The Home Office has launched the hunt for a new deportation chief and is offering a salary of up to £117,800 for the right individual.
Its head of International and Returns Services Command will lead a team of around 200 staff within the Home Office’s Borders and Enforcement “mission” and be responsible for a budget in excess of £30m to oversee the removal of people who should not be in the UK.
"You will support the design, development and delivery of the strategic and operational returns plans for the Home Office in line with the government’s immigration priorities," the job advert says.
The Home Office’s specification for the SCS Pay Band 1 role says the job “combines operational delivery with a strong international and diplomatic component”.
The campaign comes as the Home Office has faced a High Court challenge to its plans to ship some categories of asylum seeker to Rwanda for “processing”. On Friday the court rejected an application for a temporary injunction against a relocation flights scheduled for tomorrow by the PCS union and campaign groups.
The recruitment drive highlights the government’s need for “strong” cooperation with receiving countries; an ability to secure flight routings; contacts with airlines and other suppliers to assist with escorted returns; and an ability to assess and address late claims that could prevent people being deported.
The Home Office says the role will involve setting priorities and leading relationships with its International Migration Unit, senior officials, ministers, the Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office, and other departments “to deliver new or improved returns arrangements”.
The job description adds: “You will communicate a clear and strong vision for the command as well as being an active member of the wider Returns and Detention Operations Directorate and the Immigration Enforcement senior leadership team.
“This is a high-profile environment and so the post holder will also have regular engagement with ministers and senior external stakeholders.”
Among the key requirements for the successful candidate are “inspirational and engaging leadership” of large diverse teams; a successful track record of delivering results in a “complex, politically sensitive environment”; and an ability to deliver process improvements.
The successful applicant could be based in Croydon, Leeds, Liverpool, London, Manchester, or Sheffield.
Applications close at 11.55pm on 21 June.