Evaluation Lead

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

This is a new Senior Executive Officer (SEO) post working in the Fair Work Agency. The post is part of a small team responsible for identifying and filling gaps in labour market enforcement statistics and working in partnership with enforcement bodies, other government departments and researchers to commission new research projects and exploit existing data sources. Main responsibilities include:

• Lead a monitoring and evaluation programme, designing it from the ground up with support from your G7.
• Develop logic model, theory of change and frameworks.
• Help to manage externally commission research reports.
• Support on analysis of labour exploitation in one of the high-risk sectors (for example construction or adult social care) for the Fair Work Agency Strategy.
• Engage with academics and NGOs who focus on the field of labour market exploitation.

You will be part of the Research and Analysis team who are responsible for:

• Providing an assessment of the scale and nature of non-compliance in the labour market.
• Setting up and managing a monitoring and evaluation program for the Fair Work Agency using theory of change and logic models.
• Commissioning and managing external research projects and programme.
• Designing and leading monitoring and evaluation projects for customers across the Fair Work Agency; Working with policy, operational and analytical colleagues to understand their evidence needs and translate these into proportionate and deliverable projects.
• Commissioning external evaluation projects and working with research and evaluation contractors.
• Contributing to the wider work of the research and analysis team by engaging with specific policy or operations teams to provide wider research or evaluation support as needed.
• Collaborating with colleagues across the Fair Work Agency to build strong working relationships, secure the relevant monitoring and evaluation expertise, and contribute to cross-cutting analysis projects.
• Contributing to a strategy and annual report which will be submitted to Parliament on the extent to which enforcement activity undertaken during the year has had an effect on non-compliance.
• The success of the role lies in being proactive, engaging across policy teams in the Employment Rights Directorate, and building links with other Departments to increase the team’s knowledge and influence.
• The success of the role lies not only in having the data but in putting it into the hands of decision makers in a way that they can be used.

A first- or second-class honours degree (2:1 minimum for Fast Stream applications, 2:2 minimum for all other) in a numerate subject containing taught statistical content (e.g. Statistics, Data Science, Mathematics, Economics, Sciences, Psychology, Geography,) or, a higher degree, for example MSc or PhD, in a subject containing formal statistical training (e.g. Statistics, Data Science, Mathematics, Economics, Sciences, Psychology, Geography).

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)

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

This vacancy is using Success Profiles (opens in a new window), and will assess your Behaviours, Technical skills 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 250-word statement on the following Behaviour: Changing and Improving
• Personal statement (750-words max)

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/

Sift Information

At sift you will be assessed on your CV, Personal Statement and Behaviour statement.

Should a large number of applications be received, an initial sift may be undertaken using the personal statement. 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 23rd of November

Interview Information

At interview stage, you will be assessed against the following Success Profile elements:

• Behaviours - (Manging a Quality Service, Changing and Improving and Delivering at Pace).
• Technical - You will be required to prepare a presentation at interview stage - details of which will be provided if you are progressed to interview.

The interviews will take place week commencing 7th December

Interviews will be conducted virtually (via video conferencing).

Please note that dependent on numbers of applications received, these dates could be subject to change.

Further information

A reserve list will 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 – office based

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.