About the job

Job summary

The Home Office’s mission is to keep the country secure and our citizens safe. Our objectives are to prevent terrorism, cut crime, control immigration, protect vulnerable people and promote growth. Each and every member of Home Office staff plays a part in delivering these objectives.

We cover some of the most high-profile policies in Whitehall, issues such as crime prevention, tackling drug use, immigration, policing and terrorism. All are at the heart of the Government's agenda and we work closely and cooperatively with a wide range of other departments.

The challenges the department faces are significant and can change rapidly in the global environment in which we operate. This makes it one of the most exciting and stimulating departments to work in.

The Migration & Borders (M&B) group is responsible for the immigration system, managing our borders, issuing British passports, running the civil registration system in England and Wales, managing asylum, protection, resettlement and integration services as well as enforcing our immigration system, citizenship, setting our strategy, business and service design, system performance, a large transformation portfolio and major programmes to create the Future Border and Immigration system and deliver the Illegal Migration Act.  In delivering on those areas, we aim to facilitate a genuinely cross-system approach to services, capabilities, interventions, and the way that we work. 

This is a fantastic opportunity to join the System Design Team, sitting at the heart of Migration & Borders. System Design are accountable for owning and developing the Migration & Borders end-to-end strategic design and business architecture. The team are at the forefront of important and meaningful change that touches the lives of millions of people. The team plays a leading role in facilitating a genuinely cross-system approach to services, capabilities, interventions, and the way that we work across the system.  We do this by:

•    Championing the move away from overly siloed structures and approaches towards a more joined-up, flexible system approach, exploiting synergies and avoiding duplication;
•    Delivering a more integrated approach to intervening against immigration and national security threats across people and goods;
•    Acting proactively to enable the system to respond to crises, rather than reacting, addressing gaps in identifying potential problems and opportunities across the system.

Much of the work that we do can be challenging, but as a team we collectively embrace the complexity and have a fantastic community of architects and designers who are united by a desire to make a positive impact.  If you join us, you will find a very supportive and encouraging team who are committed to the work but also to supporting each other.

Location

Where business needs allow, some roles may be suitable for a combination of office and home-based working.  This is a non-contractual arrangement where all employees will be expected to spend a minimum of 60% of their working time in an office, subject to local estates capacity, by Spring 2024.  Applicants can request further information regarding how this may work in their team from the Vacancy Holder (see advert for contact details).  

Job description

You will also work closely with Business analysts, Operations, Policy, Strategy and technology leads throughout the change lifecycle, using business architecture to inform, shape and define strategic business design. Over time you will become a trusted member of the operational and service delivery teams seen as a trusted advisor and a key individual in driving improvements.  

If successful, you will initially be assigned to one of our major transformation programmes or services such as, Future Border and Immigration System, Illegal Migration Act implementation, Passport Transformation, Civil Registration Transformation, Asylum Transformation. However, over time you may be deployed across a range of transformation or service or capability development activities in support of the Department’s priorities. 

You will be expected to demonstrate:

•    A strategic mindset – facilitating collaboration, interpreting strategic context, making links across departmental silos, and the change lifecycle;

•    A structured approach to problem solving – thinking logically about challenges and opportunities, being able to categorise and abstract concepts to simplify approaches;

•    A belief in intentional design – addressing challenges and opportunities systematically, holistically and collaboratively, enabling conscious choice and high-quality decision making.

This role is available on a part time basis, however, there is a minimum requirement to cover 30 hours across 4 days per week.

Recruitment and Retention Allowance (RRA)

Candidates with exceptional skills and experience may receive a recruitment and retention allowance (RRA). This allowance is subject to initial review within six months of taking up the post and thereafter an annual review in-line with departmental priorities and could be reduced or withdrawn at any time.

Person specification

Key Activities include:

Applying business architecture to various scenarios:

•    Strategy Development: supporting colleagues identify optimal courses of action, potential impacts and areas of investment identified through business architecture.

•    Business Design: leading on the development of design workstreams and artefacts that effectively use business architecture collateral to translate business strategy into business/solution designs. Integration with other design disciplines to provide a holistic view.

•    Portfolio/Programme/Project Level Design: shaping and prioritising design activities in the delivery space.

•    Operational Performance Analysis: identifying pain points in achieving business value, developing designs to address.

•    Technical Alignment: collaborating closely with Technical/ Solution/ Application/ Data Architects to ensure continued alignment with the business architecture and design intent.

Building the business architecture knowledgebase:

•    Knowledgebase Management: ensuring that business architecture related to your scope of work is added to the knowledgebase using agreed tooling and complies with architecture and knowledgebase guidance and standards.

Developing the Business Architecture Practice by:

•    Helping ensure business architecture standards are in line with industry standards Business Architecture Body of Knowledge (BIZBOK), and these are used consistently.

•    Developing and maintaining effective ongoing relationships with other Business Architects and design professionals to ensure strategic awareness and design alignment.

Desirable Criteria

Holding or actively working towards a Certified Business Architect (CBA) qualification by the Business Architecture Guild or other equivalent qualification would be desirable, but not essential. You will be provided with opportunities to develop your skills and professional qualifications.

