Technology Assurance and Testing Officer
Home Office
Apply before 11:55 pm on Wednesday 6th November 2024
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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.
The Technology Assurance and Testing Officer will work with various stakeholders and data owners to ensure compliance with operating guidance, analysing, and reporting on trends and issues of concern to promote continuous improvement. Another element of the role will be using our IT systems to investigate external complaints and provide a written response to the complainant/stakeholders.
This role provides a unique opportunity within the Civil Service, providing one of the only insights into the work of operational assurance within a Home Office department. The work undertaken is essential for the ever-improving security, professionalism and integrity of the UK Border and its dedicated staff.
Job description
The Border Force (BF) Operational Assurance Directorate (OAD) was established in November 2013 to develop, implement, and sustain a systematic programme of thematic, geographical, and international inspections to test border security and risk and to assure compliance with operational standards and guidance.
OAD’s Border Security Assurance and Testing (BTAT) team’s aim is to provide assurance that there is an expected, appropriate and correct response by BF front-line using border technology systems and no additional risks to border security exist from implementation of technology changes due to front-line error, non-compliance with guidance, or lack of understanding.
Border Security Assurance and Testing (BTAT) leads a programme of thematic, audit, and risk based assurance reviews/testing regimes of existing IT used by Border Force and new and emerging technology stemming from wider BF transformation programmes.
If successful in this application you will work in a cross model approach, working within different OAD teams when required.
There will be occasional requirements to visit other BF port locations 4-5 times a year.
Responsibilities will include, but will not be limited to:
• Delivering on the BTAT audit programme plan, carrying out audit and tech assurance support work.
• Effective use of Home Office IT to conduct assurance. Identify appropriate cases for further information, liaising with BF Regions as and when necessary.
• Providing and integrating data and contributing to regular assurance reporting, to ensure patterns, trends and training gaps are identified and reported.
• Working with key partners to assist in ensuring assurance processes are effective and efficient as possible, and to take forward improvement action to continuously improve Border Force processes and border security.
• Supporting the Border technology, complaints, and data assurance work stream with a focus on the digital passenger journey.
• Drafting replies to customers who complain about Border Force using IT, guidance, policies and procedures, ensuring cases are managed effectively.
• Supporting wider OAD functions where required, by supporting work outside of the immediate team, within the scope of your grade and within the limits of skill, competence, and training.
Working Pattern
This role is suitable for part-time working hours, with a minimum requirement to work 20 hours per week.
We encourage applications from candidates who wish to work part-time; however, part-time opportunities cannot be guaranteed and are subject to the requirements of the role and business. Candidates wishing to work part-time should notify the vacancy holder as soon as a provisional offer of employment is made, to explore whether this can be accommodated at your selected location.
Person specification
Essential criteria
• A team-player, supporting colleagues and team members to deliver key outcomes.
• Ability to make effective and fair decisions, analysing current policy and guidelines and using technology to support decisions.
• Good working knowledge of MS products (including Outlook, Word, Excel, PowerPoint, SharePoint & Teams), to be able to maintain and update spreadsheets and word documents.
• Good written and verbal communication skills, to draft reports and correspondence to internal and external stakeholders. Strong interpersonal skills.
Desirable criteria
• A good understanding of technology, systems and IT/Collating and analysing data from spreadsheets.
• The ability to plan daily tasks, prioritise workloads, collaborate and deliver accurate results, working to short deadlines and being flexible.
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.
- This role currently attracts Annualised Hours Allowance (AHA) of 8.37% of salary, which equates to an additional £2,343.60 per annum based on salary minimum. Further information can be found on our 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 Numerical and Civil Service Verbal Tests.
1. Online Test – by 6th November 2024
If you successfully pass the Civil Service Numerical and Civil Service Verbal tests, you will be invited to complete the full application form. Please complete the online tests as soon as possible (within 24-48 hours is recommended). If you fail to complete the online tests or full application before the deadline, your application will be withdrawn.
Guidance for the Civil Service tests, will be available when you are invited to take the tests. 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 tests, you will then be asked to complete the full application form.
2. Application – by 6th November 2024
As part of the application process, you will be asked to complete:
- Personal Statement (maximum 500 words).
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 (CV, Personal Statement and Behaviours), you are encouraged to visit Civil Service Careers website.
3. Sift – week commencing 11th November 2024
The sift will be held on the Personal Statement.
4. Interview – week commencing 2nd December 2024
If you are successful at sift stage, you will be invited to an interview that will be:
- Strength based questions.
The interview will take place in person at Martello House, Folkestone.
For guidance and information on what to expect and how to prepare for an interview, you are encouraged to visit Civil Service Careers.
Problems during the application process
If you experience problems accessing this advert, or you think you’ve made a mistake on an initial application, please contact hocandidates.grs@cabinetoffice.gov.uk, including the vacancy reference, at least two working days before the vacancy closes. Further information can be found on our website.
Location Preferences
You will only be able to select a single location preference so please ensure this is a location that you are prepared to travel to. If you are offered a role at your preferred location and you decline, your application will be withdrawn.
Successful candidates will need to be able to attend for all shifts including early starts, late night finishes, and overnight shifts. These shifts may be outside of public transport operating hours.
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.
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.
Appearance and Standards
This is a uniformed post and as such requires the highest standards. Further information on this and policies regarding tattoos can be found on our website.
All Civil Servants are expected to comply with the Civil Service Code, and its core values of integrity, honesty, objectivity and impartiality.
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.
Further information
For further information on National Security Vetting please visit the following page https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/demystifying-vetting
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:
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
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
principles, and wish to make a complaint, then you should contact in the first instance
HORecruitment.GRS@cabinetoffice.gov.uk. If you are not satisfied with the response that you receive, then you can contact the Civil Service Commission.
