Head of Sector Development and Regional Lead
Posted by: Immigration Advice Authority
Employed By: Immigration Advice Authority
Job Title: Head of Sector Development 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
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 work to develop the immigration advice sector, engaging and working in partnership with stakeholders to develop and implement an ambitious strategy to develop the capacity and capability of the immigration advice sector.
An exciting opportunity to lead on a new strategic agenda for the IAA, at the heart of its corporate plan, and make a real difference to the experience of advice seekers.
Background
The IAA’s Corporate Plan, 2025-2027, sets out an ambition to extend the IAA’s activities into developing the quality and availability of immigration advice. Previously, the IAA has stayed focus on its core regulatory and enforcement activity. However, the supply of immigration advice and services does not meet the demand in both geographical areas and in the level of advice available, and this necessitates a different approach from the IAA.
The postholder of this role will define and drive forward the IAA’s approach to this important agenda.
Job description
Key responsibilities
Sector development
Lead the creation of a strategic plan to strengthen the capacity and capability of the immigration advice sector, shaped by stakeholder insights.
Engage widely to identify sector challenges and develop data-driven, needs-led solutions.
Build understanding of advice seekers’ needs, adviser activity, service gaps, and illegal advice-giving trends.
Promote sector professionalism through qualifications and accreditation initiatives.
Implement the strategy through partnerships, including:
Targeted action in areas with advice shortfalls
Innovation in service delivery (e.g. remote provision, responsible AI use)
Development and accreditation of sector training
Support for peer networks and knowledge-sharing platforms
Collaboration with academic institutions to establish a professional qualification
Fees and Charges
Collaborate with the Head of Regulation to assess and influence the sector-wide impact of proposed legislative changes to the IAA’s fees and charges.
Lead on shaping plans for professional accreditation of individual immigration advisers, should individual fees be implemented.
Oversight of a Regional Team
Lead one of the IAA’s regional teams via the Regional Operations Manager, driving efficiency through innovation and automation.
Oversee regional engagement, acting as national lead for sector development engagement.
Collaborate with G7 peers to ensure consistent approaches across all regions.
Guide regional teams delivering regulation, enforcement, and engagement to combat illegal advice-giving.
Other responsibilities
Champion IAA values and play a key role in senior leadership.
Line manage the Regional Operating Manager.
Manage delegated budgets with strong financial controls and risk mitigation.
Drive operational efficiency and innovative resource use.
Lead and embed organisational development to support high performance.
Support the Executive Team with additional responsibilities as required.
Person specification
Essential criteria; candidates must demonstrate the following:
Strategic experience in the immigration advice sector.
Strong analytical skills with sound judgment in policy environments.
Proven strategic thinker focused on continuous improvement.
Successful track record of leading change across diverse teams in support of organisational goals.
Operational leadership experience with a focus on efficiency and impact.
Skilled communicator able to present complex ideas to senior stakeholders.
Excellent relationship builder with experience influencing in politically sensitive environments.
Committed to innovation and service development, including digital solutions.
Proactive in identifying and managing risks and solving problems.
Flexible, organised, and effective in managing competing priorities.
Relevant degree or equivalent experience in law, regulation, policy, criminology, or related fields.
Ongoing professional development in leadership, compliance, enforcement, or public policy.
In-depth experience or substantial knowledge of the immigration advice sector.
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