Benefits

• 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 average employer contribution of 27%

Things you need to know

Selection process details

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

As part of the application process candidates will be required to submit a CV and provide evidence of the lead behaviour 'Seeing the Big Picture'.

In addition, candidates will be required to provide evidence of the technical skills listed in the job advert that are reflective of the Home Office DDaT Profession Skills and Competency Model.  The technical skills will be tested against the industry standard Skills for the Information Age (SFIA) Framework - https://sfia-online.org/en/legacy-sfia/sfia-7/all-skills-a-z 

Further details around what this will entail are listed on the application form.

CVs will not be scored.

The sift will be on the Behaviour and Technical skills.

In an event where a high volume of applications is received, an initial sift will be undertaken using the lead behaviour 'Seeing the Big Picture'.

Candidates who pass the initial sift will be either progressed to a full sift or straight to interview.

Candidates shortlisted will be invited to an interview which will test the Behaviours and Technical skills. 

Candidates will be asked to prepare a presentation that will be delivered at interview. 

The presentation will be tested against the technical skills as listed in the job advertisement. A question/scenario will be disclosed closer to the interviews.

The sift will take place week commencing 22 January 2024.
Interviews will take place week commencing 12 February 2024.

Interviews will take place remotely. Further details and instructions will be provided closer to the scheduled interview.

Further Information

For meaningful checks to be carried out, individuals need to have lived in the UK for a sufficient period of time to enable appropriate checks to be carried out and produce a result which provides the required level of assurance. You should normally have been resident in the United Kingdom for the last 3 years if the role requires CTC clearance, 5 years for SC clearance and 10 years for DV.  A lack of UK residency in itself is not necessarily a bar to a security clearance and applicants should contact the Vacancy Holder/Recruiting Manager listed in the advert for further advice.

The successful candidates will be required to hold or be willing to secure Security Check clearance.

Please ensure that all examples provided in your application are taken directly from your own experience and that you describe the examples in your own words. All applications are screened for plagiarism and copying of examples/answers from internet sources. If any is detected the application will be withdrawn from the process. Further action, including disciplinary action, may be considered in such cases involving internal candidates. Providing false or misleading would be contrary to the core values of honesty and integrity expected of all Civil Servants.

A reserve list may be held for a period up to 12 months from which further appointment may be made.

We often have similar roles available at different grades. If a candidate is suitable for a similar role or a lower grade than they have applied for, we may offer the candidate that role without the need for them to go through a further selection process.

Northern Ireland is part of the UK. As stated in the Belfast Agreement, also known as the Good Friday Agreement, the Government of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland and the Government of Ireland recognise the birth right of all the people of Northern Ireland to identify themselves and be accepted as Irish or British, or both, as they may so choose, and accordingly confirm that their right to hold both British and Irish citizenship is accepted by both Governments and would not be affected by any future change in the status of Northern Ireland. 

Every day, Home Office civil servants do brilliant work to develop and deliver policies and services that affect the lives of people across the country and beyond. To do this effectively and fairly, the Home Office is committed to representing modern Britain in all its diversity, and creating a welcoming, inclusive workplace where all our people are able to bring their whole selves to work and perform at their best.

We are flexible, skilled, professional and diverse. We work to recruit and retain disabled staff and area Disability Confident Leader. We are proud to be one of the most ethnically diverse departments in the civil service. We are a Social Mobility Foundation top 75 employer.

New entrants are expected to join on the minimum of the pay band.

Applicants who are successful at interview will be, as part of pre-employment screening, subject to a check on the Internal Fraud Database (IFD). This check will provide information about employees who have been dismissed for fraud or dishonesty offences. This check also applies to employees who resign or otherwise leave before being dismissed for fraud or dishonesty had their employment continued. Any applicant's details held on the IFD will be refused employment.

For further information please see the attached notes for candidates which must be read before making an application.

Existing Civil Servants should note that some of the Home Office terms and conditions of employment have changed. It is the candidate’s responsibility to ensure they are aware of the Terms and Conditions they will adopt should they be successful in application and should refer to the notes for candidates for further details.

Transfer Terms: Voluntary.

If you are invited to an interview you will be required to  bring a range of documentation for the purposes of establishing identity and to aid any pre-employment checks.

Please see the attached list of Home Office acceptable ID documents.

Any move to the Home Office 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

Reasonable Adjustments

If a person with disabilities is at a substantial disadvantage compared to a non-disabled person, we have a duty to make reasonable changes to our processes. 

If you need a change to be made so that you can make your application, you should:

• Contact Government Recruitment Service via HOrecruitment.grs@cabinetoffice.gov.uk as soon as possible before the closing date to discuss your needs
• Complete the “Assistance Required” section in the “Additional Requirements” page of your application form to tell us what changes or help you might need further on in the recruitment process. For instance, you may need wheelchair access at interview, or if you're deaf, a language service professional

If you are experiencing accessibility problems with any attachments on this advert, please contact the email address in the ‘Contact point for applicants’ section.

Feedback

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

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

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.