Defence Afghan Relocation and Resettlement (DARR) - Senior Policy Officer

Job summary

About MOD and the Directorate:

The Defence Afghan Relocation and Resettlement (DARR) Directorate was set up to manage the process for identifying eligible Afghans who supported the UK mission in Afghanistan to come to the UK, and once here to be assisted to begin their new lives with their families. Since 2024 DARR has also been the lead department across Government – on behalf of the Senior Responsible Owner (SRO) - for delivering the Afghan Resettlement Programme (ARP), which brings together all Afghan resettlement schemes: the Afghan Relocation and Assistance Policy (ARAP), the Afghanistan Response Route (or ARR, set up in response to the Feb 2022 data incident) and the Home Office-led Afghan Citizens Resettlement Scheme (ACRS). The intent of the ARP is to exploit synergies across the delivery of the schemes, ensuring maximum value for money and coherence, in particular with respect to the resettlement (accommodation and integration) offer Afghan families receive in the UK. With over 38,000 moved so far across all schemes, it is important and rewarding work that involves significant collaboration across Government, within DARR and internationally, in support of Ministerial ambition to deliver the programme within this Parliament.

The key functions of the Directorate include: setting the strategic direction for and overall programme management of the ARP; eligibility casework for ARAP and ARR; delivering a pipeline out of Afghanistan via third countries into the UK; establishing the accommodation offer for families arriving in the UK and ensuring this is implemented, working closely with HO/MHCLG and Local Authorities to ensure they are set on a path to effective integration.

You can find more about the ARP here: Afghan Resettlement Programme - GOV.UK

This position is advertised at 37 hours per week.

Job description

This role sits within the Policy Team, led by one Grade 6 and several Grade 7s who oversee all strategic, cross‑cutting ARAP policy issues. The team works across Government to ensure coherence with wider Afghan Resettlement schemes and to ensure that policy is legally robust, operationally deliverable, and aligned with Ministerial priorities. In this role, you will work across the team on a range of key priority policy areas.

ARAP policy is highly litigious, high‑profile, and politically sensitive, requiring the team to navigate competing equities across Government alongside complex moral considerations. The Policy Team works closely with other parts of the Directorate, legal advisers, and communications officials to ensure policy is deliverable and achievable across Government. This includes responding to issues arising from the February 2022 data incident, which until July 2024 was subject to a court‑ordered super injunction. You will be responsible for engaging effectively with internal and cross‑HMG stakeholders to ensure, in particular, that MOD equities are clearly understood and represented in cross‑Government working.

This is a high‑profile, challenging, and sensitive role that will test the successful candidate’s ability to work at pace and develop novel policy solutions to complex problems. It requires resilience and a strategic mindset, and offers a highly rewarding opportunity to deliver work with a clear and direct impact on life outcomes for Afghans.

Key responsibilities include:

• Working at pace to provide policy input into complex issues arising from Afghan Relocation schemes, including those linked to the February 2022 data incident.
• Building constructive relationships with policy colleagues across MOD and with partners across Whitehall to advance DARR/MOD policy objectives and influence cross‑HMG decision‑making.
• Developing high‑quality policy products, including ministerial submissions, briefing packs, and communications materials, on a regular basis.
• Confidently and autonomously managing a portfolio of policy work, with opportunities to brief senior stakeholders both in writing and orally.
• Deputising for the Grade 7 as appropriate and playing a flexible role in the wider operations of the team.

Person specification

Essential

• A talented policy professional, comfortable working in a high‑profile, fast‑moving environment to resolve complex policy issues in a cross‑HMG context, often using incomplete information to develop policy solutions that deliver real impact on people’s lives.
• A strategic thinker, able to support policy development within a wider system context, spotting opportunities for change and continuous improvement.
• Proven ability to quickly build constructive relationships with colleagues across a department and with partners across Whitehall, in order to further MOD objectives and influence cross‑HMG decision‑making.
• Excellent written and verbal communication skills, with experience of communicating credibly at senior levels, including providing high‑quality policy advice to Ministers both in writing and orally.
• Strong analytical skills, with the ability to absorb large volumes of information and distil them into clear, evidence‑based policy recommendations.

