About the job

Job summary

Immigration Enforcement (IE) is responsible for enforcing the government’s immigration laws, tackling illegal migration, removing foreign national offenders and immigration offenders from the UK. It also aims to disrupt the organised criminal groups that exploit the vulnerable for their personal gain. 

Learn more on the Immigration Enforcement careers page.

Job description

Within Immigration Enforcement, our Criminal & Financial Investigation (CFI) teams play a vital role nationally in tackling immigration crime, as part of a multi-layered UK law enforcement approach. Working closely with partners in the National Crime Agency (NCA), territorial policing and many other agencies and departments, our CFI Teams are at the forefront in tackling serious and organised immigration crime. 

In line with the expansion of CFI Operational Support Commands, CFI are looking to recruit an Assistant Director (AD) who will act as the head of our Digital Forensic Services team; overseeing the provision of Digital Forensic Services within CFI on behalf of CFI and other service users within Immigration Enforcement and acting as the command SME on digital forensics. 

This is an exciting and rewarding opportunity to oversee and influence the development and provision of digital forensics in accordance with ISO 17025 as we progress towards achieving accreditation in line with the FSR codes. You will be responsible for overseeing and developing a professional high performing team, to ensure that frontline operational teams are fully supported to tackle organised immigration crime.

To succeed in the role, you will be hard working, tenacious, have strong interpersonal skills and have a proven track record of working in the field of digital forensics. You will need to ally your experience with the ability to think analytically and strategically to identify opportunities to innovate, drive performance and ensure compliance with stringent ISO standards and the FSR codes of practice. 

You will be required at times to manage a wide range of tasks that are often urgent, complex and sensitive. You must therefore be able to build a sound, high level knowledge of the business as well as be adaptable, calm under pressure, and able to handle a range of issues with diplomacy and discretion. You will work closely with the G6 Head of Operational Support at the heart of a complex and fast-paced organisation, providing leadership and direction for our Digital Forensic teams.

There is no shift working requirement, and therefore no AHW allowance available for this post.

Person specification

Key responsibilities include, but are not limited to:

• Day to day management and leadership of Digital & Forensic Services across multiple locations throughout the CFI estate, including the Forensic Management Unit, Quality Management Unit, Mobile Device Laboratory, Image Enhancement Laboratory and Data Analysis Laboratory.
• You will have a proven track record and experience in digital investigations, the provision of digital forensic services, together with experience of project management in the context of digital services.
• You will need to be proficient in critical thinking and problem-solving.

You will also:

• Lead the delivery of a robust mitigation plan to ensure that the CFI Digital Forensic Services team can meet and maintain the stringent requirements of the Forensic Science Regulators Act 2021 and the supplementary Code of Practice.
• Ensure resources are onboarded appropriately, to meet regulatory and statutory requirements.
• Lead business stakeholder engagement for ongoing technological requests from wider Home Office areas and engage with LE and business leads to develop and harness future capabilities.
• Provide technical knowledge in the respect of warrants applied for under Investigatory Powers Act 2016.

Essential Criteria

The successful candidate must demonstrate or have experience of:

• Strong written communication skills, particular the ability to draft written work to a high standard and often within exacting timescales.
• Strong verbal and listening skills, to be able to confidently brief and debrief senior managers and colleagues.
• Excellent planning and organisational skills, with a drive to implement continuous improvement of processes.
• The ability to work at pace and under pressure, be proactive and prioritise key activities.
• An experienced leader with a proven history of delivery of performance outcomes and development of staff.
• An experienced Manager of a Digital Forensic Unit(s), developing new capabilities, implementing processes, and the implementation of ISO17025, ISO17020, ILACG19 and FSR Code of Practice.
• A proven history and strong knowledge in the field of Digital Forensics.
• Experience of working within an operational or law enforcement environment.
• An excellent role model for collaborative working, values and behaviours.
• The ability to negotiate and influence at a range of levels.
• Technical or SME level of knowledge of ISO17025, ISO17020, ILACG19 and FSR Code of Practice.

Desirable Criteria

• A strong understanding of criminal justice and law enforcement processes.
• The ability to work confidently with data and systems. Good IT skills (Word / Excel / PowerPoint) would be highly desirable.
• A strong understanding or experience of the work of Immigration Enforcement.

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.

This gives us the best possible chance of finding the right person for the job, drives up performance and improves diversity and inclusivity.

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

• A Statement of Suitability (personal statement) (maximum 750 words).
• Provide evidence of the Behaviour - Managing a Quality Service (250 words maximum).

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

The Statement of Suitability 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

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

The sift will be held on the lead Behaviour 'Managing a Quality Service' and the Statement of Suitability (personal statement). 

However, if a large number of applications are received, the sift will be conducted on the Statement of Suitability (personal statement) only. 

The Statement of Suitability will be scored first for all candidates. Those who achieve the minimum pass score for the Statement of Suitability, will progress to a full sift where the lead Behaviour 'Managing a Quality Service' will be scored. These candidates will therefore receive a sift score for both elements. Candidates who fail to meet the minimum pass score for the Statement of Suitability will not have their Behaviour scored and will therefore only receive a sift score for the Statement of Suitability.

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 listed 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 18th March 2024.

Interviews are expected to take place from 5th April 2024.

We will try to meet the dates set out in the advert, however on occasions these dates may change. 

Interviews will be carried out via video. Candidates will be required to have access to:

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

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.

For further information on National Security Vetting please visit the following page https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/demystifying-vetting

Note For Candidates

When completing your application you will have the opportunity to select your preferred location(s). Please ensure you select all locations you are interested in. Candidates who are successful at Interview will be placed in order of merit per location and provisional job offers will be made in strict merit order per location preference. Provisional offers are made, as they are on condition that you successfully pass all pre-employment checks.

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 information would be contrary to the core values of honesty and integrity expected of all Civil Servants. 

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.

Are these Reserved Posts for UK Nationals only?

UK nationals who hold dual nationality are able to apply for this reserved post. If a UK passport is not being presented, then candidates will need to provide alternative evidence of UK nationality in line with the Civil Service Nationality Rules.

Part Time

If you are considering applying for part time hours, please contact HORCCampaignTeamIE@homeoffice.gov.uk to discuss your request as not all working patterns may be accommodated.

Flexible working

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).

A location based reserve list of successful candidates will be kept for 12 months. Should another role or similar role become available within that period you may be offered this position.

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

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.