JOB SUMMARY

The Home Office works to build a safe, fair and prosperous UK. We achieve this through our work on counter-terrorism, policing, fire, crime, drugs policy, immigration and passports.
The Science, Technology, Research and Analysis (STAR) Group sits at the heart of the Home Office. The group ensures the best evidence and analysis are used to address the strategic issues facing the department. We also provide the science, technology, data, and international insights and collaboration capabilities to drive delivery.
The Country Policy & Information Team (CPIT) is part of Science, Technology, Analysis and Research (STAR). CPIT produces internationally respected country reports, which contain accurate and reliable country information and rigorous, evidenced guidance on handling common protection claims made in the UK.
CPIT also provides support to Ministers and are involved in litigation in the courts about the situation in countries, working closely with other teams in the Home Office as well as the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office and other Government Departments.
The team is also involved in research and analysis to support wider reform of the asylum and appeals system.
This post offers an opportunity to work on a fast-paced, high-profile policy area which attracts a significant amount of Parliamentary, public and media interest and which cuts across domestic and international issues.

JOB DESCRIPTION

The successful candidate will be required to draft reports that accurately describe the human rights situation in countries around the world – you will do this by:

• Planning and undertaking high quality research in line with international standards (n.b. training will be provided);
• Critically assessing and analysing research material alongside relevant asylum and refugee law and policy; and
• Producing succinct, evidence-based guidance to enable asylum decision makers to make timely, accurate and consistent decisions.

You will also answer queries on the portfolio of countries for which you are responsible.
To learn more about the reports we produce, please visit our Country Policy and Information Notes page on Gov.uk.

IMPACT FOR CANDIDATES

Candidates who are taking a test when the downtime starts will have their test paused. They will be able to pick up where they left off after the downtime. They can do this by accessing the test again from their application centre.
Candidates will not be able to launch new tests during the downtime.
Candidates reporting issues should be advised to return to take the test after 7:00pm on 30th August 2025.
Following successful completion of your test, you will then be asked to complete the full application form.
2. Application – by Friday 12th September 2025

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

• CV.
• Personal Statement (maximum 1000 words).
• Evidence of the Behaviour/s Making Effective Decisions, Seeing the Big Picture, Communicating and Influencing and Delivering at Pace (maximum of 250 words per Behaviour).

Your CV should consist of your career history, qualifications and skills/experience, including any key achievements in each role. Your CV will be scored against the experience required for the role as noted within the essential criteria.
The Personal Statement should be aligned to and demonstrate how you meet the skills and experience set out in the essential criteria, detailed in the job description.
For guidance and information on how to construct your application (CV, Personal Statement and Behaviours), you are encouraged to visit Civil Service Careers website.
2. Sift – week commencing Monday 15th September 2025
The sift will be held on the Personal Statement, CV and behaviours.
In the event a high volume of applications are received, an initial sift will be based on the CV and personal statement then, if necessary, on the Lead Behaviour - Making Effective Decisions. Candidates who pass the initial sift will be progressed to a full sift.
3. Interview – week commencing Monday 22nd September 2025
If you are successful at sift stage, you will be invited to an interview that will be Behaviours (as listed in the job advert).
In addition, candidates will be asked to prepare a presentation that will be delivered at interview. The presentation question/scenario will be disclosed closer to the interviews.
For guidance and information on what to expect and how to prepare for an interview, you are encouraged to visit Civil Service Careers.

NATIONALITY REQUIREMENTS

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)
• 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

KEY RESPONSIBILITIES

• Understand the legislative framework; policies and processes; current challenges faced by operational teams; as well as emerging case law and how that impacts on the work of the team.
• Be able to produce clear, rational, and well-evidenced conclusions from complex, often anecdotal, and sometimes conflicting evidence.
• Be capable of contextualising how that anecdotal and partial evidence is reflective of a wider group and as a reflection of the general country situation. Draft or contribute to oral and written briefings for Ministers and others, as required.
• Be actively open-minded, be intellectually curious and introspective.
• Be receptive to constructive feedback, including on written work, and committed to continuous improvement and development.
• Adapt to changing priorities and manage workload accordingly, escalating where appropriate, and be willing to work flexibly across the wider team as required.
• Build and maintain strong working relationships with partners within the Home Office, across Government, externally and internationally – including partners who may hold opposing views to the Home Office. Contribute to the unit being a centre of expertise that is trusted by end users, stakeholders and the courts.
  Note: You may be required to carry out other duties within the scope of the grade and within the limits of your skill, competence and training.

The successful candidate will be required to draft reports that accurately describe the human rights situation in countries around the world – you will do this by:

• Planning and undertaking high quality research in line with international standards (n.b. training will be provided);
• Critically assessing and analysing research material alongside relevant asylum and refugee law and policy; and
• Producing succinct, evidence-based guidance to enable asylum decision makers to make timely, accurate and consistent decisions