Senior Enforcement Investigator (LAPO)

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.

Location

This role is a home working role covering Southern England. There is a requirement to travel across the Southern region of England up to and including the midlands.

Please note there are two roles covering South/South west and two roles covering south/midlands and candidates will be asked at applications stage to choose a location preference:

For South/Midlands - please choose Birmingham

For South/South west - please choose Bristol

You will not be based at these locations, you will be homebased, but your preference will be used at offer stage as all appointments will be made in merit order based on your location preference.

Successful employees will have the ability to use personal transport with mileage allowance or public transport/car hire and where required accommodation in line with FWA policies and procedures.

There will also be a requirement to travel to FWA Nottingham Office on occasion for staff events and meetings.

Reporting to an Investigations Manager, the postholder will be expected to professionally investigate allegations of Modern Slavery, Labour Exploitation, Section 4 Fraud Act 2006 and other relevant Labour Market offences and in doing so protect and safeguard individuals exposed to these risks. The postholder will lead investigations from the reporting stage through to successful court proceedings by providing credible investigative expertise to protect vulnerable workers and prevent exploitation. Safeguarding and provision of care and support to potentially vulnerable and exploited workers will be required.

Key responsibilities:

• Conducting and taking responsibility for criminal investigations under the Gangmasters Licensing Act 2004, Section 4 of the Fraud Act 2006 and Modern Slavery Act 2015.
• Carrying out risk assessments for victims and potential victims of exploitation, identify immediate risk to victims and where necessary take appropriate action to safeguard individuals.
• Undertaking witness and suspect interviews in line with PACE and associated procedures in relation to investigations that could include serious and complex crime.
• Performing lawful arrest and process of suspects for exploitation related criminality in line with PACE.
• 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.
• Ensuring that all evidence and exhibits are properly recorded and stored, and that the continuity and integrity of that evidence is always maintained by FWA personnel. In addition, ensuring that all Disclosure management rules and processes are followed in accordance with CPIA 1996 acting as Disclosure Officer for criminal investigations.
• Attending Crown Court, Magistrates Court, Civil Hearings and Appeal Hearings and give evidence as required.
• Obtaining, monitoring, and enforcing Slavery and Trafficking Risk Orders (STROs), Labour Market Enforcement Undertakings (LMEUs) and Labour Market Enforcements Orders (LMEOs).
• Attending multi agency case conferences/meetings as a representative of the organisation.
• Working in partnership with other agencies including law enforcement agencies in operational activities.
• Supporting with delivering the ‘Prevent’ agenda for the FWA.
• Gathering and submitting intelligence relating to Modern Slavery, Labour Exploitation and Labour Market offences to assist the FWA and partner agencies to protect vulnerable persons in line with the National Intelligence Model.
• Ensuring best value is a primary factor in all aspects of operation.
• Undertaking any other reasonable duties that may be required by the FWA.

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 and Experience.

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

• A CV detailing your career history, and skills/experience
• A 500 word Personal Statement;

Your Personal Statement should be no more than 500 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.

Sift Information

At Sift you will be assessed on Skills/ Experience (CV / Personal statement).

The sift will take place w/c 2 November 2026.

Interview Information

At Interview you will be assessed on Experience and the following Behaviours;

• Delivering at pace
• Seeing the bigger picture
• Working together

Interviews will be conducted w/c 30 November 2026. Interviews will be conducted via Microsoft Teams.

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

Important information

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

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.

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

Feedback

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