Joint Fusion Cell Liaison Officer
Home Office
Apply before 11:55 pm on Thursday 31st October 2024
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London pay locations: London £45,600 - £48,792
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Investigation
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About the job
Job summary
The Home Office works to build a safe, fair and prosperous UK. We achieve this through our work on counter-terrorism, policing, fire, crime, drugs policy, immigration and passports.
Border Force is a law enforcement arm of the Home Office. We are responsible for handling the UK border control by implementing immigration and customs regulations and working with the wider Home Office on counter terrorism, organised crime, modern slavery and trafficking. Learn more on the Border Force careers page.
Preventing small boat crossings of the Channel remains a top priority for the Home Office. All levers and capabilities across HMG are being drawn upon to reduce the number of people successfully crossing from France and to humanely and efficiently manage those that are intercepted and brought to the UK.
A key part of the department’s response is driven by the Small Boats Operational Command (SBOC), an operational directorate within Border Force. SBOC delivers this through implementing world-leading surveillance technology on air, land and sea, developing operational initiatives with France and other near-neighbour partners, and by providing capabilities and resources to support the interception and initial processing of people arriving by small boat in the UK.
SBOC International Operations is recruiting a liaison officer, to support the existing Grade 7 embedded within the Organised Immigration Crime Joint Fusion Cell (JFC), supporting SBOC’s objective to facilitate and enable effective cross-agency working and maximise opportunities for intelligence reporting which results in reduced small boats crossings.
This is an exciting new position which offers the job holder the opportunity to shape the role and its outputs, while representing SBOC within the wider small boats intelligence community.
Job description
It is a key objective of SBOC to support the JFC’s aims i.e. to fuse, understand and exploit system held information and intelligence to identify emerging trends, risks, new operational leads through proactive pursue and alternative disruptions across all agencies as well as deliver threat assessments and analysis; the JFC being the single source of small boats reporting for the UK. It is vital that SBOC supports and influences the success of the JFC project, and you will play a crucial role in making this happen.
The evolving nature of the small boats and clandestine threat means that the remit of the team will evolve with it, as we seek to disrupt activity further upstream and adapt to any potential displacement to other modes; you should be equally ready to adapt and evolve our ways of working accordingly.
The liaison officer will support the existing G7 SBOC embed to contribute impactfully to the project build, provide support to operational work strands, and drive SBOC taskings and campaigns.
You will be working with a highly motivated and passionate group of people in an exciting and fast-paced environment. For the right candidate, the role provides plenty of opportunity to make your mark, personally influencing outcomes in a high priority area attracting significant interest from ministers.
This is a stretching role. You will need to be able to operate flexibly and in an environment of initial ambiguity while the role is established, moving between supporting the JFC project build and operational functions, and driving priority areas as they evolve.
You will work closely not only with JFC colleagues, but also with both Landside and International Operations SBOC teams, Home Office Intelligence, National Crime Agency (NCA), and other government departments.
The role provides the opportunity to work closely with partners across government, build stakeholder engagement skills and demonstrate leadership in a unique, high-profile position, contributing to the success of HMG’s efforts to reduce small boats crossings and wider organised immigration crime.
The current building locations for this role are Central London and Greater Manchester
Please note that Central London location will be moving to East London in 2025.
Working pattern
This role is suitable for part-time working hours, with a minimum requirement to work 30 hours per week.
Key responsibilities
• Working to the G7 SBOC JFC embed, deliver high quality strategic and operational support to the cell, deputising where necessary.
• Represent SBOC professionally and effectively in the Joint Fusion Cell and the wider small boats intelligence community.
• Develop and maintain a network of high-quality stakeholder relationships with key partners to help SBOC support the success of the JFC.
Utilise these relationships to develop an in-depth knowledge and understanding of the ways of working of the JFC, and its opportunities and challenges.
• Draft high-quality reports, briefings and other written communications for a range of stakeholders.
• Contribute to strategic advice for senior managers and Ministers on engagement with the JFC, offering insight and reporting that improves decision-making on SBOC International priorities.
• Build awareness of cross-government levers and capabilities to disrupt organised immigration crime activity.
• Contribute impactfully to the project build, provide high-quality support to operational work strands, and drive SBOC taskings and campaigns.
It is not envisaged that the candidate will have line management responsibilities at this time, but this may change in the future.
You will be able to start in post with SC clearance, however you must successfully obtain DV clearance once in post (if not already held). During the period where you hold SC clearance, you will only perform elements of the role which fall under SC clearance. If your DV clearance application is unsuccessful, you would be moved into a role which only requires SC clearance. This may not be within the same business area and you will not have a choice on which role you would be moved to.
Person specification
Essential criteria
• Ability to identify key stakeholders in partner organisations, and build trusting and productive working relationships with them.
