International Liaison Officer at British High Commission Pretoria

Main purpose of job:

Home Office International Operations (HOIO) operates in more than 40 countries globally to prevent illegal immigration, detect commodities and to disrupt the organised crime groups behind it. Alongside this HOIO are responsible for leading on the delivery of capacity building projects across Africa and ensuring alignment of these with HOIO’s primary mission of protecting the UK from harm through upstream data collection, targeting and threat intervention.

Crime: Using collaborative working with overseas and UK law enforcement partners, develop intelligence and investigations to disrupt organised crime groups targeting the UK.

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, assessed and disseminated in line with guidance.

Liaison: Build effective working relationships with host authorities, international partners (FCC/EU) and UK partners to support the delivery of crime and intelligence objectives. Lead the exchange of actionable intelligence with local law enforcement partners and counterparts in other Diplomatic missions to identify and mitigate threats to the UK Border. Representing the Home Office professionally, developing effective partnerships with the wider British High Commission and with key external partners.

What we want from you?

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

ILOs need to have excellent people skills that they can use strategically to build relationships with key partners to assist Home Office-International Operations (HOIO) in delivering it’s 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 do some public speaking.

The role of 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 and be flexible in support of business aims. Once up to speed in the role the successful candidate should be able to work towards objectives with minimal supervision.

The role necessitates travel within South Africa and regionally for liaison, training, site visits and meetings. Most of this can be done in a day but some overnight stays will be required. The role also requires working unsociable hours including some weekend working. The successful candidate may also be required to attend training in the UK, most likely for a duration of 1- 3 weeks.

HOIO expects staff to work towards and achieve the Intelligence Professionalisation Programme (IPP) to demonstrate a range of skills required for the role, and to renew this in line with guidance to ensure operational effectiveness is maintained.

Investigation: Individual case working investigations as tasked by Home Office - International Operations.

• To disrupt the flow of illegal migration by air to the United Kingdom and identify and disrupt the activity of the organised crime groups behind it.
• Support Visa Status and Information Services (VSI) section to protect the integrity of the UK visa regime and identify and disrupt activity of the organised crime groups attempting to exploit it.
• 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.
• Conduct training sessions with international partners.
• Provide presentations to host authorities and international partners.
• Provide leadership on projects and work with Non-Government Organisations to deliver quality outcomes.
• Contribute to preventing illegal commodities (drugs, cash, firearms) destined for the UK via passenger or freight.

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