About the job

Job summary

The Investigatory Powers Act 2016 established the office of the Investigatory Powers Commissioner (‘IPC’) and provides for the appointment of Judicial Commissioners (JCs) to approve and oversee the use of investigatory powers by public authorities. The current IPC is Sir Brian Leveson.

The IPC and JCs have the important function of balancing the public interest and the rights of the individual independently of Government, in particular reviewing whether public authorities’ interference with those rights is justifiable.

The IPC and JCs are supported by the Investigatory Powers Commissioner’s Office (IPCO), an independent arm’s length body of the Home Office that provides oversight and authorisation of the use of investigatory powers by intelligence agencies, police forces and other public authorities. IPCO is based in London and is made up of around 50 civil servants headed by a chief executive, supported by a full secretariat including legal and communications functions, technical experts and inspectors.

The IPC is also responsible for the work of Data Communications Authorisations. Authorisations considers applications for the acquisition of communications data from law enforcement and public authorities. The team, which comprises around 100 members of staff, is located across two offices in Birmingham and Manchester.

We are in the process of merging the two organisations. This will best ensure the provision of consistent advice to the IPC and JCs, making the most effective use of the skills and experience we have across the team.

IPCO are committed to creating an increasingly diverse and inclusive workplace. Our people are our greatest asset and so we aim to foster a safe environment where diversity of thought is welcomed, work-life balance is valued and opportunity for growth is encouraged.

 The IPC is supported by the Technology Advisory Panel (TAP) whose purpose is to advise him and Judicial Commissioners on the impact of changing technology and the development of techniques to use investigatory powers whilst minimising privacy interference. The TAP is made up of academics and professionals who are experts in their field and are appointed for three year -terms with an expectation to commit 26 days to IPCO work on an annual basis. 

Job description

We are looking to recruit an experienced, enthusiastic and organised individual who will play a key role in the delivery of IPCO’s policy functions. As part of a small Policy Team with a growing breadth of responsibilities, you will have the opportunity to work with colleagues across IPCO and within Government on policy, technology and legislative matters that have an impact on the role of the IPC and the work of the office. The successful candidate will have specific responsibility for two core areas:

• The provision of support and advice to the Technology Advisory Panel (TAP): you will be responsible for advising the Chair of the TAP, the IPC and the Chief Executive to identify and deliver the strategic direction for the panel's work. Given the TAP’s time commitment and the increasingly significant role technology has for the organisations the IPC oversees, you will be the main liaison for members and be pivotal in linking the TAP and its work with the rest of IPCO and the IPC’s agenda. You will build relationships with colleagues to enable the TAP to be visible and engaged in relevant work at the right time. You will lead on the management of meetings and work programmes as well as the onboarding of new members.
  
  
• The delivery and project management of the IPC’s Annual Report to the Prime Minister: You will lead on the process from start to finish, including horizon scanning for relevant issues, using all relevant people and information from across IPCO to enable you to advise the IPC and the Chief Executive on the direction of the report. You will provide feedback and challenge where necessary to colleagues to improve drafting as well as liaise with HMG on security and fact-checking reviews and managing the process for publication.

This is a new and exciting role which brings together key responsibilities covering the breadth of IPCO’s remit. It will provide the successful candidate with the opportunity to develop a knowledge and understanding of the oversight of investigatory powers as well as the opportunity to hone your organisation, advisory, project management and drafting skills.

To carry out these responsibilities, you will need to be comfortable leading on and driving your own areas of work. You will need to be able to work collaboratively across all IPCO teams and build and maintain effective working relationships with colleagues at all levels. You will need excellent interpersonal skills and be able to work comfortably with advising and influencing busy senior people.

The post-holder will report to the Head of Policy, who works in the London office. The post-holder can be based at the London, Manchester or Birmingham offices but will be required to attend meetings in London on a regular basis.

The key responsibilities will include:  

• advising the TAP Chair and IPCO Chief Executive to help set the strategic direction of the TAP in support of the work of IPCO;
• acting as the liaison point for TAP engagement in IPCO business, ensuring that advice and support is provided where required;
• preparing the TAP Annual Report, overseeing the preparation of formal reports from or on behalf of the TAP, preparing papers and minutes for formal meetings;
• managing the process and timetable for the delivery of the IPC’s annual report, overseeing the timetable for delivery to ensure that both internal contributors and senior approvers as well as external stakeholders are sighted on timescales and required input;
• managing the process for feedback from the Whitehall write-round, providing challenge where necessary and presenting these to IPCO colleagues with options/suggestions to address;
• supporting the Head of Policy in the delivery of IPCO’s policy functions; and
• line management (to be agreed).

The role is only available on a full-time basis, due to business needs. 

Person specification

Essential criteria

• demonstrable ability of managing workloads to deliver changing and competing priorities;
• strong organisation skills;
• proven ability to develop effective relationships and partnerships with internal teams and with external partners;
• excellent written and verbal communication with an ability to communicate synthesise complex issues into plain English; and
• experience of advising and influencing busy senior people on a range of different matters.

Benefits

Alongside your salary of £41,600, Home Office contributes £11,232 towards you being a member of the Civil Service Defined Benefit Pension scheme. Find out what benefits a Civil Service Pension provides.

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.

This vacancy is using success profiles, and will assess your behaviours, experience, and ability.

As part of the sift process, you will be asked to complete a CV, a Statement of Suitability (Max word limit 1000) and one behaviour example: Seeing the Bigger Picture (Max word limit 250).

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

Your statement of suitability should be aligned to Essential Criteria as set out in the job advertisement.

The CV may be marked as part of the sift if a large number of applications are received.

 At interview, we'll assess you against these behaviours during the selection process:

• Making Effective Decisions
• Communicating and Influencing
• Seeing the bigger picture
• Working Together
• Delivering at pace

Sift and Interview Dates

Sifting will take place week commencing 25/02/2024.

Interviews will take place week commencing 11/03/2024.

Interviews will be conducted virtually via Microsoft Teams. 

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

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

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 developed vetting (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

Open to UK nationals only.

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.