View Vacancy - Immigration Liaison Officer - Home Office - EO, Colombo

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)
Immigration Enforcement International (formerly RALON)

"Note: It is mandatory for all applicants to complete the online application form including the employment and educational details, motivational segment and competency questions. The applications which completed all required fields will only be thoroughly reviewed by us. Forms that are incomplete in any aspect will not be considered while shortlisting for the next stage.’’

Main purpose of job:

An opportunity has arisen within the Home Office International Operations Team (HOIO) to join us an Immigration Liaison Officer at the British High Commission Colombo.  

The team has responsibility for identifying threats to the UK Border, preventing inadequately documented passengers travelling to the UK, identifying visa abuse and developing criminal investigations. We work with UK and international law enforcement agencies to tackle immigration crime, primarily through preventing the travel of inadequately documented passengers to the UK; enhancing visa decision quality; identifying and tackling underlying criminality and providing intelligence on threats to the UK border. 

The team in Colombo has responsibility for Sri Lanka and the Maldives and supports the operations for our team based in Dhaka, who cover Bangladesh. The HOIO Dhaka and Colombo teams are part of the wider South and South East Asia HOIO Regional team which currently also comprises of India, Thailand, and Vietnam.  Some collaborative work and assistance will be necessary with other teams in the region.

Key responsibilities include (but are not limited to);

  • Detecting and preventing abuse within the UK visa application process, and identifying and disrupting the activity of the organised crime groups behind it.
  • Supporting airline carriers with the delivery of robust training packages to aid identification and disruption of passengers and organised crime groups aiming to abuse travel routes to the UK.
  • Using the Intelligence Management System (IMS) to prioritise and action allegations from the public and intelligence referrals from partners both within and outside the organisation.
  • Working with Her Majesty’s Passport Office (HMPO) to consider complex intelligence and counter-fraud referrals.
  • Contributing to all aspects of host nation capacity building through establishing capacity building projects, funded through different Home Office funding streams.
  • Develop operational intelligence products through the collection, interpretation and evaluation of relevant quantitative and qualitative information sources.
  • Work closely with HMG partners at post, host authorities and international partners to support the development of intelligence and investigations to disrupt organised crime groups.

Roles and responsibilities:

Investigation: Individual case working investigations to a high quality standard as tasked by the Immigration Liaison & Migration Manager, as well as UK teams and partner law enforcement agencies.  Investigations covering abuse of UK visa system; abuse by inadequately documented passengers on direct and indirect air routes to the UK and through UK Passport applications.

Crime: Using collaborative working with overseas and UK law enforcement partners to develop intelligence and investigations to disrupt organised crime groups targeting the UK. Establishing new relationships with host law enforcement authorities to enable more robust disruption activity.

Intelligence gathering and analysis: Develop operational intelligence products through the collection, interpretation and evaluation of relevant quantitative and qualitative information sources. Strong problem solving skills are required to identify and investigate suspected organised immigration crime and to gather evidence-based intelligence. Ensure that all relevant intelligence is gathered, handled, assessed and disseminated in line with guidance.  Being able to interpret large amounts of data and provide accurate analysis is essential. Conducting Field Visits within country to help develop investigations, where required.

Partner Engagement: Build effective working relationships with host authorities, international partners, e.g. other country missions, local law enforcement and UK partners to support the delivery of organisational objectives. Lead on the  on processes to exchange actionable intelligence with local law enforcement partners and counterparts in other Diplomatic missions to identify and mitigate threats to the UK border. Represent the Home Office and the UK professionally, developing effective relationships with the wider High Commission, regional colleagues and key external partners.

Training Delivery: Organisation and delivery of core training to airline and law enforcement partners.

Project Management: Support the establishment and operationalise of capacity building projects with local law enforcement projects, through supporting project bidding; identifying suppliers; communicating requirements with partners; overseeing projects and ensuring remains within budget and completing required project documentation and returns.

