Senior Field Intelligence Officer

• Details
• Reference number
• 475952
• Salary
• £35,367 - £41,494
• National £35,367 to £37,497
• London £39,377 to £41,494
• A Civil Service Pension with an employer contribution of 28.97%

GBP

• Job grade
• Higher Executive Officer
• Contract type
• Permanent
• Business area
• FWA - Operations
• Type of role
• Intelligence
• Working pattern
• Full-time, Homeworking
• Number of jobs available
• 2
• Contents

• Location
• About the job
• Benefits
• Things you need to know
• Apply and further information

Location

London (region), North West England

About the job

Job summary

The Fair Work Agency (FWA) launched in April 2026 with a clear and ambitious mission: to make work fairer for everyone. We bring together key powers to protect workers, support responsible businesses, and take decisive action against exploitation. Today, we regulate employment agencies, license gangmasters in the agricultural and horticultural sectors, tackle serious labour abuse and modern slavery, and enable enforcement of the National Minimum Wage.

But this is just the start.

With new powers under the Employment Rights Act 2025 , we are expanding our role even further. We are building the capability to ensure workers receive what they are entitled to, from holiday pay to statutory sick pay, and strengthening the system so that rights are not just set out in law, but actively upheld in practice.

Our approach is bold and practical:

• We empower workers, ensuring they understand their rights and can easily access support and raise concerns
• We make it easier for businesses to comply, simplifying processes and helping responsible employers do the right thing
• We take firm action against those who exploit workers and undercut fair competition

This is a unique opportunity to join an organisation at the very beginning of its journey. You will help shape how we operate, influence our culture, and play a direct role in improving outcomes for millions of workers and employers across the UK.

We are looking for people who are curious, collaborative and driven by making a real difference, people who want to build something that matters.

Job description

The role of the Senior Field Intelligence Officer is essential to the work of the Fair Work Agency and our approach to tackling Modern Slavery (Forced or Compulsory Labour) and Labour Exploitation across the UK.

The primary responsibility for this post will be as the Senior Field Intelligence Officer to work within one of the following regions (candidates should indicate on their application which of these regions they are applying for).

• North West - This covers the police force areas of Cumbria, Lancashire, Greater Manchester, Merseyside, Cheshire and North Wales.
• London - This covers the police force areas of the Metropolitan Police and the City of London Police.

The core focus of the role is to support the Intelligence and Investigation functions of the Fair Work Agency in the gathering, recording, risk assessment, analysis and development of information received from a variety of open and closed sources.

Working in a dynamic and high-profile environment, you will have responsibility for:

• Liaising and maintaining effective working relationships with external partners including police, law enforcement, other government departments and relevant partner agencies (statutory and third sector).
• Supporting FWA investigators to maximize all potential opportunities for intelligence development and the gathering of evidence in support of FWA led investigations.
• Identifying and assessing opportunities for the use of covert investigative techniques that support intelligence development and the gathering of evidence.
• Preparing applications and supporting documentation requesting Authorisation of operational activity in line with the provisions of the Regulations of Investigatory Powers Act 2001 (RIPA).
• Undertaking operational activity in line with Authorisations granted under RIPA.
• Actively engaging with external partners to identify intelligence that supports and develops the tackling of Control Strategy Priorities or ongoing investigations.
• Producing relevant, timely and actionable packages for FWA operational teams or external agency consideration.
• Identify and profile potential ‘subjects’ emerging from intelligence development activity.
• Analysing and profiling offenders, incidents, offences, associations and networks.
• Assessing new sources of information in terms of their reliability, motive, risk and potential for engagement under the provisions of RIPA.
• Disseminating intelligence to partner agencies in accordance with the FWA policies and national best practise whilst ensuring that appropriate security precautions are taken in respect of intelligence information, data exchange and joint agency co-operation.
• Identifying new, potential or emerging issues or trends of labour exploitation or abuse across all employment sectors and preparing high quality reports on matters as appropriate.
• Undertake any other reasonable duties that may be required by the Fair Work Agency

Person specification

When giving details in your CV and Personal Statement you should highlight your experience in line with the essential and desirable criteria

Essential criteria:

• Personal experience of working within the statutory framework of RIPA
• Personal experience in the planning and execution of intelligence gathering operations including in your deployment and use of covert or sensitive investigative techniques.
• Personal experience in the preparation of applications for authorisations for the use of for the deployment of covert tactics (e.g. Directed Surveillance)
• Personal experience in the ongoing management of such authorisations
• Knowledge and understanding of the National Intelligence Model including the practical application of national standards in the recording and dissemination of intelligence material.
• Personal experience of adhering to statutory requirements relating to investigative processes e.g. CPIA (including Disclosure)
• Experience in managing confidential or sensitive sources.
• IT literate with a good working knowledge of Microsoft Office products.

Desirable criteria:

• Experience of working within a complex regulatory framework.
• A relevant qualification in the operational ‘Intelligence’ arena (e.g. completion of the College of Policing Intelligence Professionalisation Portfolio).
• Experience in the operational use of digital imagery and video recording equipment.

