Policy Officer Refugee Resettlement

Closing Date: Monday 15th September 2025

Interview Date: TBC

Salary: Grade 4 SCP 31 -35 (£41,771.23 - £46,141.75)

Term: Fixed term/Secondment opportunity to 31/03/2026 pending extension to grant funding for 2026/2027

Reports to: Head of Strategic Migration Partnership

Based: One Canal Parade, Dumballs Road, Cardiff with the flexibility to work from home and remotely in accordance with our Agile Working Policy.

Politically Restricted: Yes

Welsh Language: Desirable only for this role.

ABOUT THE DEPARTMENT

The Home Office fund a lead local authority or Local Government Association in the English regions and in Wales and Scotland for a Strategic Migration Partnership which has the following aims:

• provide a strategic leadership, advisory and consultation mechanism on migration in each region/nation, ensuring a cohesive and place-based approach to migration.
• act as a Regional/National Stakeholder-led subject matter experts on migration
• lead on the coordination of and support for local delivery of the UK’s national Asylum Seeker and Refugee programmes as wellas the agreed regional and devolved Migration priorities in their respective region/nation.

ABOUT THE ROLE

As part of the Strategic Migration Partnership tam, the postholder will lead on the Wales-wide coordination of UK Government’s resettlement programmes, acting as a single point of contact for the Home Office, Ministry for Housing Communities and Local Government (MHCLG), Welsh Government, other governmental departments and local authorities. The post holder will share responsibility for successful delivery of relevant schemes in Wales and the efficient coordination and sensitive matching of refugees in a speedy and efficient allocation process.

The post holder will be responsible for planning and supporting local authorities and relevant partners to work together, develop and support a Wales-wide approach to refugee resettlement. The post holder will develop protocols for matching and placing arrivals with local authorities and other providers, coordinate arrivals across Wales and support post-arrival integration over the life of the programme and periodically. The post holder will be responsible for the development of collaborative arrangements on the placement of refugees and the coordination of services to refugees within Wales and the sharing of experience and expertise, with an emphasis on enabling sustainable refugee resettlement. Current focus of the role will be on the Afghan Resettlement Programme and relevant Ukraine schemes.

The post holder will be expected to maintain a visible presence across all of Wales as this is necessary for the role and ensure that each local authority, region and North and South Wales Operating Areas are effectively supported and engaged with.

The postholder will be required to work across all workstreams, covering for other colleagues and SMP manager during periods of absence. Current priority schemes coordinated by the SMP are the Afghan Resettlement Programme, Asylum Dispersal, National Transfer Scheme for Unaccompanied Children (UASC), Hong Kong British National Overseas Visa Scheme, Ukraine Sponsorship Scheme: Homes for Ukraine (HFU), Ukraine Family Scheme and Ukraine Extension Scheme. The SMP also engages in wider migration issues and dealing with ongoing changes to immigration policy.

Apply Now!

For an initial discussion about the role and the organisation, please contact Naomi Alleyne, Deputy Chief Executive & Corporate Director (Policy) on 07770958639

The successful candidate will be required to provide evidence of identity and eligibility to work in the UK. The WLGA does not participate in the UK Visa Sponsorship Scheme therefore, candidates will have to provide evidence of their Right to Work in the UK if offered a role with us.

The Association is an Equal Opportunities Employer.