The Immigration Advice Authority is looking to recruit a number of regulatory professionals who will drive forward a transformative agenda to strengthen, regulate, and enforce standards across the immigration advice sector - improving outcomes for advice seekers and ensuring a fairer, more accountable system.
Purpose
Lead responsibility for the IAA’s enforcement agenda, including oversight of all enforcement processes, policy, performance and capability, setting the professional standards for enforcement activity, and implementation of a significant change agenda, including an increased focus on disruptions and implementation of new enforcement powers. This role will also play a key role in driving our efficiency and innovation agenda
With an increased focus within the Home Office on tackling professional enablers of immigration abuse, this is an exciting time to lead a fundamental shift in the IAA’s enforcement agenda and work in partnership to protect vulnerable advice seekers.
Key responsibilities
Head of Profession
- Lead enforcement across regions, influencing teams beyond direct line management.
- Set professional and investigative standards.
- Oversee enforcement policies, performance, and innovation to combat illegal advice-giving.
- Shape the IAA’s response to emerging enforcement and intelligence challenges using the National Intelligence Model.
- Champion operational change and development as both Head of Profession and Regional Lead.
Implementation of new BSIA enforcement powers
- Lead delivery of new enforcement powers (subject to legislation), including fines for unregulated advisers, compensation orders, and use of POCA powers.
- Drive 2026 implementation, beginning with policy design and sector engagement.
- Collaborate with the new Head of Regulation to align regulatory and enforcement policy.
- Work with the Home Office on secondary legislation, including setting fine levels.
- Develop external guidance and operational frameworks for the new powers.
- Design efficient new processes in partnership with a business analyst.
- Lead organisational change to embed new powers, including:
- Updating manuals and policies
- Staff training
- Coordinated internal and external communications with support from the Comms team
Oversight of a Regional Team
- Lead a regional IAA team through the Regional Operations Manager, driving performance and efficiency.
- Oversee regional engagement and act as national lead for enforcement engagement.
- Collaborate with G7 peers to align regional approaches.
- Ensure quality regulatory and enforcement work across the region, supporting high standards of advice in the regulated sector.
Oversight of Intelligence Team
- Lead the IAA’s intelligence team, implementing improvements from the upcoming strategic review.
- Oversee intelligence operations across both regulatory and enforcement cases.
Other responsibilities
- Drive change and organisational development to support a high-performance culture.
- Champion IAA values and play an active role in senior leadership.
- Line manage key roles including Regional Operating Managers, policy/change leads, and the Intelligence Manager.
- Manage delegated budgets, ensuring robust financial control and risk management.
- Lead efficiency improvements and innovative resource use across regional and enforcement functions.
- Support the Director of Service Delivery, Chief Executive, and Commissioner with additional duties as required.
Security Clearance:
This role will require SC clearance; however you do not need to have SC in order to apply - but we will need to ensure you do have SC in order to take up the role. You will be able to start in the role on non-SC tasks.
Person specification
- Extensive enforcement experience, including leading criminal investigations and tackling illegal activity in public or regulatory contexts.
- Strong analytical skills to assess complex information and make sound, strategic policy decisions.
- Proven leadership in driving continuous improvement and delivering organisational change
- Effective team leadership in operational settings, enhancing efficiency and impact.
- Clear communicator with experience presenting complex ideas to senior stakeholders.
- Skilled relationship builder with a track record of influencing across diverse, senior, and political audiences.
- Relevant degree or equivalent professional experience in law, regulation, policy, criminology or a related field
- Evidence of continuing professional development in areas relevant to operational leadership, compliance, enforcement or public policy
To apply for this role please send your CV and a Supporting Statement of no more than two sides of A4 paper detailing how you meet the criteria to the Hays Recruitment Team via the link at the bottom of the advert.
Additionally, as you apply you will be invited to complete an Equality and Diversity Questionnaire. This is to assist the IAA in ensuring its recruitment processes are fair to all. The questionnaire is not seen by anyone involved in the selection process. Completing the questionnaire is not mandatory.
Contact
Hays Recruitment is managing this role on behalf of the Immigration Advice Authority. If you are interested in finding out more about this role, please reach out to:
Gavin Jones – 07557749889 or Owen Quant – 07867695217
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