As stated in the job description ‘candidates should indicate on their application which of these regions they are applying for’ if this is not done it may affect progression through the application process.

Due to the nature of these roles, the successful candidates must already hold, or be able to attain, Non-Police Personnel Vetting (NPPV) at Level 3 to undertake this role (This is in addition to the requirement to hold / obtain SC Vetting)

• A 'Full' UK Driving Licence is required for this role
• Licences
• Full UK driving licence
• Behaviours

We'll assess you against these behaviours during the selection process:

• Making Effective Decisions
• Working Together
• Delivering at Pace

Technical skills

We'll assess you against these technical skills during the selection process:

• Experience in surveillance in accordance with RIPA - as described in the essential and desirable criteria

Benefits

Alongside your salary of £35,367, Fair Work Agency contributes £10,245 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 employer contribution of 28.97%

We recognise the challenges that people with (multiple) protected characteristics may experience on the job market and in their career progression. We are fully committed to being an inclusive employer and ensuring equal opportunities. We are keen to make our workforce as diverse as possible, and we hope to attract applications from underrepresented groups, including ethnic minorities, people with a disability, and people with gender diverse identities.

Things you need to know

Artificial intelligence

Artificial intelligence can be a useful tool to support your application, however, all examples and statements provided must be truthful, factually accurate and taken directly from your own experience. Where plagiarism has been identified (presenting the ideas and experiences of others, or generated by artificial intelligence, as your own) applications may be withdrawn and internal candidates may be subject to disciplinary action. Please see our candidate guidance for more information on appropriate and inappropriate use.

Selection process details

This vacancy is using Success Profiles , and will assess your Behaviours, Experience and Technical skills.

Application Information

As part of the application process, you will be asked to complete:

• A CV detailing your career history, and skills/experience
• A 1000 word Personal statement
• Evidence of your technical skills in line with the essential and desirable criteria, with reference to your experience in surveillance in accordance with RIPA.

Your Personal Statement should be no more than 1000 words. It should provide real life examples of how your skills and experience match those needed for this role and how you would apply them to this position. It will be assessed against the essential criteria and used to add depth to the best evidence in your CV.

Your CV should consist of your career history and skills/experience, including any key achievements in each role.

Please access the following link for guidance on how to apply and how to complete a personal statement https://www.civil-service-careers.gov.uk/how-to-apply/

Selection process

Sift Information

At Sift you will be assessed on your CV and on your Personal Statement. In the event of a high number of applications a pre sift will take place on the Technical skills as described in the essential and desirable criteria. Candidates who pass the initial sift may be progressed to a full sift, or progressed straight to assessment / interview.

The Sift will take place after 1st September 2026

Interview Information

At Interview you will be assessed on Technical skills as described in the essential and desirable criteria and the following Behaviours:

• Making Effective Decisions
• Working Together
• Delivering at Pace

Interviews will take place w/c 14th September 2026, and will be conducted in person at Loxley House, Nottingham.

Important information

No applications will be accepted after the closing date and time.

Further information

A reserve list may be held for a period of 12 months from which further appointments can be made. Reserve Lists will be for each location and appointments made in merit order based on location preferences.

The Agency will not consider sponsoring a visa or issuing a Certificate of Sponsorship. We are unable to offer advice on any Visa and Immigration cases.

New entrants are expected to join on the minimum of the pay band.

Terms and Conditions are attached.

Please note – the successful candidate will be expected to remain in post for a minimum of 18 months before being released for another role.

If successful and transferring from another Government Department a criminal record check may be carried out.

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

Security

Successful candidates must undergo a basic (or equivalent) criminal record check.

Successful candidates must meet the security requirements before they can be appointed. The level of security needed is security check .

See our vetting charter .

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)
• 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

Working for the Civil Service

The Civil Service Code 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 .

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.

Diversity and Inclusion

The Civil Service is committed to attract, retain and invest in talent wherever it is found. To learn more please see the Civil Service People Plan and the Civil Service Diversity and Inclusion Strategy .

Apply and further information

Once this job has closed, the job advert will no longer be available. You may want to save a copy for your records.

Contact point for applicants

Job contact :

• Name : recruitment@fairworkagency.gov.uk
• Email : recruitment@fairworkagency.gov.uk

Recruitment team

• Email : recruitment@fairworkagency.gov.uk

Further information

Our recruitment process is underpinned by the principle of appointment on the basis of fair and open competition and appointment on merit, as outlined in the Civil Service Commissioners’ Recruitment Principles. If you feel your application has not been treated in accordance with these principles and you wish to make a complaint, you should in the first instance contact Fair Work Agency (FWA) recruitment team by email at recruitment@fairworkagency.gov.uk

If you are not satisfied with the response you receive you can contact the Civil Service Commission, which regulates all Civil Service recruitment. For further information on bringing a complaint to the Civil Service Commission please visit their web pages: https://civilservicecommission.independent.gov.uk/document/a-guide-for-civil-servants-bringing-a-civil-service-code-complaint-to-the-civil-service-commission/