FWA Enforcement Officer-Scotland

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

About the role: You will be responsible for FWA compliance and enforcement inspections and investigations in Scotland reporting to a FWA National Investigations manager.

Key responsibilities:

Conducting and taking responsibility for Criminal and Compliance investigations in Scotland for the FWA , whilst complying with Criminal Justice and Licensing (Scotland ) Act 2010 and Criminal justice (Scotland) Act 2016 and submission of criminal files to the procurator Fiscals office COPFS utilising the Specialist Reporting Agencies system.

Undertaking witness and suspect interviews in line with Criminal Justice and Licensing (Scotland ) Act 2010 and Criminal justice (Scotland) Act 2016 and associated procedures in relation to investigations that could include serious and complex crime

Having a working knowledge of Modern Slavery and Human Trafficking Legislation due to joint working with Police Scotland and as a designated first responder under the Human Trafficking Scotland Act.

Maintaining personal responsibility for all aspects of file preparation including gathering, recording, storing, accessing, and sharing of evidence in compliance with organisational procedures, codes of practice and legislation.

Working knowledge of relevant investigatory legislation (e.g. Criminal Justice and Licensing (Scotland) Act 2010, Criminal Justice (Scotland) Act 2016 and the Gangmasters (Licensing) Act, 2004,CPIA and PACE, due to deployment in other areas of UK ( INCLUDING Northern Ireland variances) Victims Code of Practice.

Gathering and submitting intelligence relating to Labour Exploitation to assist the FWA and partner agencies to protect vulnerable persons in line with the National Intelligence Model.

Working in partnership with other agencies including law enforcement agencies in operational activities.

Undertaking any other reasonable duties that may be required by the FWA

Person specification

When giving details in your employment history and personal statement you should highlight your experience in line with the essential criteria.

Essential criteria:

• Experience of working within a law enforcement/regulatory or similar environment
• Experience in conducting criminal investigations
• Experience of criminal case file preparation and an understanding of evidential requirements.
• Ability to work on own initiative without supervision but also as a pro-active team member.
• Experience of multi-agency and/or partnership working.
• Ability to work to tight time scales and to manage conflicting priorities.
• Ability to write clear and concise reports.

The below criteria are desirable only. These will not be assessed throughout the recruitment process, but will be used in the event of tied scores between candidates.

Desirable criteria:

• Experience of dealing with vulnerable victims and witnesses
• Trained as a Victim Liaison Officer (VLO)
• Qualified to undertake ABE and suspect interviews. (When deployed outside of Scotland)
• Experience of submitting intelligence in accordance with NIM
• Knowledge of the National Referral Mechanism and support providers.
• An understanding of digital forensics
• Experience of attending Justice of the Peace and Sheriff’s Court, Civil Hearings and Appeal Hearings and giving evidence as required
• Experience of making applications for search warrants or other orders to the court

• Licences
• Full UK Driving Licence
• Behaviours

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

• Making Effective Decisions
• Working Together

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 (opens in a new window).

• 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 (opens in a new window) for more information on appropriate and inappropriate use.

Selection process details

This vacancy is using Success Profiles (opens in a new window) , and will assess your Behaviours, Strengths and Experience.

Application Information

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

• A CV detailing your career history, and skills / experience
• A 750 word Personal Statement;

Your Personal Statement should be no more than 750 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. Your CV will also be assessed against the essential criteria.

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 Personal Statement and CV . Should a large number of applications be received, an initial sift may be undertaken using the CV. Candidates who pass the initial sift may be progressed to a full sift, or progressed straight to assessment / interview.

• The sift will take place during w/c 5th October 2026
• Interview Information
• At Interview you will be assessed on Behaviours, strengths and experience

Interviews will be conducted w/c 12thth October 2026 . Interviews will be conducted virtually. Candidates will be advised of the format and location of interview in advance.

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.

Hybrid Working

At FWA, we are proud to be able to offer our people the opportunity to work in a hybrid way which combines working from home and the office. This is a voluntary, non-contractual arrangement, and your allocated office will be your contractual place of work.

There will be a requirement to travel to the office for various activities, e.g., collaborative working, supporting and training colleagues. If hybrid working is suitable for you and your role, you will be expected to attend the office, or other business-related site, for 40% of your working week. The arrangements will be determined primarily by business need, but personal circumstances and other relevant circumstances will also be taken into account.

Therefore, we would encourage candidates to consider if the commute from home to the office is a feasible distance to travel before making an application. Please note that if you are successful, hybrid working will be discussed prior to taking up the post.

Feedback

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

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 (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

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) (opens in a new window)
• 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 (opens in a new window)

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 re