About the job

Job summary

We are looking for a Policy Analyst to join our Committee Office at the House of Lords. You will be directly supporting the Justice and Home Affairs Committee. You will be leading on research in broad and dynamic areas of policy within this field, with both domestic and international scope. You will have the opportunity to advise members through written and verbal briefings, as well as facilitating evidence sessions with a range of internal and external stakeholders.

This is a fascinating role for someone who has a keen interest and prior experience within this policy area, working on a wide range of research areas and a variety of tasks. You will have the opportunity to impact and shape the work of the committee and to network with senior stakeholders within Parliament and experts in the field.

This is an opportunity to work on a hybrid basis - you will be able to work up to 3 days from home (dependent on business needs) and a minimum of 2 days on-site in Parliament. The Committee Office is committed to offering development across the office and so you will have access to a range of learning opportunities whilst in the role.

Job description

You’ll be accountable for –

• Monitoring key policy and political developments in the areas of justice and home affairs.
• Suggesting and researching subjects and inquiry topics to be investigated by the committee and considering ways to engage the public and interested stakeholders.
• Identifying prospective witnesses (external stakeholders) for oral evidence sessions and preparing possible questions that members might put to them.
• Analysing and summarising oral and written evidence submitted to the committee by individuals and organisations during the course of inquiry work.
• Drafting briefing notes for committee members on key issues, including background briefing for private meetings and public evidence sessions.
• Working with the committee clerk and any specialist advisers to draft committee reports and correspondence
• Attending committee meetings and briefing the Chair and committee members orally.
• Liaising with a range of people with an interest in the committee’s work, such as civil servants, representatives from the private sector, research bodies, academics, pressure groups and other bodies, and the public, and maintain contacts.

If this sounds like something you would like to hear more about, please apply below.

Person specification

What we’re looking for –

• 2:1 degree or equivalent.
• Substantial knowledge and experience of justice and/or home affairs policies, including relevant domestic public policy and international cooperation in these fields, and a good awareness of the wider UK public policy environment.
• Excellent written and oral communication skills.
• Ability to navigate the political context of committee’s work and wider public policy debates and produce objective and balanced work/research.
• Ability to become proficient in new topics
• Flexibility and resilience to produce high-quality work to tight and competing deadlines as part of a team.
• Ability to work on own initiative, while being part of a team.

For full details of what we are looking for, please see the attached job description.

Benefits

What you’ll get in return

• 30 days annual leave (increasing to 35 after one year’s service)
• Generous pension scheme
• Discounts from well-known brands and retailers
• Parliamentary health and wellbeing programme
• The opportunity to witness history in the making!

The work we do is vital to House of Lords, and you will be a pivotal member in the team strengthening the work of the House. The House of Lords is the second chamber of the UK parliament. It is independent from and complements the work of the House of Commons to:

• Make laws
• Check and challenge the actions of the government through questions and debates
• Investigate public policy and provide a forum of independent expertise

Things you need to know

Selection process details

Please complete your online application by 23.55 on 10 March 2024.

If you require any reasonable adjustments during the application process, please contact hlrecruitment@parliament.uk or 0207 219 5973.

Job offers are standardly offered at the minimum of the salary range.

The House of Lords Administration is committed to increasing diversity and maintaining an inclusive workplace culture. We welcome applications from all candidates regardless of their age, caring responsibilities, disability, gender/sex, gender reassignment/trans status, marriage and civil partnership, pregnancy and maternity, race, religion or belief, sexual orientation and socio-economic status. The Administration will also consider flexible working arrangements and reasonable adjustments.

We welcome and encourage job applications from people of all backgrounds. For this role we particularly welcome applications from groups which are currently underrepresented within the team, including applications from Black, Asian and ethnic minority candidates and candidates with disabilities.

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

Security

Successful candidates must undergo a criminal record check. 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.