Assistant Analyst

Assistant Analyst – Fair Work Agency

Salary: £35,367 – £37,497 per annum
Additional allowance: £4,515 per annum for eligible badged Government Statistical Service (GSS) members working in an analytical role
Location: Belfast, Cardiff, Darlington, Nottingham and Salford
Job type: Permanent
Working pattern: Full-time, part-time and flexible working
Job grade: Higher Executive Officer (HEO)
Directorate: Strategy and Impact Directorate
Number of vacancies: 1
Reference: 490024
Closing date: 24 November 2026 at 11:55 pm
Visa sponsorship: Not stated in the job advert.

About the Fair Work Agency

The Fair Work Agency (FWA), launched in April 2026, works to make employment fairer across the UK by protecting workers, supporting responsible businesses and tackling workplace exploitation.

The agency brings together responsibilities covering employment agency regulation, gangmaster licensing, labour abuse enforcement and National Minimum Wage compliance.

With additional powers under the Employment Rights Act 2025, the agency is expanding its work to strengthen employment rights, including holiday pay and statutory sick pay.

This is an opportunity to join a newly established organisation and contribute to its development while helping improve outcomes for workers and employers across the UK.

About the Role

The Fair Work Agency is recruiting an Assistant Analyst to join its Research and Analysis team within the Strategy and Impact Directorate.

You will help develop the agency’s research, monitoring and evaluation capabilities, improve understanding of labour market exploitation and support evidence-based enforcement decisions.

Working with policy teams, government departments, enforcement bodies, academics and external researchers, you will contribute to research projects and identify gaps in labour market data.

Key Responsibilities

• Lead the development of a monitoring and evaluation programme, with support from a Grade 7 manager.
• Develop logic models, theories of change and evaluation frameworks.
• Support the management of externally commissioned research projects.
• Analyse labour exploitation in high-risk sectors, such as construction and adult social care.
• Identify gaps in labour market enforcement statistics and explore existing data sources.
• Engage with academics, NGOs and other organisations working on labour market exploitation.
• Work with government departments and enforcement bodies to improve research and evidence gathering.
• Support the wider Research and Analysis team’s projects and activities.

Essential Requirements

Candidates should be able to demonstrate:

• Ability to support the development of research and analysis within a new organisation.
• Experience or capability in developing evidence to understand the scale and nature of labour market exploitation.
• Ability to support externally commissioned research and economic analysis.
• Experience contributing to research, evaluation or analytical projects.
• Ability to build effective working relationships across teams and organisations.
• Strong quantitative analytical skills.
• Excellent project and programme management skills.
• Ability to manage competing priorities, work at pace and maintain high standards.
• Strong collaboration, communication and problem-solving skills.

Desirable Criteria

The following are desirable but will not be assessed during the recruitment process. They may be considered in the event of tied scores:

• Experience working in labour markets or a regulatory environment.
• Membership of GES, GSR, GORS or GSS, or qualifications that would make you eligible for membership.

Civil Service Behaviours

The recruitment process will assess candidates against the following behaviours:

• Changing and Improving
• Managing a Quality Service
• Delivering at Pace

Only Changing and Improving requires a written behaviour statement at the application stage.

Salary and Benefits

Successful candidates will receive:

• Annual salary of £35,367 to £37,497.
• Additional £4,515 analyst allowance for eligible badged GSS members working in an analytical role.
• Civil Service pension with an employer contribution of 28.97%.
• Learning and development opportunities tailored to the role.
• Flexible working arrangements.
• An inclusive working environment.
• Opportunities to contribute to the development of a new government agency.

Application and Selection Process

Applications will be assessed using the Civil Service Success Profiles framework.

Candidates must submit:

• CV: Details of career history, skills, experience and key achievements.
• Personal statement: Maximum 750 words, explaining how your experience and skills meet the essential criteria.
• Behaviour statement: A 250-word example demonstrating Changing and Improving.

The CV and personal statement will be assessed against the essential criteria.

Sift stage: Expected to take place during the week commencing 23 November 2026. An initial sift using the personal statement may be conducted if application numbers are high.

Interview stage: Expected during the week commencing 7 December 2026. Interviews may be held in person or virtually.

Candidates will be assessed against Managing a Quality Service, Changing and Improving and Delivering at Pace.

A presentation will also be required at the interview stage. The topic will be shared with candidates who successfully pass the sift.

Important Information

• Successful candidates must undergo a basic criminal record check.
• Candidates must meet the required Security Check (SC) clearance requirements.
• Nationality and right-to-work requirements apply.
• Feedback will only be provided to candidates who attend an interview or assessment.

AI and Applications: Applicants may use artificial intelligence tools to support their applications, but all examples and statements must be truthful and based on their own experience. Applications containing plagiarised or fabricated examples may be withdrawn.

How to Apply

Interested candidates should submit their CV, 750-word personal statement and 250-word Changing and Improving behaviour statement through the official Civil Service Jobs portal.

Application deadline: 24 November 2026 at 11:55 pm.

Recruitment contact: recruitment@fairworkagency.gov.uk