Location
Option to be based at 102 Petty France, London or 5 Wellington Place, Leeds. Occasional travel between locations may be required. Hybrid working model available, balancing remote work and time in base location.

Hours
Flexible working patterns available including full-time, part-time, or job share options.

Salary
£53,081 per annum. New entrants to the Civil Service will join on the minimum of the pay range. Existing civil servants will have pay determined by promotion, transfer, or pay on appointment arrangements.

About the Role
The Deaths in Detention Secretariat is recruiting a permanent SEO Senior Policy Advisor to work across government to prevent deaths in all forms of state detention, including prisons, Mental Health Act detention, police custody, and immigration detention. The role supports the Independent Advisory Panel on Deaths in Custody (IAPDC) and the Ministerial Board on Deaths in Detention (MBDD), providing research, policy advice, and communications to Ministers and senior officials. You will collaborate across the Ministry of Justice, Home Office, and Department of Health and Social Care to implement priorities aimed at reducing deaths in detention settings. This unique position involves leading research, drafting advice and reports, managing communications, and supporting high-level meetings. You will also line manage a Higher Executive Officer to deliver policy and communications outputs. The role offers the opportunity to work with sector experts and senior leaders to make a significant impact on safety and policy in detention environments.

Experience
Demonstrable experience aligned with Civil Service behaviours: Seeing the Big Picture, Working Together, and Communicating and Influencing at HEO/SEO level or equivalent. Experience in research, policy development, and stakeholder engagement is essential. Desirable experience includes knowledge of custodial safety policies, human rights law, and managing relationships with Parliamentarians, press, civil society, and charities.

About you
Excellent influencing, collaboration, and networking skills. High-quality researcher and drafter capable of synthesizing complex information from multiple sources. Ability to work collaboratively across departments and with external stakeholders. Commitment to diversity, inclusion, and wellbeing in the workplace.

Qualifications
No specific qualifications required; however, candidates must demonstrate the required Civil Service behaviours and relevant experience through their application and interview.