View Vacancy - Enrichment, Risk and Innovation Lead HEO (06/23 PTA)

The British Government is an inclusive and diversity-friendly employer.  We value difference, promote equality and challenge discrimination, enhancing our organisational capability. We welcome and encourage applications from people of all backgrounds. We do not discriminate on the basis of disability, race, colour, ethnicity, gender identity, religion, sexual orientation, age, veteran status or other category protected by law. We promote family-friendly flexible working opportunities, where operational and security needs allow.
Other British Government Departments (Partners across Government, including UK Visas)
UKVI (UK Visas and Immigration)

Main purpose of job:

The Enrichment Team has a key cross-cutting role providing verification support to the operational team, to central operations, and policy leads in developing new ways of working.

The role will include; statistical data analysis, with a high quality of accuracy; team and operational management; effective liaison with stakeholders and OGDs/external institutions; the gathering of evidence to support policy initiatives and rules changes. 

Roles and responsibilities:

The successful candidate will manage the full end to end process of visa casework verification across the Pretoria DMC. In addition to providing daily operational oversight of the Enrichment Team, you will:  

Engage with stakeholders across the business, especially operational leads and Home Office International colleagues.  UKVI has recently undergone significant changes to the way applications are handled. 

  • The role requires a strong focus on risk analysis, the successful candidate will review decision makers work, providing feedback with a view to reducing harm.
  • This analysis skill will be used to identify and manage trends in harm, creating profiles and rolling these out to support quality decision making.
  • Production of Equality Impact Assessments to support the way in which UKVI globally allocates casework across its teams.
  • Upskilling other DMCs with knowledge of Africa risk and harm data to support movement of decision making and a consistent approach.
  • Engagement with a team of UK and Country Based staff encouraging a consultative approach to future innovation to introduce positive change to Enrichment processes.
  • Represent on Enrichment Team matters at Operational Review Meetings, defending decisions and taking note of constructive feedback when needed.
  • Use of technology to analyse and report on verification data and related information with a view to increase efficiencies.
  • Support on verification related project work, collating and reviewing evidence with a view to supporting colleagues to implement policy changes.
  • The role will provide cover and support to a small team of C4 Entry Clearance Managers.
  • You will need to be adaptable to respond to emerging issues and tasking with a strong focus on working to tight deadlines whilst prioritising conflicting pressures.
  • The role will also cover some additional Entry Clearance Manager functionality, particularly during peak periods of visit visa demand, and additional training will be provided.

Resources managed (staff and expenditure):

You will manage an Enrichment team currently compromising of around 10 staff members.

  • Given the nature of the role previous experience of the UK's immigration legislation and operations is essential. 
  • Good communication with excellent spoken and written English.
  • The ability to work quickly and reliably with little supervision to meet challenging targets.
  • Ability to work well under pressure.
  • Excellent team players - this is an all for one, and one for all environment.
  • Flexibility and a positive attitude to working in a forward thinking, modern and motivated department, which is working at the forefront of visa work.  We are committed to improving standards and procedures - and we are looking for like-minded employees.
  • It is extremely important that the successful candidate is adaptable and shows a willingness to undertake a variety of tasks in a busy environment.  
  • There may be the need to work flexible hours. 
  • A positive attitude is essential as is the ability to work as part of a team. 
Changing and Improving, Working Together
6 March 2023
Higher Executive Officer (HEO)
Fixed term, with possibility of renewal
Africa
South Africa
Pretoria
British High Commission
1
R 643,242.53 per annum
1 April 2023

Learning and development opportunities (and any specific training courses to be completed):

UKVI is committed to developing our team and L&D opportunities will be available through the period of employment. 

Working patterns:

This Post is full time with some provision to allow working from home.  However it will mostly be office based due to the IT systems used with UKVI.

Security Clearance Level required:  SC(O)

Employment will be subject to obtaining the appropriate security clearance.  Please note that only nationals of UK are likely to meet this requirement.

The international arm of UK Visas and Immigration is an integral part of the Home Office working to help deliver the department’s three objectives of:

  • Protecting our border and our national interests.
  • Tackling border tax fraud, smuggling and immigration crime.
  • Implementing fast and fair decisions.

Following the introduction of a visa regime for South African passport holders in July 2009 Pretoria has become one of UKVI’s largest visa issuing posts.

The operation has since expanded to include decision-making for Southern, East and Central Africa.

We are committed to providing a first class service.  Staff are expected to be flexible and make fair and defensible decisions on visa applications quickly, balancing the need for a high level of customer service with the requirement to maintain the integrity of the immigration control.  We are at the forefront of innovation, always prepared to react positively to change and try new ways of working.

  • All applicants must be legally resident in South Africa and eligible to apply for UK security clearance.
  • Employees recruited locally by the British High Commission in Pretoria are subject to Terms and Conditions of Service according to local employment law in South Africa.
  • All candidates must be legally able to work and reside in the country of the vacancy with the correct visa/work permit status or demonstrate eligibility to obtain the relevant permit. 
  • The responsibility lies on the successful candidate to:
  • Obtain the relevant permit
  • Pay fees for the permit
  • Make arrangements to relocate
  • Meet the costs to relocate 
  • The British High Commission do not sponsor visas/work permits except where it may be local practice to do so. 
  • Employees who are not liable to pay local income tax on their Mission salary may have their salaries reduced by the equivalent local income tax amount.
  • Information about the Civil Service Success Profiles can be found on this link: https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/success-profiles. Please note:  AA=A1, AO=A2, EO=B3, HEO=C4, SEO=C5
  • Reference checking will be conducted. Police/security and medical clearances will be required.
  • Appointable candidates who were unsuccessful may be placed on a ‘reserve list’.  If during the reserve period of 6/12 months the same or a largely similar role becomes available, that role may be offered to the second or subsequent candidate”.
  • If you have not heard from us within 3 weeks of the closing date, please consider your application unsuccessful.
Please be aware that you will only be able to apply to vacancies for Country Based Staff roles with the British Government through this official tal.net site (operated by Oleeo). Jobs may be advertised on third party websites, however our adverts will always link back to the official tal.net site. If you complete and send an application through any other site, we will not receive it.

This opportunity is closed to applications.