About the job

Job summary

The Independent Anti-Slavery Commissioner (IASC) is a unique position, independent of government, established by the Modern Slavery Act 2015, with a UK-wide remit to encourage good practice in the:

• prevention of modern slavery and human trafficking;
• detection and identification of potential victims;
• support to victims of modern slavery; and the
• investigation and prosecution of perpetrators of modern slavery offences.

The Independent Commissioner is supported by a small independent team. The team works collaboratively with the modern slavery ‘sector’ and key stakeholders (charities, the Home Office and other government departments, other public and local authorities, businesses, and international partners) to promote best practice in these areas.

Job description

This is a particularly exciting time to join us, following the December 2023 appointment of Eleanor Lyons to the post of Independent Anti-Slavery Commissioner, as the commissioner’s office establishes its new team, sets out and delivers its Strategic Plan for 2024-2026.

Key responsibilities

• Developing and delivering a comprehensive research strategy to support the priorities of the Independent Anti-Slavery Commissioner as established through their Strategic Plan (or otherwise) and to advise business planning.
• Identifying and responding to gaps in research through use of the Independent Anti-Slavery Commissioner’s powers to request data, commission research and carry out new data analysis.
• Suggesting and trialling new research and data collection methods and pilot new analytical and data visualisation techniques.
• Acting as a lead researcher across the sector. Commissioning research from institutions in line with role of the IASC office, understanding the wider horizon-scanning, financial and political context. Building positive relationships with stakeholders.
• Working within a multi-disciplinary team – the post-holder will be responsible for working social researchers and economists across the sector spearheading work with academics and researchers to advance the field of tackling modern slavery and human trafficking.
• Carrying out economic and statistical analysis as well as social research spanning the responsibilities of the IASC as laid out in the MSA 2015. Alongside this they will coordinate work to understand the prevalence of modern slavery and human trafficking in the UK.
• Working closely with HO and other Government departments to deliver the work of the IASC in line with the data sharing MoU with the Department.
• Providing, presenting and communicating research and data in an accessible and timely way to support the strategy and priorities of the Independent Anti-Slavery Commissioner.
• Acting as Senior Information Risk Owner (SIRO) for the Independent Anti-Slavery Commissioner and taking responsibility as the Data Protection lead.
• Building partnerships and networks with leading research bodies, national and local government, academia, the third sector and elsewhere to share learning and research.
• Representing the Independent Anti-Slavery Commissioner in external meetings.
• Being an active and collaborative member of the wider IASC.

Important information 

• Due to the nature of the role, this post is available on a full-time basis only with the possibility of compressed hours working.
• Where business needs allow, some roles may be suitable for a combination of office and home-based working.  This is a non-contractual arrangement where all employees will be expected to spend a minimum of 60% of their working time in an office, subject to local estates capacity, by Spring 2024.  Applicants can request further information regarding how this may work in their team from the Vacancy Holder (see advert for contact details). 

Person specification

The Head of Strategic Analysis is a critical post within the Independent Anti-Slavery Commissioner (IASC) office. The role is responsible for developing the analytical programmes across three high-profile policy areas in modern slavery and human trafficking: prevention; victim identification and support, policing and prosecution.

The IASC has key research and data responsibilities as laid out in the Modern Slavery Act 2015. It is the Head of Strategic Analysis’ role to meet the requirements set out in the legislation, improving data and best practice in our understanding of how to tackle modern slavery and human trafficking.

Essential criteria 

• Holds strong quantitative and qualitative research skills, offering a breadth of methodological experience.
• Ability to apply, advise on and deliver a range of performance monitoring and evaluation approaches, including experience of developing theory of change.
• Ability to accurately assess and synthesise opposing data sources and identify salient points and trends to draw sound, logical inferences and develop overarching narrative.
• Ability to develop positive relationships with policy and operational customers in order to understand their needs to deliver timely and impactful analysis.
• Confidence to reframe, and question, unfocused asks into clear and appropriately designed research questions and projects.
• Excellent communicating and influencing skills, including the ability to communicate analytical concepts and implications of analysis to non-specialists.
• Passion and drive to identify opportunities to fill data gaps and develop creative solutions to address complicated problems.
• Experience of leading all aspects of others to deliver analytical work with impact and at pace, supporting junior staff in resolving challenging methodological, ethical or contextual situations.
• A hardworking and proven dedication to delivering for vulnerable people and championing their voices in research and data.
• Proven leadership in a research or data analytical role and experience of translating evidence into public policy.
• The ability to deliver complex research to schedule and provide ad hoc research and analysis to tight deadlines.
• Experience of working and collaborating with national or local government, academia, the third sector and/or other research organisations.
• Knowledge of GDPR legislation and wider knowledge of data protection, data security and data sharing.

Desirable criteria 

• Experience and/or understanding of working with vulnerable individuals or in the modern slavery space.
• Existing positive working relationships with press and journalists in the Home Affairs sector.

Benefits

• Learning and development tailored to your role
• An environment with flexible working options
• A culture encouraging inclusion and diversity
• A Civil Service pension with an average employer contribution of 27%

Things you need to know

Selection process details

This vacancy is using Success Profiles (opens in a new window), and will assess your Behaviours and Experience.

