17689 - Head of Access, Retention and Library
| Posting date: | 14 May 2026 |
|---|---|
| Salary: | £49,325 to £53,081 per year |
| Hours: | Full time |
| Closing date: | 29 May 2026 |
| Location: | SW1H 9AJ |
| Remote working: | Hybrid - work remotely up to 2 days per week |
| Company: | Ministry of Justice |
| Job type: | Permanent |
| Job reference: | 17689 |
Summary
Ministry of Justice
Security and Information Directorate (SID)
Job Description
Job Title
Head of Access, Retention and Library
Group Profile
ISD – Information Services Division DRO Team
Knowledge Management Team
Grade
SEO
Overview of Security and Information Directorate (SID)
SID is part of the Service Transformation Group. The Group oversees the building of a strategic vision for modernising and digitising our legacy systems, generating a coordinated plan across the MoJ and its agencies for transformation, and tracking delivery of this transformation.
Security and information management are fundamental building blocks of enabling the department to deliver. We have highly skilled experts working collaboratively with the department, Government Security Group, Government Knowledge and Information Management profession and other partners to enable the whole of the MoJ to function securely, lawfully and transparently.
We identify, manage, and mitigate MoJ’s security, data protection and information risks, and provide assurance against those risks. We’re also home to the Counter Fraud Centre of Expertise. Part of our mission is to up-skill the department so that security becomes second nature to our people and partners.
Team Profile
Information Services Division is responsible for ensuring the MOJ:
· Manages its information so that it knows what is held and where it is held - Knowledge management and Records management
· Holds its information in compliance with legislation and is accessible – Data protection and freedom of information
· Is clear who owns the information and that they understand their responsibilities – Knowledge management
· Holds its information securely – Information assurance
The role sits under the Head of Knowledge Management (KM) and Deputy Departmental Records Officer (DDRO)
Summary
This post sits in the Knowledge Management Team, within the Departmental Records Officer’s (DRO) Team. This is one of two SEO roles in the Knowledge Management Team.
The Head of Access, Retention & Library leads two teams of passionate Knowledge and Information Management (KIM) specialists who provide access to closed records, Records Retention and Disposition Schedules (RRDS), library services (including copyright guidance), and who support the knowledge management capability of the MoJ, its executive agencies and public bodies.
Responsibilities, Activities and Duties
The job holder will be required to carry out the following responsibilities, activities, and duties which include but are not limited to:
· Manage the access requests service response to requests from criminal justice professionals, victims of crime, and others permitted to access closed records
· Manage the retention service: responding to enquiries (including moratoria), regular review and updating of RRDS for all parts of the MoJ, and supporting the Head of KM and DDRO with strategic and cross-cutting retention matters
· Provide MoJ Library services and lead on the MoJ Library’scontracts with suppliers
· Provide copyright services to ensure compliance with copyright law, including awareness of AI and copyright
· Build effective relationships with stakeholders across the organisation (including public bodies)
· Support the MoJ Librarians’ Community of Practice
· Deputise for the Head of KM and DDRO as required
· Line management of 5 staff
· Any other duties commensurate with grade
Security and Information Directorate (SID)
Job Description
Job Title
Head of Access, Retention and Library
Group Profile
ISD – Information Services Division DRO Team
Knowledge Management Team
Grade
SEO
Overview of Security and Information Directorate (SID)
SID is part of the Service Transformation Group. The Group oversees the building of a strategic vision for modernising and digitising our legacy systems, generating a coordinated plan across the MoJ and its agencies for transformation, and tracking delivery of this transformation.
Security and information management are fundamental building blocks of enabling the department to deliver. We have highly skilled experts working collaboratively with the department, Government Security Group, Government Knowledge and Information Management profession and other partners to enable the whole of the MoJ to function securely, lawfully and transparently.
We identify, manage, and mitigate MoJ’s security, data protection and information risks, and provide assurance against those risks. We’re also home to the Counter Fraud Centre of Expertise. Part of our mission is to up-skill the department so that security becomes second nature to our people and partners.
Team Profile
Information Services Division is responsible for ensuring the MOJ:
· Manages its information so that it knows what is held and where it is held - Knowledge management and Records management
· Holds its information in compliance with legislation and is accessible – Data protection and freedom of information
· Is clear who owns the information and that they understand their responsibilities – Knowledge management
· Holds its information securely – Information assurance
The role sits under the Head of Knowledge Management (KM) and Deputy Departmental Records Officer (DDRO)
Summary
This post sits in the Knowledge Management Team, within the Departmental Records Officer’s (DRO) Team. This is one of two SEO roles in the Knowledge Management Team.
The Head of Access, Retention & Library leads two teams of passionate Knowledge and Information Management (KIM) specialists who provide access to closed records, Records Retention and Disposition Schedules (RRDS), library services (including copyright guidance), and who support the knowledge management capability of the MoJ, its executive agencies and public bodies.
Responsibilities, Activities and Duties
The job holder will be required to carry out the following responsibilities, activities, and duties which include but are not limited to:
· Manage the access requests service response to requests from criminal justice professionals, victims of crime, and others permitted to access closed records
· Manage the retention service: responding to enquiries (including moratoria), regular review and updating of RRDS for all parts of the MoJ, and supporting the Head of KM and DDRO with strategic and cross-cutting retention matters
· Provide MoJ Library services and lead on the MoJ Library’scontracts with suppliers
· Provide copyright services to ensure compliance with copyright law, including awareness of AI and copyright
· Build effective relationships with stakeholders across the organisation (including public bodies)
· Support the MoJ Librarians’ Community of Practice
· Deputise for the Head of KM and DDRO as required
· Line management of 5 staff
· Any other duties commensurate with grade