Head of Regulation & Regional Lead

Immigration Advice Authority (IAA); Dartford; On-site; GBP 60,000 - 90,000; Full time

Job summary

A leading authority in immigration seeks a regulatory professional to enhance standards across the immigration advice sector. The role involves setting regulatory frameworks, implementing new powers, and leading regional teams to ensure compliance and innovation. Ideal candidates will possess strong analytical, strategic, and leadership skills, with a commitment to service improvement and stakeholder engagement.

Qualifications

• Experience in a regulatory setting with a background in policy development.
• Operational leadership experience focused on efficiency.
• Commitment to service improvement and innovation.

Responsibilities

• Lead the IAA's regulatory agenda and oversee all processes.
• Collaborate with stakeholders to drive policy development.
• Manage regional teams, ensuring operational efficiency.

Skills

Analytical skills

Strategic thinking

Relationship-building

Risk management

Problem-solving

Education

Degree in law, regulation, policy, criminology, or related fields

Job description

The Immigration Advice Authority is looking to recruit a number of regulatory professionals who will drive forward a transformative agenda to strengthen, regulate, and enforce standards across the immigration advice sector - improving outcomes for advice seekers and ensuring a fairer, more accountable system.

Purpose

Lead responsibility for the IAA's regulatory agenda, including setting the standards for regulation, oversight of all regulatory processes, policy, performance and capability, and implementation of new regulatory powers. This role will play a key role including driving our efficiency and innovation agenda

Key responsibilities

Head of Profession

• Lead regulation across all regional teams, influencing beyond direct reporting lines.
• Set and uphold professional standards for audits and complaint investigations.
• Oversee regulatory processes, policies, and performance, driving innovation and integrity in the IAA's regulatory scheme.
• Own and maintain the Code of Standards and Guidance on Competence for immigration advisers.
• Shape the IAA's approach to emerging regulatory challenges, including AI in the advice sector.
• Line manage the IAA's Policy Officer.
• Champion change and operational development in dual capacity as Head of Profession and Regional Lead.

Implementing new regulatory powers

• Lead the implementation of new IAA powers (subject to legislation) by Autumn 2026, including the ability to:

- Fine regulated organisations for Code breaches

- Compel fee repayments and compensation

- Immediately suspend or cancel advisers

- Enforce co-operation in complaint investigations post-registration

• Drive policy development and sector engagement, including formal consultation to revise the complaints scheme.
• Collaborate with the Home Office on secondary legislation, such as setting fine levels.

Implementing fees and charges

• Lead policy development for a new fees and charges regime (subject to legislation), potentially including:

- Separate charges for distinct IAA services

- Charges for non-profit and fee-charging organisations

- Individual adviser fees

• Collaborate with a finance lead to shape practical implementation and engage with the sector.
• Work with the Home Office on drafting primary and secondary legislation, including fee orders and application to non-charging organisations.

In all policy development areas, the role will lead on:

• Lead delivery of organisational change to support high-performance culture.
• Develop and publish external guidance and operational frameworks.
• Design new processes in collaboration with a business analyst and finance lead.
• Manage business change initiatives, including:

- Acting as senior user for case management system updates

- Updating operational manuals and policies

- Coordinating training for operational staff

- Overseeing internal and external communications with support from the Comms team

• Supported in this work by an SEO business change lead.

Oversight of a regional team

• Lead one of the IAA's regional teams via the Regional Operations Manager, driving sustained development and operational efficiency.
• Oversee regional engagement, fostering collaboration with sector stakeholders and agencies; act as national lead for regulatory engagement.
• Work with G7 colleagues to coordinate service delivery and development across all regions.
• Oversee both regulatory and enforcement activity within the regional team, providing strategic leadership to tackle illegal advice-giving.

Other responsibilities

• Actively uphold and promote IAA values as a visible senior leader.
• Contribute to organisational leadership as part of the senior leadership team.
• Line manage Regional Operating Managers, and Policy and Change Leads.
• Oversee delegated budgets with strong financial and risk controls.
• Drive efficiency and resource innovation within the regulatory function.
• Collaborate with the Programme Director to ensure service readiness for new legislative powers.
• Deliver additional duties as required by the Director of Service Delivery, Chief Executive, or Commissioner.

Person specification

• Experience in a regulatory setting, with preferred background in policy development.
• Strong analytical skills and sound judgment in complex, policy-driven environments.
• Strategic thinker committed to continuous improvement.
• Proven success in leading change and supporting strategic goals across diverse teams.
• Operational leadership experience focused on driving efficiency and effectiveness.
• Clear communicator with experience presenting to senior stakeholders.
• Excellent relationship-builder with strong political and stakeholder engagement skills.
• Committed to service improvement, innovation, and digital advancement.
• Skilled in risk management and proactive, customer-oriented problem-solving.
• Flexible, organised, and effective at prioritising high-volume workloads.
• Degree or equivalent professional experience in law, regulation, policy, criminology, or related fields.
• Ongoing professional development in regulatory leadership, compliance, enforcement, or public policy.

To apply for this role please send your CV and a Supporting Statement of no more than two sides of A4 paper detailing how you meet the criteria to the Hays Recruitment Team via the link at the bottom of the advert.

Additionally, as you apply you will be invited to complete an Equality and Diversity Questionnaire. This is to assist the IAA in ensuring its recruitment processes are fair to all. The questionnaire is not seen by anyone involved in the selection process. Completing the questionnaire is not mandatory.

Contact

Hays Recruitment is managing this role on behalf of the Immigration Advice Authority. If you are interested in finding out more about this role, please reach out to:

Gavin Jones - 07557749889 or Owen Quant - 07867695217