About the job

Job summary

Immigration Enforcement 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

We are delighted to offer a Higher Executive Officer vacancy within the National Command & Control Unit (NCCU) which sits within Immigration Enforcement.  The NCCU is the 24/7 365 day a year Immigration Enforcement (IE) central point of contact for all UK Police Forces. In addition, we work with partners nationwide to enforce immigration laws fairly whilst protecting and safeguarding the vulnerable in the UK.

The NCCU also acts as a Central Communications Hub for Immigration Enforcement. We identify incidents of a sensitive, high-profile nature and provide expert support and coordination to teams involved in managing Migration and Borders.

This is an exciting opportunity for the right candidate to join the NCCU management team. To develop and embed a wide range of people and engagement skills and to join a high performing team.

What will the successful candidate be doing?

• Leading on performance management, to drive efficiencies and improve performance on the team
• Creating accurate performance management packages, identifying trends to improve efficiency and accuracy. Committing to continuous improvement with willingness to take responsibility for identifying and/or implementing improvements
• Supporting NCCU’s management team in a wide range of workstreams which will include development and maintenance of various in-house spreadsheets and databases and provide support with the replacement of the internal Enquiries Database. Collating urgent Management Information and supporting the Operational Duty Desk
• Line management of a small team of Executive Officers. Provide strong leadership, coaching, guidance to your team maximising staff development and performance.

NCCU is on a journey of change. We are developing a culture where all members of the team have a voice and can influence the way we work. You will contribute to embedding Operational Excellence principles to transform the way we work, develop an inclusive culture that builds capability, embraces change and encourages resilience.

Act as a visible role model for a professional and high performing team, driving best practice, prioritising and championing people focused activities, demonstrating the behaviours of the Leadership Statement, and delivering our vision.

Person specification

The successful candidate will be responsible for (but not limited to):

• Collating and managing the Management Information to ensure that productivity, accuracy, and service quality is analysed
• Demonstrating strong delivery in a demanding fast paced environment with competing demands
• Role modelling the professional behaviours associated with a customer focused organisation
• Being self-motivated to meet the objectives/deadlines of both the daily functions and project work and display strong team working skills within the unit
• Being adaptable, flexible and solution focused
• Having strong interpersonal and team working skills
• Demonstrating leadership skills or leadership ability

Essential Criteria

• Experience of working in Customer Service or Performance Management environment
• Ability to deliver at pace, whilst working both independently and within a team and working to tight deadlines
• Be flexible, adaptive, and creative in solving problems, embedding continuous improvement and dealing positively with change
• Good knowledge of Microsoft Excel with the ability to use formulas and produce visual Management Information reports
• Experience in analysing data and producing reports from internal systems

Desirable Criteria

• An understanding of operational processes across the Borders and Migrations systems
• Experience of the technical solutions deployed within a contact centre
• An understanding of quality assurance processes within a call centre environment and how to develop plans and strategies
• Have experience in being part of or managing teams in a call centre or a fast-paced performance driven environment

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 first be asked to confirm your eligibility by providing some basic personal information.

After submission of this first stage, you will be invited to complete a Civil Service Work Strengths Test. If you successfully pass this test, you will then be invited to complete the full application form. Please complete the online test as soon as possible (within 24-48 hours is recommended), the closing date for the test and full application form is 23:55 on 23rd February 2024. If you fail to complete the online test or full application before the deadline, your application will be withdrawn.

Guidance for the test will be available when you are invited to take the test. The test is administered online and accessed via the Civil Service Jobs website.

You CANNOT complete the Tests on a mobile phone or tablet.

Following successful completion of the test, you will then be asked to complete:

• a CV detailing job history/skills
• a statement of suitability (personal statement) (maximum 750 words)
• provide evidence of the lead behaviour Changing and Improving (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 statement of suitability (personal statement) and behaviour Changing and Improving.

The CV will not be scored.

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 candidates who achieve the minimum pass score for the statement of suitability, will progress to a further sift where the lead behaviour Changing and Improving 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 lead 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.

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 26th February 2024.

Interviews are expected to take place week commencing 18th March 2024.

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

Interviews will be face to face at Soapworks, Manchester. Further details will be provided ahead of 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.

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

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

Note for Candidates:

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.

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

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.

Appearance

As part of this role you will be required to wear a uniform (which will be provided). Staff must ensure that their uniform is worn correctly, in line with these 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.

Flexible Working Agreement

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).

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.