Line Management: Support the ILM with the management of Immigration Liaison Assistants, to ensure they deliver the objectives of HOIO and the wider Home Office and British High Commission.  Providing oversight, guidance and support to aid their development.  The role may also require occasional coverage of ILM role in periods of absence.

What we do:

Home Office International Operations (HOIO) operates to prevent illegal immigration and disrupt the organised immigration crime groups behind it, supporting both the HOIO mission statement and the Home Office purpose. We have staff deployed to approximately 33 locations across the world.   In addition we provide support to UKVI, HMPO and Returns Logistics colleagues.

We deliver this by:

  • Providing intelligence support to the UK visa operation, supporting UKVI to take an increasingly global approach to risk assessment built on the analysis of objective data and enhanced with local risk indicators.
  • Working with carriers around the world to reduce the threat of inadequately documented arrivals (IDAs) reaching the UK . 
  • Developing intelligence packages related to the visa or air threat for subsequent criminal investigations and prosecutions.
  • Collaborative partner engagement with a range of partners including host authorities, UK law enforcement partners, airlines and other friendly missions. 

What we want from you?

Important information:

All applicants must have permission to work in Sri Lanka and must hold a relevant work or diplomatic visa. 
Evidence of your nationality and permission to work in Sri Lanka must be attached with your application form, for example, photocopies of the details page of your passport and/or visa.

Employment will be offered only after appropriate level of UK standard security clearance is received, an interview for which will take place via Teams, so access to a relevant enabled computer is required.

Any applications that do not meet this criteria or the security requirements will not be considered.

In order to meet Home Office security requirements, we are required to recruit a new ILO from either the UK/US/Canada/Australia/NZ or the EU where they must have an established footprint in their home country within the past 5 years.

We need candidates to have excellent interpersonal skills that they can use strategically to build relationships with key partners to assist HOIO in delivering their objectives. Face to face work is a fundamental part of the job, as is the delivery of training, so the successful candidate should be prepared to undertake and display confidence in public speaking.

The role of the ILO is extremely varied. The challenge with all HOIO work is to deliver both the reactive elements such as air calls and requests for support from visa section, as well as the pro-active elements such as intelligence research and liaison with stakeholders. As such, ILOs need be able to manage very challenging workloads, deliver at pace to tight deadlines and be flexible in support of business aims. Once trained, the successful candidate should be able to work towards objectives with minimal supervision.

The role requires analytical thinking and analysis therefore a good working knowledge of Microsoft Office, especially Excel to an advanced level is desirable, although training can be provided.

Home Office International Operations expects staff to work towards and achieve professional intelligence practitioner accreditation (IPP). 

Working with migration and returns colleagues to support the development of Home Office objectives

Supporting the Immigration Liaison & Migration Manager (ILM) with management of Immigration Liaison Assistants (ILA) with delivering all HOIO core objectives

Support to the wider British High Commission aims and objectives.

Learning and development opportunities:

  • In house training and mentoring will be provided
  • Use of Intelligence management databases and the opportunity to achieve Intelligence Professionalism Programme (IPP) accreditation with the UK College of Policing.
  • A wealth of professional and personal development opportunities are available from the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office Diplomatic Academy, local L&D Committee and e-learning programmes.

Working patterns:

 If the job is suitable for flexible working patterns:      

  • The role requires the job holder to work flexibly, starting early or working late, when required.  It offers the candidate flexible working to suit their needs, subject to agreement with the line manager and business needs. 
  • Roles and responsibilities include the provision of a duty phone function from 0800 to 1600 daily, and the successful candidate will be expected to provide coverage on rotation with existing team members.  During rostered periods of phone coverage, the jobholder will not be able to work flexibly. 
  • The role necessitates travel for partner engagement, training, field visits and meetings, for which some overnight stays will be required. 