Desirable

• Previous experience of working on Afghanistan‑related policy issues.
• Experience of working closely with legal advisers and operational delivery teams to ensure policy is developed with legal challenge and operational deliverability in mind.

Behaviours

We'll assess you against these behaviours during the selection process:

• Delivering at Pace
• Making Effective Decisions
• Communicating and Influencing
• Working Together

Benefits

Alongside your salary of £46,040, Ministry of Defence contributes £13,337 towards you being a member of the Civil Service Defined Benefit Pension scheme. Find out what benefits a Civil Service Pension provides.

• Learning and development tailored to your role
• An environment with flexible working options
• A culture encouraging inclusion and diversity
• A Civil Service pension with an employer contribution of 28.97%

DARR is an office-based organisation, and colleagues are expected to spend a minimum of 60% of their working time in the office. Our offices provide opportunity for interaction, collaboration which aids learning and development and a sense of community. Where the role allows, colleagues can work from home for up to 2 days a week as part of a non-contractual hybrid working arrangement, averaged over a calendar month (or a proportionate amount of time for colleagues who work less than full time). Requirements to attend other locations for official business, or work in another MOD workplace, will also count towards this level of office attendance. Applicants can request further information regarding how this and other flexible working arrangements may work in their team from the Vacancy Holder (see advert for contact details). Defence Business Services cannot respond to any questions about working arrangements.

The post does not offer relocation expenses.

External recruits who join the MOD who are new to the Civil Service will be subject to a six-month probation period.

Please Note: Expenses incurred for travel to interviews will not be reimbursed.

Please be advised that the Department is conducting a review of all pay related allowances which could impact on those allowances that the post currently being advertised attracts.

Any move to MOD from another employer will mean you can no longer access childcare vouchers. This includes moves between government departments. You may however be eligible for other government schemes, including Tax-Free Childcare. Determine your eligibility at https://www.childcarechoices.gov.uk/.

The Ministry of Defence is committed to providing a safe and healthy working environment for its staff which includes educating them on the benefits of not smoking, protecting them from the harmful effects of second-hand smoke and supporting those who want to give up smoking. Under the Smoke-Free Working Environment policy, Smoking and the use of all tobacco products (including combustible and chewing tobacco products) will not be permitted anywhere in the Defence working environment however some exemptions are in place, please refer to local guidance. The policy is Whole Force and includes all Defence personnel, contractors, visitors and other non-MOD personnel. All applicants seeking, considering, or accepting employment with the Ministry of Defence should be aware of this policy and that it is already in place at a number of Defence Establishments.

MOD Recruitment Satisfaction Survey – We may contact you regarding your experience to help us improve our customer satisfaction. The survey is voluntary and anonymous. You may however be given the opportunity to provide additional information to help us improve our service which includes the collection of some personal data as defined by the United Kingdom General Data Protection Regulation (UK GDPR). The MOD Privacy Policy Notice sets out how we will use your personal data and your rights.

Things you need to know

Artificial intelligence

Artificial intelligence can be a useful tool to support your application, however, all examples and statements provided must be truthful, factually accurate and taken directly from your own experience. Where plagiarism has been identified (presenting the ideas and experiences of others, or generated by artificial intelligence, as your own) applications may be withdrawn and internal candidates may be subject to disciplinary action. Please see our candidate guidance (opens in a new window) for more information on appropriate and inappropriate use.

Selection process details

This vacancy is using Success Profiles (opens in a new window), and will assess your Behaviours and Experience.

Candidates will be required to provide a name-blind CV to include job history; qualification details and previous skills and experience.

At sift, you will be assessed against your CV and the following behaviours:

• Delivering at Pace
• Making Effective decisions
• Communicating and Influencing
• Working Together

If there are a large number of applications, the sift will be based on the CV and two Behaviours, Communicating and Influencing and Making Effective Decisions only.