• Can command the confidence of stakeholders, including from senior grades, in representing own business objectives.
• Ability to prioritise own work and operate independently, while delivering to a high standard.
• Experience in an immigration or intelligence role.
• Strong interpersonal, communication (written and verbal reasoning) and influencing skills.
Desirable criteria
• Experience of delivery in multi-agency environments or cross-cutting business areas.
• Experience in a liaison role.
Behaviours
We'll assess you against these behaviours during the selection process:
- Communicating and Influencing
- Leadership
- Seeing the Big Picture
- Working Together
We only ask for evidence of these behaviours on your application form:
- Communicating and Influencing
Benefits
In addition to your salary, a career with the Home Office offers a range of benefits, including:
- A Civil Service pension with an employer contribution of 28.97%.
- In-year reward scheme for one-off or sustained exceptional personal or team achievements.
- 25 days annual leave on appointment, rising with service to 30 days.
- Eight days of public holidays, plus one additional privilege day.
- 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.
- See more of our benefits on our careers website.
Things you need to know
Selection process details
This gives us the best possible chance of finding the right person for the job, drives up performance and improves diversity and inclusivity.
We will endeavour to conduct the selection process in line with the dates indicated below, but cannot guarantee that these will not, where necessary, be revised.
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 the following Civil Service Verbal test.
- Online Test – by 31st October 2024
If you successfully pass the test CS verbal reasoning test you will be invited to complete the full application form. Please complete the online test as soon as possible (within 24-48 hours is recommended). If you fail to complete the online test or full application before the deadline, your application will be withdrawn.
Guidance for the Civil Service test, will be available when you are invited to take the test. The tests are 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 your test, you will then be asked to complete the full application form.
2. Application – by 31st October
As part of the application process, you will be asked to complete:
- Personal Statement (maximum 750 words).
- Evidence of the Behaviour Communicating and Influencing (maximum of 250 words per Behaviour).
The Personal Statement should be aligned to and demonstrate how you meet the skills and experience set out in the essential criteria, detailed in the job description.
For guidance and information on how to construct your application (Personal Statement and Behaviours), you are encouraged to visit Civil Service Careers website.
3. Sift – week commencing 4th November 2024
The sift will be held on the Personal Statement and Behaviour Communicating and Influencing.
The Personal Statement will be scored for all candidates. Those candidates who achieve the minimum pass score for the Personal Statement will progress to a further sift where the Behaviour Communicating and Influencing will be scored. These candidates will receive a sift score for both elements. Candidates who fail to meet the minimum pass score for the Personal Statement will not have their behaviour(s) scored and will only receive a sift score for the Personal Statement.
Should a high volume of applications be received, the sift will be conducted only on the Personal Statement.
4. Interview – week commencing 25th November 2024
If you are successful at sift stage, you will be invited to an interview that will be:
- Behaviours (as listed in the job advert) and Strength based questions.
Interviews will be carried out via video.
Further information
Location preference
You can select up to two locations in order of preference. Please ensure that these are locations you are prepared to travel to. If you are offered a role at one of your preferred location(s) and you decline, your application will be withdrawn.
Reserve list
A reserve list may be held for a period of up to 12 months from which further appointments may be made. There is no guarantee that being held on a reserve list will lead to a job offer. Further information can be found on our website.
Reserve lists will be held for each location and profession. Candidates will be appointed in merit order by location and profession.
Candidates judged to be a near miss at interview may be offered a post at the grade below the one advertised without the need to go through a further selection process, providing the role has the same Success Profiles elements and essential skills. There is no guarantee that further such vacancies will arise.
Additional Security checks
As well as successfully obtaining UK Security Vetting clearance, you will also be subject to additional Border Force-specific security checks as part of the pre-employment process, to determine your suitability to work for the organisation. For further information on what this involves, please visit our website.
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.
If you are invited to an interview, you will be required to bring documentation for the purposes of establishing your identity.
You will need to meet the nationality requirements for this role and obtain the necessary security clearance to take it up.
For meaningful security checks to be carried out, individuals need to have lived in the UK for a sufficient period of time. Learn more on our website. Security Checks - Home Office Careers
Visa sponsorship
We do not sponsor individuals via Skilled Worker Sponsorship / Tier 2 (General) work visas.
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:
- 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
Nationality requirements
Working for the Civil Service
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).
Diversity and Inclusion
Apply and further information
Contact point for applicants
Job contact :
- Name : Home Office Resourcing Centre.
- Email : HORCCampaignTeamBorderForce@homeoffice.gov.uk
Recruitment team
- Email : HOrecruitment.grs@cabinetoffice.gov.uk
Further information
HORecruitment.GRS@cabinetoffice.gov.uk. If you are not satisfied with the response that you receive, then you can contact the Civil Service Commission.
