Head of Illegal Markets

Job summary

The role:

This is an exciting new role that will significantly contribute to, shape, and lead our response to illegal gambling. Working within the Operations Directorate, you will coordinate and direct resources from our Enforcement and Intelligence functions, while working closely with the Illegal Markets, Sports Betting Integrity Unit, Legal, Policy, Strategy, and Communications Teams.

This is a high-profile position with frequent exposure to external stakeholders, as well as the Executive Team and Board. You will be expected to identify and manage risk, novel and contentious issues, and precedent-setting products, providing tactical and strategic resolutions.

This role plays a critical part in delivering the Commission’s broader strategy to combat illegal gambling, directly contributing to the creation of a safer and more transparent gambling environment across Great Britain. You will work closely with senior stakeholders to develop and refine strategic responses to emerging threats and illegal market activities, ensuring that the Commission’s approach is agile, effective and forward-thinking.

By leading high-profile investigations and disrupting illegal gambling networks, you will play a key role in protecting vulnerable consumers and safeguarding the integrity of the gambling industry. Your work will not only shape the Commission’s operational strategy but will also inform policy decisions at the highest levels, contributing to both national and international responses to illegal gambling practices.

This role reports directly to the Director of Enforcement and Intelligence.

Job description

Your responsibilities:

• Lead high-profile investigations and complex disruption and criminal investigations, directing and in some instances performing the Senior Investigating Officer (SIO) role, with oversight of all disclosure obligations and requirements.
• Build and maintain effective relationships with key internal and external stakeholders, including Government Departments, National and International bodies, partner law enforcement agencies, and other regulators. Provide expert advice and guidance to address illegal gambling activity.
• Provide operational oversight to the Commission’s illegal markets response, focusing primarily on Level 2 and Level 3 threats. Develop strong partnerships with law enforcement and related agencies.
• Lead on covert surveillance and CHIS (Covert Human Intelligence Source) activity, ensuring all operations are compliant with relevant legislation.
• Represent the Gambling Commission at Court, hearings, and other formal proceedings as required.
• Contribute to illegal market strategy development, business planning, reporting and operational guidance with the Senior Management Team and key external partners.
• Champion high standards in investigations, ensuring consistent performance, thorough monitoring, debriefing, and continuous improvement practices.
• Lead on the delivery and implementation of a robust Quality Assurance (QA) and Performance Delivery framework to monitor, evaluate, and improve the effectiveness and consistency of illegal markets enforcement activities, to monitor case progress and to ensure all processes and procedures comply with case legal requirements and internal practices.

This role involves frequent travel and overnight stays. The successful person will also be excluded from playing the National Lottery.

Person specification

What we’re looking for:

Essential criteria:

• Leadership & Team Development: We are looking for an experienced leader that has the technical ability to lead our criminal investigation and disruption response and develop our teams involved in the operational response.
• Broad Technical Knowledge: In-depth technical understanding of criminal investigations, including knowledge of investigative tools, methodologies, and practices.
• Collaboration with Legal & External Counsel: Experience working closely with legal teams, external counsel on Level 2 and Level 3 investigations; ensure investigations are legally sound, compliant with relevant regulations, and effectively supported.
• Evaluation & Impact Assessment: Proficient in evaluating the effectiveness of enforcement and intelligence activities and capabilities, using data-driven insights to refine strategies, enhance operational efficiency, and ensure continuous improvement in enforcement outcomes.

Desirable criteria:

• Accredited qualifications relevant to SIO, CPIA, PACE or POCA.
• Experience with covert authorities (surveillance, CHIS, test purchasing)
• Case Management Experience
• Experience in online illegal markets disruption techniques and/or digital forensics.
• Intelligence analysis qualifications or experience.
• Experience in gambling‑related regulatory or investigative work.

Benefits

Alongside your salary of £65,000, Gambling Commission contributes £18,830 towards you being a member of the Civil Service Defined Benefit Pension scheme. Find out what benefits a Civil Service Pension provides.

Our offer to you:

• Civil Service Pension, with 28.97% employer contribution. Click for more information
• 26 days’ holiday, rising to 29 days after two years’ service (pro rata)
• Holiday purchase scheme (option to buy up to five extra days annual leave)
• Flexible working & family friendly policies
• Ergonomic, fully accessible office, very close to Birmingham New Street Station
• Open, collaborative and people focused culture

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

Your application:

We value diversity in our workplace and are committed to a culture where each individual is engaged and feels that their contribution is valued and respected. We welcome all applications from candidates who meet the minimum requirements for the role.

To apply for this position, please see the Gambling Commission careers website.

The Gambling Commission have an anonymised recruitment process, so you should not attach a CV to your application. Instead, application questions will ask you to evidence how your personal skills, qualities and experience match the essential criteria for the role.

The selection process for this vacancy will comprise of two stages. The first stage will be a remote (MS Teams) interview consisting of competency and technical questions. The second stage will be in-person and will require you to complete a task and present your findings. To prepare for your interview please familiarise yourself with the STAR techniquefor answering interview questions.

The closing date for this role is midnight on Sunday 24th May 2026.

Interviews are expected to be held from Friday 5th to Tuesday 9th June 2026.

Please ensure you have the right to work in the UK before applying as we are unable to provide visa sponsorship.

Incomplete applications will be discounted from shortlisting. Please ensure your application is fully completed and submitted before logging out of your account.

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

Security

Successful candidates must undergo a criminal record check.People working with government assets must complete baseline personnel security standard (opens in new window) checks.

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) (opens in a new window)
• 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 (opens in a new window)

Working for the Civil Service

Please note this Post is NOT regulated by the Civil Service Commission.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.

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

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 : recruitment@gamblingcommission.gov.uk
• Email : recruitment@gamblingcommission.gov.uk

Recruitment team

• Email : recruitment@gamblingcommission.gov.uk

Further information

Appointment to the Civil Service is governed by the Civil Service Commission’s Recruitment Principles. You have the right to complain if you feel a department has breached the Recruitment Principles. If you feel your application has not been treated in accordance with the recruitment principles and you wish to make a complaint, you should contact Governance, Gambling Commission, Victoria Square House, Victoria Square, Birmingham B2 4BP in the first instance. If you are not satisfied with the response you receive from us, you can contact the Civil Service Commission.

Attachments

Head of Illegal Markets Job Advert (IM1) Opens in new window (pdf, 206kB)