At interview, you will also be assessed against your Experience and the following Behaviours:

• Delivering at Pace
• Making Effective decisions
• Communicating and Influencing
• Working Together

The Civil Service embraces diversity and promotes equality of opportunity. There is a Disability Confident Scheme (DCS) for candidates with disabilities who meet the minimum selection criteria. If you need to advise us that you need additional help or reasonable adjustments for the recruitment process, please contact: DBSCivPers-Resourcingteam3@mod.gov.uk .

As a result of the changes to the UK immigration rules which came in to effect on 1 January 2021, the Ministry of Defence will only offer sponsorship for a skilled worker visa under the points based system, where a role has been deemed to be business critical. This role does not meet that category and we will not sponsor a visa. It is therefore NOT open to applications from those who will require sponsorship under the points based system.

Should you apply for this role and be found to require sponsorship, your application will be rejected and any provisional offer of employment withdrawn.

The Ministry of Defence requires all candidates who are successful at interview to declare any outside interests. These declarations will be discussed with successful candidates following the interview process and before a formal offer of employment is made, as some outside interests may not be compatible with MOD civilian roles. This will not, in the majority of cases, prevent employment in MOD, but it is a measure that must be taken to ensure that appropriate mitigations can be put in place to manage any potential, perceived or actual conflicts of interest from the first day of employment.

The Ministry of Defence adopts a zero-tolerance approach to unacceptable behaviours, which includes bullying, harassment, sexual harassment, discrimination, and victimisation. You will not be eligible and will not be considered for this post if you have been dismissed from a role for such unacceptable behaviours within the last five years. This will also apply if you resign or otherwise leave a role but, because of an adverse decision, would have been dismissed for gross misconduct had you continued in that employment. Pre-employment checks will be carried out.

Feedback will only be provided if you attend an interview or assessment.

Security

Successful candidates must meet the security requirements before they can be appointed. The level of security needed is security check (opens in a new window).

See our vetting charter (opens in a new window).People working with government assets must complete baseline personnel security standard (opens in new window) checks.

Nationality requirements

Open to UK nationals only.

Working for the Civil Service

The Civil Service Code (opens in a new window) sets out the standards of behaviour expected of civil servants.

We recruit by merit on the basis of fair and open competition, as outlined in the Civil Service Commission's recruitment principles (opens in a new window).The Civil Service embraces diversity and promotes equal opportunities. As such, we run a Disability Confident Scheme (DCS) for candidates with disabilities who meet the minimum selection criteria.The Civil Service also offers a Redeployment Interview Scheme to civil servants who are at risk of redundancy, and who meet the minimum requirements for the advertised vacancy.

Diversity and Inclusion

The Civil Service is committed to attract, retain and invest in talent wherever it is found. To learn more please see theCivil Service People Plan (opens in a new window) and the Civil Service Diversity and Inclusion Strategy (opens in a new window).

Apply and further information

This vacancy is part of the Great Place to Work for Veterans (opens in a new window) initiative.Once this job has closed, the job advert will no longer be available. You may want to save a copy for your records.

Contact point for applicants

Job contact :

• Name : Victoria Whittington
• Email : victoria.whittington100@mod.gov.uk

Recruitment team

• Email : DBSCIVPERS-RESOURCINGTEAM3@MOD.GOV.UK

Further information

Please ensure you read the attached candidate information document prior to completing your application. If you are dissatisfied with the service you have received from DBS, or believe that DBS has failed to follow the recruitment process in line with the Civil Service Commission principles of selection for appointment on merit on the basis of Fair and Open competition, you can raise a formal complaint by writing to DBS at the following address: Defence Business Services, Scanning Hub, Room 6124, Tomlinson House, Norcross Lane, Blackpool, FY5 3WP. If after raising your complaint with DBS you remain dissatisfied you can complain directly to the Civil Service Commission at the following address: Civil Service commission, Room G/8, 1 Horse Guards Road, London, SW1A 2HQ Or by email: info@csc.gov.uk.

Attachments

EXTERNAL PACK Opens in new window (pdf, 1562kB)Candidate Information updated_ Opens in new window (docx, 32kB)