As part of the application process, you will be asked to provide:

• a CV detailing job history/qualifications  - setting out your career history, highlighting specific responsibilities and achievements that are relevant for this role, including details where budgets and numbers of people managed, relevant achievements in recent posts. Your CV will not be scored, but instead will be used to provide further context on your personal statement, and support conversations at interview.

• a statement of suitability/personal statement (maximum 750 words),which should demonstrate your skills and experience for the role and how you meet the essential criteria as detailed in the job description, other than Seeing the Big Picture (which will be assessed separately). It is essential that in your written application you give evidence, using examples, of proven experience. These responses will be developed and discussed with candidates invited for interview.

Click Here for guidance on how to construct your personal Statement.

• evidence of the lead behaviour: Seeing the Big Picture (250 words maximum).

Further details around what this will entail are listed on the application form.

We expect to hold the sift on the statement of suitability and the civil service behaviour: Seeing the Big Picture. However, in the event a high volume of applications are received, the sift may be carried out just on the civil service behaviour: Seeing the Big Picture.

If you are successful at sift stage, you will be invited to an interview which will be behaviour-based questions on all those listed.

You may be asked to provide an oral/verbal presentation at the start of the interview. If so, you will be advised in advance of the topic of this presentation.

Sift and interview dates

The sift is expected to take place from 28th May 2024.

Interviews are expected to take place from week commencing 10th June 2024.

We will try to meet the dates set out in the advert, however on occasions these dates may change. 

Interviews will be carried out via video. 

Candidates will be required to have access to:

• A laptop (personal or work) with a working webcam
• Good internet connection
• Microsoft Teams

PLEASE NOTE: Due to time constraints we may not be able to offer alternative interview date(s). It is therefore expected that candidates who are successful at sift stage will make themselves available during the above time frame given.

Further information

For meaningful checks to be carried out, individuals need to have lived in the UK for a sufficient period of time to enable appropriate checks to be carried out and produce a result which provides the required level of assurance. You should normally have been resident in the United Kingdom for the last 3 years if the role requires CTC clearance, 5 years for SC clearance and 10 years for DV.  A lack of UK residency in itself is not necessarily a bar to a security clearance and applicants should contact the Vacancy Holder/Recruiting Manager listed in the advert for further advice.

For further information on National Security Vetting please visit the following page https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/demystifying-vetting

Please be aware the levels of national security clearance are changing which may impact on the level needed for this role by the time of appointment. All efforts will be made to keep candidates informed of any changes and what that will mean in terms of vetting criteria. For more information please See our vetting charter

A reserve list may be held for a period up to 12 months from which further appointment may be made.

Please ensure that all examples provided in your application are taken directly from your own experience and that you describe the examples in your own words. All applications are screened for plagiarism and copying and generating of examples/answers from internet sources including Artificial Intelligence. If any is detected the application may be withdrawn from the process. Further action, including disciplinary action, may be considered in such cases involving civil servants. Providing false or misleading information would be contrary to the core values of honesty and integrity expected of all Civil Servants.

Every day, Home Office civil servants do brilliant work to develop and deliver policies and services that affect the lives of people across the country and beyond. To do this effectively and fairly, the Home Office is committed to representing modern Britain in all its diversity, and creating a welcoming, inclusive workplace where all our people are able to bring their whole selves to work and perform at their best.

We are flexible, skilled, professional and diverse. We work to recruit and retain disabled staff and area Disability Confident Leader. We are proud to be one of the most ethnically diverse departments in the civil service. We are a Social Mobility Foundation top 75 employer.

New entrants are expected to join on the minimum of the pay band.

Applicants who are successful at interview will be, as part of pre-employment screening, subject to a check on the Internal Fraud Database (IFD). This check will provide information about employees who have been dismissed for fraud or dishonesty offences. This check also applies to employees who resign or otherwise leave before being dismissed for fraud or dishonesty had their employment continued. Any applicant's details held on the IFD will be refused employment.

For further information please see the attached notes for candidates which must be read before making an application.

Existing Civil Servants should note that some of the Home Office terms and conditions of employment have changed. It is the candidate’s responsibility to ensure they are aware of the Terms and Conditions they will adopt should they be successful in application and should refer to the notes for candidates for further details.

Transfer Terms: Voluntary.

If you are invited to an interview you will be required to bring a range of documentation for the purposes of establishing identity and to aid any pre-employment checks.

Please see the attached list of Home Office acceptable ID documents.

Any move to the Home Office from another employer will mean you can no longer access childcare vouchers. This includes moves between government departments. You may however be eligible for other government schemes, including Tax Free Childcare. Determine your eligibility at  https://www.childcarechoices.gov.uk 

Reasonable Adjustments

If a person with disabilities is at a substantial disadvantage compared to a non-disabled person, we have a duty to make reasonable changes to our processes. 

If you need a change to be made so that you can make your application, you should:

• Contact Government Recruitment Service via HOrecruitment.grs@cabinetoffice.gov.uk as soon as possible before the closing date to discuss your needs
• Complete the “Assistance Required” section in the “Additional Requirements” page of your application form to tell us what changes or help you might need further on in the recruitment process. For instance, you may need wheelchair access at interview, or if you're deaf, a language service professional

If you are experiencing accessibility problems with any attachments on this advert, please contact the email address in the ‘Contact point for applicants’ section.

Feedback

Feedback will only be provided if you attend an interview or assessment.

Security

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.