Information Manager: Job Profile and Role

Nowadays, no business functions without digital data or an online presence. Welcome to the digital world which is both a gift and a curse. While digitalising work processes and data collection makes life a lot easier, it also comes with quite a few pitfalls, data and privacy breaches being only some of them. The digital world also means various job and career opportunities for those who specialise in information technology (IT).

In this blog, we explore one such job which might be interesting to you if you are a tech whizz: the job of an information manager. In the following sections, you find out how to become an IT manager, what skills you need, where to apply for a job and what salaries to expect. You also get an idea of the working life of an information manager and career-advancing tips.

Short Summary

• As an information manager, you recommend hardware and software improvements to the company you are working for. This includes overseeing regular backups and overall IT security.
• As an information manager, you are responsible for data management and governance, meaning you develop and implement effective and necessary policies.
• As an information manager, you must adhere to the national data privacy compliance which includes all digital privacy laws and regulations and ensure these are respected at all times.

Job description

Being an information manager means that you are basically the background authority in the company you are working for. You are the person who is in charge of all digital communication, data, and other IT aspects. Not only must you ensure data privacy compliance by adhering to and implementing data management and governance policies and procedures. You also need to evaluate a company’s current IT technology and come up with hardware and software improvements where you are responsible for overseeing regular backups and security measures. This way, you ensure smooth work processes while at the same time, reducing the risk of data breaches and leaks.

Responsibilities

• Recommending Hardware/Software
• Performance Monitoring/Reporting
• Information Technology Systems
• Evaluating Current Technology
• Overseeing Backup/Security
• Data Privacy Compliance
• Information Security
• Data Management
• Risk Management
• Data Governance

Different types of Information Managers

• Digital Asset Manager (DAM)
• Information Compliance Officer
• Business Intelligence Manager (BIM)
• Records and Information Manager (RIM)
• Enterprise Content Management Specialist (ECM)

Salary

When you work as a full-time information manager in the UK, you can factor in an annual salary ranging from ￡34,000 to ￡52,000, with an average base salary of around ￡44,000. Your employment form and your work experience influence how much you will earn. The more experience you have, the higher your annual wages. Keep in mind that there are other salary-affecting factors, the most important ones being your employer and your location. As the beating economic heart of the United Kingdom, London currently pays the highest salaries to information managers.

Working hours

38 hours a week. Typically, you work from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m., Monday to Friday. These working hours refer to full-time employment which means that you would work fewer hours as a part-time information manager. Note that working later in the evenings and on the weekends may be part of your weekly workload. This mainly depends on your employer’s operation hours and work policies. 

If you want the highest flexibility on your hours, you can look into freelance work and offer your services as an information/IT consultant. Keep in mind, though, that emergencies and global clients can equally mean busy peak times and irregular hours.

Employers

We have already said that nigh on no business functions without digital work processes or an online presence. This means that you can look for your first or subsequent job in pretty much any industry that takes your fancy. As an information manager, you can find employment in the health sector as well as in the educational sector. Equally, any business dealing with data will be looking for you as their new IT expert which could mean that you end up working for financial institutions like banks, legal firms, technology companies, or even government agencies or the military. 

The IT Job Market

If you want to pursue a career in information management, you can be certain that you make a wise career choice. The IT job market has not only been in high demand for years, it is currently booming. This means that there is a very high demand for IT professionals, thus, giving you a great range of potential employment in this economy.

Qualifications

It is possible to become a information manager in the UK without a set of qualifications. Note, however, that you will benefit from GCSEs or A levels, respectively. These qualifications are not only valued by most employers, but they also give you the option to enter formal education in information management. If that is something you are considering, you should have GCSEs at either pass grades 9 to 3 (A* to D) or 9 to 4 (A* to C). The latter qualify you to enter a college course, an apprenticeship, or a university course (here, A levels are an alternative entry qualification).

Skills

Each of the above-mentioned employers may require certain skills of you which is why you must check all job posts for the needed and expected competencies. That said, we can still give you an idea of what skills you should have when you want to work in information management. Let’s take a look at three of your most valuable competencies in this section.

Information Architecture/Governance

If you want to thrive in your information manager job, you should already have a basic knowledge and interest in information architecture and governance. But do not worry, you will learn advanced skills during either your education or your job. This valuable competency includes everything from designing and implementing intuitive and efficient information resources and data banks to being on top of the UK’s data privacy policies and regulations and how to adhere to them.

Communication Skills

Although a lot of your job is spent in front of a computer and in the digital world, you still need strong communication skills, be they verbal or written (ideally, both). You are required to communicate your insights by filing reports where you should strive to break down the most complex technical information to those who do not speak IT, such as your company’s stakeholders, executives, and directors. Besides, you work with a team of IT experts who also expect you to communicate with them daily.

