At a Glance
- Tasks: Lead migration policy, ensuring it supports economic growth and delivers value for money.
- Company: Join HM Treasury's inclusive team at the heart of government.
- Benefits: Enjoy 25 days annual leave, flexible working, and generous parental leave.
- Other info: Collaborative environment with opportunities for professional development.
- Why this job: Make a real impact on migration policy and support public services.
- Qualifications: Experience in migration or labour market policy and strong analytical skills.
The predicted salary is between 55000 - 65000 £ per year.
We’re looking for a senior policy leader to head HM Treasury’s work on legal and illegal migration policy, covering both economic migration and asylum policy.
About the Team
The Justice, Home Affairs and Equalities team sits at the heart of government, overseeing more than £20bn of spending across the Home Office, Ministry of Justice and wider justice system. Our Home Office branch leads HM Treasury’s relationship with key partners, shaping priorities on migration, policing and economic crime to support growth and high‑quality public services. We’re a friendly, collaborative and inclusive team, committed to developing our people and delivering excellent outcomes.
About the Job
You’ll lead a team of three and shape HM Treasury’s approach to Home Office migration policy, ensuring immigration policy supports labour market needs, economic growth and value for money. You’ll work closely with the HMT Economics Group and other departments to assess the macroeconomic impacts of migration policy and provide clear, evidence‑based advice to ministers. You’ll also oversee HMT’s engagement on asylum accommodation and international efforts to reduce irregular migration. This is a high‑profile role requiring strong strategic judgement, confidence handling sensitive issues, and the ability to turn complex policy, operational and fiscal considerations into clear advice for senior leaders.
In this role, you will:
- Lead HMT’s overall migration policy approach, ensuring legal routes support growth and asylum policy is affordable, deliverable and delivers value for money.
- Shape policy on migration, skills and the labour market, including HMT’s input to and analysis of Home Office approaches to legal migration.
- Assess macroeconomic impacts, working closely with HMT Economics to provide clear, evidence‑based advice to ministers.
- Oversee asylum accommodation, scrutinising costs, delivery risks and value for money.
- Drive HMT input on irregular migration, ensuring robust assessment of policy effectiveness, costs and economic impacts.
- Coordinate cross‑government working, building strong relationships and aligning priorities across departments to deliver government goals.
- Lead and develop your team, contributing to the wider leadership of the Justice, Home Affairs and Equalities group.
About You
We’re looking for people who bring strong experience in migration or labour market policy, and/or can apply economic analysis or modelling to quickly build a clear understanding of new policy areas. You’ll be confident making decisions in complex situations, able to weigh up different options and explain your thinking clearly. You’ll communicate effectively with senior leaders, breaking down complex information into something accessible, and build strong relationships across teams to drive work forward and deliver results.
Benefits
- 25 days annual leave (rising to 30 after 5 years), plus 8 public holidays and the King’s birthday (unless you have a legacy arrangement as an existing Civil Servant).
- Additionally, we operate flexitime systems, allowing employees to take up to an additional 2 days off each month.
- Flexible working patterns (part‑time, job‑share, condensed hours).
- Generous parental and adoption leave packages.
- Access to a generous Defined Benefit pension scheme with employer contributions of 28.97%.
- Access to a cycle‑to‑work salary sacrifice scheme and season ticket advances.
- A range of active staff networks, based around interests (e.g. analysts, music society, sports and social club) and diversity.
Head of Legal and Illegal Migration Policy employer: HM TREASURY
HM Treasury is an exceptional employer, offering a collaborative and inclusive work culture that prioritises employee development and well-being. With generous benefits such as flexible working patterns, extensive leave options, and a robust pension scheme, employees are supported in achieving a healthy work-life balance while contributing to impactful policy decisions at the heart of government. This role not only provides the opportunity to lead significant migration policy initiatives but also fosters professional growth within a dynamic team dedicated to delivering high-quality public services.
StudySmarter Expert Advice🤫
We think this is how you could land Head of Legal and Illegal Migration Policy
✨Tip Number 1
Network like a pro! Reach out to people in the industry, attend events, and connect with current or former employees at HM Treasury. Building relationships can give you insider info and might even lead to a referral.
✨Tip Number 2
Prepare for interviews by understanding the key issues in migration policy. Brush up on recent developments and think about how your experience aligns with the role. We want to see you confidently discuss complex topics!
✨Tip Number 3
Showcase your leadership skills! Be ready to share examples of how you've led teams or projects in the past. We love candidates who can demonstrate their ability to drive results and develop others.
✨Tip Number 4
Don’t forget to apply through our website! It’s the best way to ensure your application gets seen. Plus, it shows you’re serious about joining our friendly and inclusive team at HM Treasury.
We think you need these skills to ace Head of Legal and Illegal Migration Policy
Some tips for your application 🫡
Tailor Your Application:Make sure to customise your application to reflect the specific skills and experiences that align with the Head of Legal and Illegal Migration Policy role. Highlight your experience in migration or labour market policy, and don’t forget to mention any economic analysis skills you have!
Showcase Your Leadership Skills:Since this role involves leading a team, it’s crucial to demonstrate your leadership abilities. Share examples of how you've successfully led teams in the past, especially in complex situations, and how you’ve driven results through collaboration.
Communicate Clearly:In your written application, aim for clarity and conciseness. Break down complex ideas into easily digestible points, as you would when advising senior leaders. This will show us that you can communicate effectively, which is key for this position.
Apply Through Our Website:We encourage you to submit your application through our website. It’s the best way to ensure your application gets the attention it deserves. Plus, you’ll find all the details you need about the role and our team there!
How to prepare for a job interview at HM TREASURY
✨Know Your Migration Policy Inside Out
Make sure you’re well-versed in both legal and illegal migration policies. Brush up on recent changes, key statistics, and the economic impacts of these policies. This will help you demonstrate your expertise and show that you can provide evidence-based advice to ministers.
✨Showcase Your Strategic Judgement
Prepare examples from your past experience where you had to make tough decisions in complex situations. Be ready to discuss how you weighed different options and what the outcomes were. This will highlight your ability to handle sensitive issues and make sound strategic choices.
✨Communicate Clearly and Effectively
Practice breaking down complex information into simple terms. You might be asked to explain intricate policy details to senior leaders, so being able to communicate clearly is crucial. Consider doing mock interviews with a friend to refine your delivery.
✨Build Relationships Across Teams
Think about how you’ve successfully collaborated with other departments in the past. Be prepared to discuss your approach to building strong relationships and aligning priorities. This will show that you understand the importance of cross-government working in delivering effective migration policy.
