About the job

Job summary

The Home Office works to build a safe, fair, and prosperous UK. We achieve this through our work on counterterrorism, policing, fire, crime, nationality, and immigration policy.

The Illegal Migration Operations Command (IMOC) is responsible for the operationalisation of the new Illegal Migration Act (IMA).

The Illegal Migration Act has been introduced in response to the Prime Minister’s commitment to respond to the pressure of small boat arrivals. One of its aims is to introduce a duty to remove anyone arriving illegally in the UK.

The newly formed Illegal Migration Operations Command is responsible for implementing the Illegal Migration Act through processing and screening illegal migrants that fall under the new duties, as well as the creation of a new case working directorate.

The Illegal Migration Intake Unit (IMIU) is part of the Illegal Migration Operations Command. The unit consists of the Kent Intake Unit in Dover and Folkestone; the Manston Intake Unit in Ramsgate, the Midlands Intake Unit within Yarl’s Wood IRC; the Belfast Intake Unit, the Remote Operations Hub in Heathrow, and the Intake Response Team which is a national function providing critical support to all of Illegal Migration Intake Unit. A People and Planning team provides corporate enablement to the operation.

The Illegal Migration Intake Unit is currently made up of over 700 officers (increasing to c.1,000) and is responsible for processing those arriving in the UK by small boats or concealed in lorries. The Belfast Intake Unit also processes those already in-country who seek to claim asylum. 

Job description

We are an equal opportunity employer and value diversity and inclusion at the Home Office. We are committed to creating a welcoming, inclusive workplace where all our people are able to bring their whole selves to work and perform at their best.

This position sits within the Illegal Migration Intake Unit’s Manston operation in Ramsgate, Kent. You will be reporting to the PB1 Head of the Illegal Migration Intake Unit.

This role involves responsibility for leading a large operational area. We are looking for an ambitious leader who is passionate about developing teams at speed towards strong performance and productivity in a fast-paced environment. The role is interesting, demanding and time bound.  We are looking for someone who is a strong leader and communicator; able to motivate their teams whilst operating in a highly-pressurised, high-profile environment whilst considering the bigger picture surrounding the wider business.

The post holder will be responsible for the following teams;

Our Manston operation has a particular focus on small boat arrivals. It is based near Ramsgate and is an initial triaging and processing centre for those arriving via this method. The team operates 24/7, 365 days of the year. Those arriving at Manston will already be detained, so the site contains a number of holding room facilities. The operation is focussed around adults and families. 

The Co-ordination Hub, also based at Manston, has been established to provide a clear national command and control framework that seeks to deliver an end-to-end process and system. Its current remit is evolving but at present they are responsible for real time reporting and monitoring of operational events, operational planning, tasking, and coordination, including deployment planning and logistical support. They are also responsible for reviewing and monitoring detention within Manston and completing any necessary detention reviews in line with policy.

The Remote Operations Hub, based at Bloom Heathrow, Feltham, is a new team created as a result of the implementation of the Illegal Migration Act 2023. The team will operate 24 hours a day, 365 days a year to provide support, away from the front-line operation, with the time sensitive processing of detained illegal migrants who have arrived by clandestine means, including small boats.

Person specification

This is an excellent opportunity to undertake a very high profile, fast paced senior leadership role within a complex and politically sensitive operation. The main duties of the post include (but are not limited to):

• Leading, motivating and supporting a large 24/7/365 frontline uniformed operational team (c.300 FTE) in Manston, within a time-critical, demanding, highly-pressurised and high-profile environment, responsible for processing those arriving in the UK by small boats
• Setting up a brand-new Remote Operations Hub (c.150 FTE) in Heathrow to support the wider IMIU operations with remote activities, such as screening interviews and Operating Mandate checks, ensuring the new Hub has the capacity and capability required to deliver against the unit’s objectives and priorities
• Leading the IMIU Co-ordination Hub, responsible for coordinating operational activity across the unit and for data capture and reporting on the unit’s performance on small boat arrivals
• Setting clear direction, prioritisation and governance for Manston and the Remote Operations Hub to operate within, to ensure the Manston site is fully compliant with legislation and policy, including on immigration detention time limits
• Supporting 5 operational G7s (Assistant Directors) to maximise the capability of the teams by ensuring clear development plans are in place and skills gaps are addressed, with a particular focus on enhancing leadership capability at CIO-G7 level
• Building a culture focused on the wellbeing, engagement and development of IMIU colleagues
• Developing, implementing, and maintaining robust quality assurance protocols for both data and processing tasks
• Ensuring all resource is fully utilised to deliver optimum performance and outputs, and that processing capacity can meet demand
• Ensuring contingency plans are developed and implemented where resourcing falls short of requirements
• Implementing new systems, processes and policies to operationalise the Illegal Migration Act; supporting the Government’s priority to deter illegal migration to the UK
• Working across boundaries with partners (Small Boats Operational Command, Border Force, Immigration Enforcement, Asylum Support, Resettlement and Accommodation and Customer Services Group) and wider stakeholders and contractors to deliver value for money and efficiencies across the system
• Line management responsibilities for 5 G7s
• Being an engaged and proactive member of the IMIU Senior Leadership Team, ensuring contributions towards shared objectives
• Being part of an on-call rota with the IMIU SLT, covering a 7-day period for out of hours phone calls and emails (evenings and weekends), once every several weeks

This is a demanding operational role that requires strong, visible leadership presence at Manston. Intake can be unpredictable, and the operation can unexpectedly be required to process high volumes of small boats arrivals, which requires on site attendance from the senior leadership team to troubleshoot, direct and to work in partnership with other departments and stakeholders on site to maintain the flow of arrivals through the site at pace. Therefore, the post is only suitable to full time workers (not part time or compressed hours) who can be office based in Manston for at least 60% of the week.

