**Policy and Strategy Lead - Grooming Gangs Inquiry, London

About the job

Job summary

The Statutory Independent Inquiry into Grooming Gangs (IIGG or"the Inquiry") was established under the Inquiries Act 2005 following Recommendation 2 of Baroness Louise Casey's National Audit on Group-based Child Sexual Exploitation and Abuse (June 2025). The Inquiry will examine group-based child sexual exploitation and abuse, with a mandate to understand what happened, why institutional failings allowed it to continue, and what must change to protect children in the future.

The Inquiry is led by Baroness Anne Longfield CBE as Chair and supported by Panellists Zoë Billingham CBE and Eleanor Kelly CBE. It has full statutory powers to compel evidence and call witnesses across institutional and geographical boundaries.

The Policy and Strategy Lead will lead policy analysis and strategic policy development for the Statutory Independent Inquiry into Grooming Gangs, ensuring evidence gathered through consultation, investigations, hearings and research is translated into clear, robust and actionable findings and recommendations. The role supports the Chair, Panel and senior leadership by providing high-quality policy and strategy advice in a complex, high-profile and trauma-informed environment, while maintaining the Inquiry's independence.

This is an excellent opportunity for those seeking to develop core civil service policy experience within a high-profile Inquiry and would suit those looking to deliver a body of work with which to seek future promotion.

Job description

Key Responsibilities

Policy leadership and analysis
• Lead policy analysis underpinning the Inquiry's strategic focus, aligned to the Terms of Reference and synthesise evidence from investigations and emerging findings.
• Identify systemic issues, policy gaps and cross-cutting themes relevant to group-based child sexual exploitation and abuse.

Advice and decision support
• Provide timely policy advice to the Chair, Panel and Chief Executive/Secretary to support informed decision-making.
• Identify policy risks, sensitivities and dependencies; advise on options and mitigations.

Engagement and collaboration
• Lead policy engagement with government departments, agencies and arm's-length bodies, maintaining statutory independence.
• Work with analysts, safeguarding experts and stakeholders to inform policy analysis and strengthen recommendations and collaborate with legal, investigations, analytics, programme and communications colleagues.

Line Management

This role requires effective line management of 2-4 team members currently being recruited.

Working Pattern

Due to the business requirements of this role, it is only available on a full-time basis with the option of compressed hours working.

Training

The Inquiry will provide staff with training on Safeguarding and Trauma, as well as core corporate responsibilities.

Travel

The Inquiry will have offices in London and Leeds. However, regular travel will be required to London for face-to-face meetings/engagements.

Fixed Term Appointment (FTA)/Loan

This post is being offered on a 12 months'basis in order to complete a finite piece of work. Please refer to attached Candidate Information Pack.

The Inquiry timeline is 36 months, and the assignment may be extended subject to relevant approvals.

Person specification

Essential Criteria
• Significant experience of policy and strategy development in complex, sensitive or high-profile contexts.
• Strong analytical capability, including synthesising large volumes of complex evidence into clear and persuasive advice.
• Excellent written and verbal communication skills, including drafting for senior decision-makers.
• Proven ability to manage competing priorities, risks and delivery pressures.
• Experience working collaboratively across organisational boundaries and influencing senior stakeholders.

Desirable Criteria
• Experience working on or with public inquiries, reviews, inspections or similar independent bodies.
• Knowledge of safeguarding, child protection, criminal justice or related policy areas.

Behaviours

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

• Communicating and Influencing
• Leadership
• Seeing the Big Picture
• Working Together

We only ask for evidence of these behaviours on your application form:

• Communicating and Influencing

Benefits

In addition to your salary, a career with the Home Office offers a range of benefits, including:

• A Civil Service pension with an employer contribution of 28.97%.
• In-year reward scheme for one-off or sustained exceptional personal or team achievements.
• 25 days annual leave on appointment, rising with service to 30 days.
• Eight days of public holidays, plus one additional privilege day.
• Where business needs allow, some roles may be suitable for a combination of office and home-based working. This is a non-contractual arrangement where all employees will be expected to spend a minimum of 60% of their working time in an office.
• See more of our benefits on our careers website.

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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 and Experience.

This gives us the best possible chance of finding the right person for the job, drives up performance and improves diversity and inclusivity.

We will endeavour to conduct the selection process in line with the dates indicated below, but cannot guarantee that these will not, where necessary, be revised.

1. Application - by5th June 2026

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

• CV
• Personal Statement (maximum 1250 words).
• Evidence of the Behaviour Communicating and Influencing (maximum of 250 words).

Your CV should consist of yourcareer history and skills/experience, including any key achievements in each role. Your CV will be scored against the experience required for the role as noted within the essential criteria.

The Personal Statement should be aligned to and demonstrate how you meet the skills and experience set out in the essential criteria, detailed in the job description.

For guidance and information on how to construct your application (CV, Personal Statement and Behaviours), you are encouraged to visit Civil Service Careers website.

2. Sift -9th June 2026

The sift will be held on the Personal Statement, CV and Behaviour - Communicating and Influencing, as listed in the advert.

Should a high volume of applications be received, an initial sift will be conducted on the Lead Behaviour. Candidates who pass the initial sift will then be progressed to a full sift that will consist of all the remaining elements submitted (Personal Statement / CV). Candidates who fail to meet the minimum pass score for the initial sift will not have their remaining submitted elements scored and will only receive a sift score for that assessed at the initial sift.

3. Interview - from30th June 2026

If you are successful at sift stage, you will be invited to an interview that will be Behaviours (as listed in the job advert) and Experience based questions. All Behaviours listed in the selection process will be scored at the interview.

In addition, candidates will be asked to prepare a presentation that will be delivered at interview. The presentation question/scenario will be disclosed closer to the interviews.

The presentation will be assessed against'Experience'on the'Success Profiles'and will be assessed against the'Essential Criteria'as listed in the job advertisement.

The interview will take placeon Teams.

For guidance and information on what to expect and how to prepare for an interview, you are encouraged to visit Civil Service Careers.

Problems during the application process

If you experience problems accessing this advert, or you think you've made a mistake on an initial application, please contact , including the vacancy reference, at least two working days before the vacancy closes. Further information can be found on our website.

Do not create or attempt to submit another application, online test or use a different Civil Service Jobs account to proceed as this would be in violation of the candidate declaration.

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