Senior Policy Adviser

**Details**:
**Reference number**:

- 339571**Salary**:

- £41,600 - £48,792- National: £41,600 min - £44,512 max. London: £45,600 min - £48,792 max.- A Civil Service Pension with an average employer contribution of 27%**Job grade**:

- Senior Executive Officer**Contract type**:

- Permanent**Business area**:

- HO - NDPBs - Investigatory Powers Commissioner's Office (IPCO)/ Office for Communications Data Authorisations (OCDA)**Type of role**:

- Policy**Working pattern**:

- Full-time**Number of jobs available**:

- 1Contents

Location

About the job

**Benefits**:
Things you need to know

Location
- Birmingham, London, ManchesterAbout the job

**Job summary**:
The Investigatory Powers Act 2016 established the office of the Investigatory Powers Commissioner (‘IPC’) and provides for the appointment of Judicial Commissioners (JCs) to approve and oversee the use of investigatory powers by public authorities. The current IPC is Sir Brian Leveson.

The IPC and JCs have the important function of balancing the public interest and the rights of the individual independently of Government, in particular reviewing whether public authorities’ interference with those rights is justifiable.

The IPC and JCs are supported by the Investigatory Powers Commissioner’s Office (IPCO), an independent arm’s length body of the Home Office that provides oversight and authorisation of the use of investigatory powers by intelligence agencies, police forces and other public authorities. IPCO is based in London and is made up of around 50 civil servants headed by a chief executive, supported by a full secretariat including legal and communications functions, technical experts and inspectors.

We are in the process of merging the two organisations. This will best ensure the provision of consistent advice to the IPC and JCs, making the most effective use of the skills and experience we have across the team.

IPCO are committed to creating an increasingly diverse and inclusive workplace. Our people are our greatest asset and so we aim to foster a safe environment where diversity of thought is welcomed, work-life balance is valued and opportunity for growth is encouraged.

The IPC is supported by the Technology Advisory Panel (TAP) whose purpose is to advise him and Judicial Commissioners on the impact of changing technology and the development of techniques to use investigatory powers whilst minimising privacy interference. The TAP is made up of academics and professionals who are experts in their field and are appointed for three year -terms with an expectation to commit 26 days to IPCO work on an annual basis.

**Job description**:
The provision of support and advice to the Technology Advisory Panel (TAP): you will be responsible for advising the Chair of the TAP, the IPC and the Chief Executive to identify and deliver the strategic direction for the panel's work. Given the TAP’s time commitment and the increasingly significant role technology has for the organisations the IPC oversees, you will be the main liaison for members and be pivotal in linking the TAP and its work with the rest of IPCO and the IPC’s agenda. You will build relationships with colleagues to enable the TAP to be visible and engaged in relevant work at the right time. You will lead on the management of meetings and work programmes as well as the onboarding of new members.- The delivery and project management of the IPC’s Annual Report to the Prime Minister: You will lead on the process from start to finish, including horizon scanning for relevant issues, using all relevant people and information from across IPCO to enable you to advise the IPC and the Chief Executive on the direction of the report. You will provide feedback and challenge where necessary to colleagues to improve drafting as well as liaise with HMG on security and fact-checking reviews and managing the process for publication.

To carry out these responsibilities, you will need to be comfortable leading on and driving your own areas of work. You will need to be able to work collaboratively across all IPCO teams and build and maintain effective working relationships with colleagues at all levels. You will need excellent interpersonal skills and be able to work comfortably with advising and influencing busy senior people.

The post-holder will report to the Head of Policy, who works in the London office. The post-holder can be based at the London, Manchester or Birmingham offices but will be required to attend meetings in London on a regular basis.

The key responsibilities will include:

- advising the TAP Chair and IPCO Chief Executive to help set the strategic direction of the TAP in support of the work of IPCO;
- acting as the liaison point for TAP engagement in IPCO business, ensuring that advice and support is provided where required;
- preparing the TAP Annual Report, overseeing the preparation of formal reports from or on behalf of the TAP, preparing papers and minutes for