Any other information (or specific local Post requirements):

  • The role necessitates travel for partner engagement, training, field visits and meetings on occasions for which some overnight stays will be required.
  • Role and responsibilities include the provision of a duty phone and the successful candidate will be expected to provide coverage on rotation with existing team members. 
  • No relocation, housing or any other related costs or assistance can be provided.
  • The role will involve access to and handling of classified or sensitive commercial information therefore, applicant must already hold a minimum of the UK’s SC level of clearance or be able to achieve it. Because of the security clearance requirement mentioned above, only nationals of the following countries are eligible to apply: UK or other EU country, Canada, Australia, USA, New Zealand.

All applicants must have permission to work in Sri Lanka and must hold a relevant work or diplomatic visa. 
Evidence of your nationality and permission to work in Sri Lanka must be attached with your application form, for example, photocopies of the details page of your passport and/or visa.

Employment will be offered only after appropriate level of UK standard security clearance is received, an interview for which will take place via Teams, so access to a relevant enabled computer is required.

Any applications that do not meet this criteria or the security requirements will not be considered.

Language requirements:

Language: English. Sinhala and/or Tamil is desirable.

Level of language required: Fluent written and spoken.

Essential skills/qualifications:

Computer literate with Microsoft desktop functions (e.g. Outlook, Word, Excel, PowerPoint, Explorer) at a level where you can: create, use and interrogate complex templates, tables, data-sets on Home Office and FCDO IT platforms.

Strong interpersonal and verbal communication skills.

 A high level of written and spoken English with the ability to write high quality reports and briefings.

Strong organisational and time management skills with a flexible approach to allocation of tasks.

Use of an evidence based approach to gather information from a wide range of sources and viewpoints, analysis and evaluation and reaching sound conclusions in order to propose constructive solutions.

An ability to work under pressure with minimal supervision.

  • Previous immigration, law enforcement and/or analytical or investigation experience would be an advantage.
  • Project Management skills.
Seeing the Big Picture, Making Effective Decisions, Managing a Quality Service, Delivering at Pace, Communicating and Influencing, Working Together
21 August 2022
Executive Officer (EO)
Fixed Term, Full-time
40
24 months
South Asia & Afghanistan
Sri Lanka
Colombo
British High Commission
1
LKR
LKR 140,099 + EPF 12% + ETF 3% per month
15 September 2022

For British High Commission (BHC) candidates, the Country Based Staff BHC Terms & Conditions will apply. 

For other than BHC candidates, starting salary will be LKR 140,099 + EPF 12% + ETF 3% per month per month. Other benefits include 13 month’s salary (pro-rated) and medical insurance coverage.

Employment offers are subject to successful clearance of pre-employment and security checks. 

The BHC is recognised as a good employer, with a robust, fair and transparent performance management & appraisal system.  The High Commission takes pride in its organisational culture and its strong and diverse team. We offer leave entitlements as per Sri Lankan labour laws.  

We treat people with respect and equality and have a policy of zero tolerance for any form of discrimination, bullying, or harassment.

Please note that applications will only be considered with (a) and (b):

(a)  Complete the Online Application Form

(b)  Complete the Motivation Segment in the Online Application Form

Internal candidates applying for this position need to upload their appraisal forms for the previous 2 years (if applicable). They should also inform their current line managers, else the applications will not be considered.

We will accept only online applications received by ­­midnight on 21st August 2022 (Sri Lanka Standard Time).  

Please note that all the applicants will be required to strictly adhere to the security guidelines of the British High Commission

  • Applicants who do not have the required qualification & experience should kindly abstain from applying, as their applications will not be considered.
  • Only shortlisted candidates will be contacted and no telephone enquires will be dealt with. However, the status will be updated on the recruitment software which will be viewed by the applicant.
  • The appointment will be subject to police and other checks including references, educational and professional. 
  • We welcome all applications irrespective of age, race, colour, gender, disability, sexual orientation, religion, belief or creed.

NOTE:

  • The British High Commission in Colombo is an equal opportunities employer, dedicated to inclusivity, a diverse workforce and valuing difference.
  • Staff recruited locally by The British High Commission in Colombo is subject to Terms and Conditions of Service according to local employment law.
  • The successful candidate will be subject to reference checking and security clearances checks.

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.