Head of Regulation and Regional Lead
Posted by: Immigration Advice Authority
Employed By: Immigration Advice Authority
Job Title: Head of Regulation and Regional Lead
Salary or salary range: The starting salary for the role is £58,260 per annum, increasing to £62,220 after successfully completing a 6 month probation period.
Contract type: Full-time
Location of position: Home working
Application deadline: 27/07/2025
Job summary
Those seeking immigration advice and services are often among the most vulnerable and disadvantaged members of society. The Immigration Advice Authority (IAA) is an Arm’s Length Body of the Home Office. We regulate the work of registered Immigration Advisers and tackle the illegal advice-giving activities of criminals that often exploit vulnerable and disadvantaged migrants and threaten the integrity of the immigration system.
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 regulatory agenda, including setting the standards for regulation, oversight of all regulatory processes, policy, performance and capability, and implementation of new regulatory powers. This role will play a key role including driving our efficiency and innovation agenda
Job description
Key responsibilities
Head of Profession
Lead regulation across all regional teams, influencing beyond direct reporting lines.
Set and uphold professional standards for audits and complaint investigations.
Oversee regulatory processes, policies, and performance, driving innovation and integrity in the IAA’s regulatory scheme.
Own and maintain the Code of Standards and Guidance on Competence for immigration advisers.
Shape the IAA’s approach to emerging regulatory challenges, including AI in the advice sector.
Line manage the IAA’s Policy Officer.
Champion change and operational development in dual capacity as Head of Profession and Regional Lead.
Implementing new regulatory powers
Lead the implementation of new IAA powers (subject to legislation) by Autumn 2026, including the ability to:
Fine regulated organisations for Code breaches
Compel fee repayments and compensation
Immediately suspend or cancel advisers
Enforce co-operation in complaint investigations post-registration
Drive policy development and sector engagement, including formal consultation to revise the complaints scheme.
Collaborate with the Home Office on secondary legislation, such as setting fine levels.
Implementing fees and charges
Lead policy development for a new fees and charges regime (subject to legislation), potentially including:
Separate charges for distinct IAA services
Charges for non-profit and fee-charging organisations
Individual adviser fees
Collaborate with a finance lead to shape practical implementation and engage with the sector.
Work with the Home Office on drafting primary and secondary legislation, including fee orders and application to non-charging organisations.
In all policy development areas, the role will lead on:
Lead delivery of organisational change to support high-performance culture.
Develop and publish external guidance and operational frameworks.
Design new processes in collaboration with a business analyst and finance lead.
Manage business change initiatives, including:
Acting as senior user for case management system updates
Updating operational manuals and policies
Coordinating training for operational staff
Overseeing internal and external communications with support from the Comms team
Supported in this work by an SEO business change lead.
Oversight of a regional team
Lead one of the IAA’s regional teams via the Regional Operations Manager, driving sustained development and operational efficiency.
Oversee regional engagement, fostering collaboration with sector stakeholders and agencies; act as national lead for regulatory engagement.
Work with G7 colleagues to coordinate service delivery and development across all regions.
Oversee both regulatory and enforcement activity within the regional team, providing strategic leadership to tackle illegal advice-giving.
Other responsibilities
Actively uphold and promote IAA values as a visible senior leader.
Contribute to organisational leadership as part of the senior leadership team.
Line manage Regional Operating Managers, and Policy and Change Leads.
Oversee delegated budgets with strong financial and risk controls.
Drive efficiency and resource innovation within the regulatory function.
Collaborate with the Programme Director to ensure service readiness for new legislative powers.
Deliver additional duties as required by the Director of Service Delivery, Chief Executive, or Commissioner.
Person specification
Essential criteria; candidates must demonstrate the following:
Experience in a regulatory setting, with preferred background in policy development.
Strong analytical skills and sound judgment in complex, policy-driven environments.
Strategic thinker committed to continuous improvement.
Proven success in leading change and supporting strategic goals across diverse teams.
Operational leadership experience focused on driving efficiency and effectiveness.
Clear communicator with experience presenting to senior stakeholders.
Excellent relationship-builder with strong political and stakeholder engagement skills.
Committed to service improvement, innovation, and digital advancement.
Skilled in risk management and proactive, customer-oriented problem-solving.
Flexible, organised, and effective at prioritising high-volume workloads.
Degree or equivalent professional experience in law, regulation, policy, criminology, or related fields.
Ongoing professional development in regulatory leadership, compliance, enforcement, or public policy.
Benefits
Alongside your salary of £58,260, Immigration Advice Authority contributes £16,877 towards you being a member of the Civil Service Defined Benefit Pension scheme. Find out what benefits a Civil Service Pension provides.
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 28.97%
An information pack on the IAA is attached to this advertisement.
How to apply
Selection process details
To apply for this role please send your CV and a Supporting Statement (statement no more than two sides of A4) detailing how you meet the criteria to the Hays Recruitment Team via the link at the bottom of the advert.
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.
This must be received by Hays no later than 5pm on 27th July 2025.
The proposed timetable for selecting a successful candidate is set out below. Candidates must be available for all interview dates:
Shortlisting completed and successful candidates invited to final interview by 5th August 2025
Interviews held 12th – 14th August 2025 online via Teams, candidates must be available for interview on these dates.
Candidates informed of interview outcomes by 15th August 2025.
Please note: If you have not received a response to your application by 5th August 2025 unfortunately you will have not been placed on the longlist and your application will not progress any further. Feedback will only be given to candidates who attend a final shortlist interview.
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:
Owen Quant - owen.quant@hays.com, 07867695217, or
Gavin Jones – gavin.jones@hays.com, 07395882395