Attention to Detail

Strong attention to detail may be your most important asset when working in information management. You surely know that even the smallest oversight can result in serious data breaches which not only hurt your employer but also everyone connected to your company. This can result in libels and reputation loss. Therefore, you must pay the closest attention possible to all aspects of your job, be it implementing data management systems or checking backup results.

Career Path

There are several spokes on your career ladder you need to climb to get to the position of an information manager and beyond. Starting at entry-level, you advance to mid-level positions and more senior positions, aka the job of an information manager.

The absolute top of the information management career ladder are executive leadership positions among which are the roles of Chief Information Officer (CIO) and Chief Data Officer (CDO). You can also become an information consultant, meaning that you offer your services as a freelancer.

Educational Background

Even though employers typically prefer candidates who have completed an undergraduate degree in information management or computer sciences (two possible university courses), you do not need an academic background or formal education. You can equally work towards your information management role, although you may be required to do further on-the-job training. 

Alternatively, you can earn certifications through a professional body, such as the Chartered Institute of Library and Information Professionals (CILIP). These certifications are recognised by most educational institutions and employers throughout the UK.

If you want to combine theoretical and practical IT knowledge, we recommend that you look into a T Level in management and administration which you can start at the age of 16. 

Practical knowledge is also a part of an apprenticeship. Here, you can complete an information manager level 4 higher apprenticeship or a level 7 apprenticeship as an archivist and records manager.

Entry Level/Training

Unfortunately, you will not automatically be an information manager as soon as you start your very first job. You need to have some patience and get through your entry-level position first. This can be the job of an assistant information manager, a data analyst, or a junior knowledge manager. Although these jobs may not have the same ring to them as a managerial position, they are an important learning curve. Here, you get all the knowledge and experience needed to advance to more senior managerial roles.

Continuous Learning

Whether you have worked towards your job or completed the appropriate education: you should never forget that continuous learning is important to thrive. Information management offers you various options for further training, most of which are available through professional bodies such as the Chartered Institute of Library and Information Professionals (CILIP) or City & Guilds.

Here, you can either gain qualifications or do an apprenticeship and T level, respectively. Some interesting options can be the following: digital knowledge qualifications and apprenticeships as a data technician or cyber security technologist. 

A Day in the Life of an Information Manager

Working in IT and being a manager automatically means that one of your first to-do’s is checking your inboxes and replying to the most urgent matters. But this is not all you do daily when working in information management. In this section, we explore three daily tasks of an information manager in the UK.

Team Meetings

You probably know that a manager does not function properly without a team. Therefore, team meetings tend to be the job that kicks off your day or week. Here, you discuss ongoing projects, the day’s schedule, and any updates that need doing. Team meetings can furthermore be inter-departmental, meaning that you liaise with the legal or even the financial department of your company.

Training Sessions

Fast-changing industries require constant training to stay up-to-date with the latest trends, regulations, and developments. As a manager, you can be responsible for conducting said training but you can equally initiate in-house training for you and your staff. These training sessions should naturally focus on data protection laws and regulations, the latest hardware and software improvements, and effective practices for implementing policies and updates. 

Progress Review

Towards the end of your working day, you can review the day’s progress on ongoing projects and security checks. By closely analysing the relevant data, you can check whether everything runs smoothly or if any issues need addressing and solving ASAP. Do not forget to document your findings and forward your report to your team, other departments and the executive division of your company.

Tips for Thriving as an Information Manager

To conclude this blog, we take a look at three tips for thriving in information management. After all, you may want to advance to the top of your career ladder. And even if not – it is always a good idea to know ways which help you improve both your personal and professional skills:

• Postgraduate degree
• Data regulations updates
• Encourage the sharing of knowledge

Postgraduate Degree

A postgraduate degree naturally involves both time and funding. Regardless of that, it may be an interesting option for you, especially, if your educational approach is an undergraduate degree, for example, an MSc (Master of Science) in information management. Keep in mind that getting a place on a postgraduate course can be highly competitive – in some cases, it can be beneficial if you already have work experience in information management. We therefore recommend that you discuss optional extra occupational studying with your employer.

Data Regulations Updates

The most important regulation you need to be aware of is the GDPR (General Data Protection Regulation). The Data Protection Act has been in place since 2018 and it is prone to updates and changes. You need to be aware of this and be updated on the latest policies and regulations. This is important both for thriving in your job and for ensuring the highest level of data security for your employer and his or her clients.

Encourage the Sharing of Knowledge

To laypeople, IT management is “all Greek” – one of the reasons why you are employed for the information management side of things. However, you should encourage knowledge sharing, first and foremost, your knowledge. This does not endanger your job. On the contrary, coming up with easy and understandable ways to share your information and insights strengthens your position and your credibility. 

Frequently Asked Questions