The successful candidate must be willing to travel to various IMIU locations as required. Travel and subsistence would be paid in line with guidance.

Please note as part of this role, the successful candidate will be required to wear a uniform (which will be provided). Staff must ensure that their uniform is worn correctly, in line with uniform standards, is kept clean and is well presented. To support this requirement, adequate uniform supplies will be available and issued. Uniformed staff represent their organisation at all times and should ensure that their dress and personal appearance reflects this responsibility.

The successful candidate will be subject to a Disclosure and Barring Service (DBS) check.

Candidates will need their own transport as there is no public transport that serves our site at Manston.

Essential Criteria

You will need to demonstrate you have:

• Experience of leading large teams in a demanding operational environment
• Experience of delivering results under time constraints and pressure
• Evidence of thinking creatively to problem solve
• To manage conflicting priorities whilst having a good awareness of political sensitivities
• The ability to see the bigger picture when making difficult decisions
• Excellent communication and engagement skills, including building and maintaining great working relationships with internal and external partners

Desirable Criteria

• Borders and Enforcement experience would be beneficial but not essential
• Experience of change management

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, Strengths and Experience.

As part of the application process, you will be asked to complete:

• Statement of Suitability (Personal Statement) (maximum 1000 words)
• CV showing your job history and skills 

The Statement of Suitability (Personal Statement) should be aligned to demonstrate your skills and experience for the role and how you meet the Essential Criteria as detailed in the job description. 

For guidance on how to construct your personal statement, you are encouraged to visit Civil Service Careers. Links – Statement

Sift

The sift will be completed on both the Personal Statement and CV. Candidates will therefore receive sift scores for both elements.

Interview

If you are successful at sift stage, you will be invited to an interview which will be a blended approach of strength-based questions and behaviour-based questions on all behaviours listed on the job advert.

For guidance on how to construct your behaviour examples, you are encouraged to visit Civil Service Careers. Links – Behaviours

Strengths are the things that you do regularly, do well and that motivate you. To find out more about strength based questions click here

Sift and Interview dates

Sift is expected to take place week commencing 29th January 2024.

Interviews are expected to take place week commencing 19th February 2024.

We will try to meet the dates set out in the advert, however these may change due to business needs. You will be provided with sufficient notice of the confirmed dates.

Interviews will be held face to face or via MS Teams. If interviews are held face to face they will be held in either; Unit 5, Channel View Road, Dover, the Manston Intake Unit, in Manston near Ramsgate or 2 Marsham Street, London. Please note the interview location will be based on the Interview Panel’s availability.

If interviews are held via MS Teams, candidates will be required to have access to:

• A laptop (personal or work) with a working webcam
• Good internet connection
• Microsoft Teams

It is advisable to access your interview from a windows operating system laptop, desktop, phone or tablet as there is no guarantee that Microsoft Teams will work without issue on an Apple laptop, tablet or desktop.

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 and generating of examples/answers from internet sources including Artificial Intelligence. If any is detected the application may be withdrawn from the process. Further action, including disciplinary action, may be considered in such cases involving civil servants. Providing false or misleading information would be contrary to the core values of honesty and integrity expected of all Civil Servants.

Please note: If you are currently an agency member of staff working within the Home Office, a contractor or contingent worker you can only apply for roles that are advertised externally, i.e. outside the civil service. If you are eligible to apply for a role, you are required to select yourself as an external applicant and not internal when submitting your application on Civil Service jobs. This will prevent any delays in pre-employment checks should you become successful in being made an offer of employment after the Interview stage.

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). 

If you are an external candidate and not a Civil Servant, please note that you will start on the minimum pay that is being advertised.

If you are already a Civil Servant and your current salary is higher than advertised, please contact Government Recruitment Services on horecruitment.grs@cabinetoffice.gov.uk who will assist you in undertaking a pay calculation in advance, so you can make an informed decision before accepting the post.

For more information about working for the Home Office, please visit Home Office Careers website.

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.

In order to process applications without delay, we will be sending a Criminal Record Check to Disclosure and Barring Service on your behalf. However, we recognise in exceptional circumstances some candidates will want to send their completed forms direct. 

If you will be doing this, please advise Government Recruitment Service of your intention by emailing Pre-EmploymentChecks.grs@cabinetoffice.gov.uk stating the job reference number in the subject heading.

A reserve list may be created for other similar roles for a period of 12 months. Selection will be in Merit Order to fill the same role or similar roles with closely matching “Essential Criteria” and Success Profile elements without further assessment.

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 undergo a criminal record check. 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.