparable regulatory work, demonstrating the ability to manage cases and provide professional advice; sound working knowledge of UK data protection legislation and the Freedom of Information Act and their practical application.
• Ability to research and interpret requirements, assess evidence and reach balanced, reasoned decisions and recommendations, exercising sound judgement and discretion.
• Clear, accurate written and verbal communication, with the ability to explain requirements to non-specialists, influence colleagues and challenge constructively; a collaborative, service-focused approach.
• Ability to work independently, manage competing priorities and statutory deadlines, and recognise when senior or specialist advice is needed.
• Confidence using digital tools to review information and maintain accurate case records, with the ability to learn new systems; ability and willingness to work towards a relevant information governance qualification if not already held.
• A relevant professional qualification in data protection, information rights, records management or a related discipline.
• Experience in one or more of: subject access requests, data incident investigations, data protection impact assessments, transfer risk assessments or records management.
• Experience in higher education, the public sector or another complex regulated organisation.

For further information on the essential and desirable skills we’re looking for, please refer to the attached Job Description.

Additional Information

Salary Grade 7 - Starting from £29,560 rising to £44,352 per annum

The salary range shows the potential maximum pay progression in addition to any annual inflationary increase to your pay. Please note that our default position is to appoint into the lower end of the range, unless there are exceptional circumstances.

Interview Date - Friday 4th December 2026

Staff Benefits

We offer a wide range of great benefits at BSU, including

• Generous pension scheme (Local Government Pension Scheme/Teacher's Pension Scheme). This is a defined benefit pension scheme which pays members a secure income for life, post-retirement
• Enhanced paid leave - 41 - 46 days depending on the role (Full Time) - more details here: https://apphub.bathspa.ac.uk/StaffBenefits
• Family friendly policies including hybrid working, flexible work environment, on-site nursery, and a sector-leading enhanced maternity scheme
• Employee Assistance Programme which offers access to on-demand GP appointments, wellbeing support and advice, and access to counselling
• Transport schemes including Electric Vehicle Scheme and Cycle to Work
• Wide range of discounts and financial benefits, accessed through and easy-to-use app

For further details about all our staff benefits, have a look at our rewards page: https://www.bathspa.ac.uk/work-at-bath-spa/rewards-and-benefits/

We reserve the right to close this vacancy early if we receive sufficient applications for the role. Therefore, if you are interested, please submit your application as early as possible.