** Dedicated Surveillance Team Leader

Job summary

The Home Office works to build a safe, fair and prosperous UK. We achieve this through our work on counter-terrorism, policing, crime, drugs policy, immigration and passports.

Immigration Enforcement is responsible for enforcing the government’s immigration laws, tackling illegal migration, removing foreign national offenders and immigration offenders from the UK. We also aim to disrupt the organised criminal groups that exploit the vulnerable for their personal gain. Learn more on our careers pages.

Criminal & Financial Investigation (CFI) is a directorate within Enforcement, Compliance & Crime (ECC). Our mission is to investigate all aspects of immigration crime and bring the full force of the law against those seeking to abuse the UK’s border and immigration systems.

CFI plays a key role in disrupting organised crime groups involved in facilitating illegal entry to the United Kingdom. We achieve this by conducting criminal investigations into these networks and using powers under the Proceeds of Crime Act to strip them of their illicit profits. The team also investigates and arrests foreign nationals who pose a threat to public safety.

This role is a Team Leader position within the Operational Support Unit, CFI’s covert surveillance team. The Operational Support Unit (OSU) is a Dedicated Surveillance Team that supports criminal investigations through the collection of evidence and intelligence by means of surveillance. The team have a national remit to conduct surveillance in line with national tasking. The unit is accredited by the College of Policing and is responsible for delivering static, foot and mobile surveillance operations. This may include working alongside Mobile Armed Support to Surveillance (MASTS) teams.

Job description

This role requires candidates who can demonstrate a strong interest in proactive operational work. You will be expected to work in a committed and highly flexible manner within a team environment, with a willingness to spend extended periods away from home.

This is a busy, high-profile role offering the successful candidate excellent development opportunities, alongside investment in a challenging and rewarding career.

The role involves leading operational activity in line with relevant legislation and policy. This includes responsibility for health and safety, risk management, operational planning, and the delivery of briefings and debriefings. You will oversee operational delivery, including evidence handling and disclosure processes, and work collaboratively with internal and external partners. You may also be required to lead on specific tasks or projects as directed by senior leadership.

You will be responsible for creating a positive and supportive environment that enables your team to perform at their best. This includes providing clear direction, regular feedback, and supporting the professional development of staff. You will also ensure that all operational and administrative activity is completed to maintain readiness and compliance, while managing performance and conduct in line with organisational policies.

Working closely with other managers, you will align daily operational activity with wider strategic priorities and contribute to the delivery of organisational objectives. You will lead by example, promoting professionalism, accountability and continuous improvement.

The role requires strong leadership and communication skills, sound judgement, and a high degree of flexibility, including the ability to work irregular hours, travel nationally and spend extended periods away from home.

Key Responsibilities

Specific responsibilities include, but are not limited to:

• Act as the Surveillance Ground Commander, leading deployments, conducting risk assessments, and delivering structured briefings and debriefings. Ensure all activity aligns with national policing standards and report to the Covert Operations Manager for Surveillance.
• Ensure compliance with relevant legislation, including the Regulation of Investigatory Powers Act 2000, Police Act 1997, and Criminal Procedure and Investigations Act 1996. Oversee evidence handling and disclosure processes and provide evidence in Crown or Magistrates’ Courts where required.
• Maintain adherence to procedural standards, ensuring all operational documentation and administrative tasks are completed accurately and within required timescales to support operational readiness and compliance.
• Make sound, evidence-based decisions in high-pressure and dynamic environments, managing risk effectively while maintaining safety and achieving operational objectives.
• Provide effective leadership and line management of staff, setting clear expectations, managing performance, and addressing conduct and capability issues in line with organisational policies and values.
• Foster a culture of continuous development and mentorship, supporting the progression of team members and promoting a positive, inclusive working environment.
• Work collaboratively with the wider management team, liaising with peer managers and Surveillance Commanders to ensure coordinated and effective operational delivery.
• Support the delivery of Immigration Enforcement’s strategic objectives through strong leadership, partnership working, and a commitment to operational excellence.

You may be required to undertake the same or a similar role within a different team or teams, where possible at your base location or within reasonable travel distance, depending on business priorities. With appropriate training and support, this will provide opportunities to broaden your experience and skill set.

Working Patterns

Due to business requirements, this role is offered on a full-time basis only.

Shift Working

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.

Training

You will receive full training and support to do the job. You work as part of a team where there is always someone around for advice and support.

This role can be physically demanding and if successful you will be required to complete and pass specialist training including Personal Safety Training (PST) Level 3, which develops skills in personal safety, arrest and restraint techniques. This demands physical activity and physical contact with delegates on the course. You will be required to complete a PST health declaration and, if necessary, attend a medical examination. A formal offer will be conditional upon you being physically fit to undertake and pass the training.

Further information on what the training involves can be found on our website.

Travel

The successful candidate will be expected to travel nationally when required and spend extended periods away from home.

Person specification

Essential Criteria

• Hold a current College of Policing Q1 Full Surveillance ticket (or other Force/LEA equivalent as recognised by College of Policing and National Surveillance Working Group).
• Hold a current Police Advanced Car Licence.
• A proven track record of leading Q1 surveillance operations whilst leading and managing staff.
• Proven ability to prioritise and manage competing demands, including maintaining oversight of multiple workstreams across operational delivery in line with organisational objectives and senior leadership direction.
• Strong working knowledge and practical application of relevant surveillance legislation and governance frameworks, including RIPA, the Police Act and Human Rights considerations.
• Highly effective communication, influencing and stakeholder engagement skills, with the ability to build and sustain productive relationships.
• Demonstrated ability to operate with a high degree of professionalism, accountability, and self-management.
• Proficiency in the use of digital tools and systems to support the full range of role responsibilities, including report writing, analysing information and developing presentations.

Licences

Hold a current Police Advanced Car Licence.

An accreditation check will take place prior to the sift to confirm you hold the required qualification and car licence. If you do not hold the required qualification and licence, your application will be rejected.

Qualifications

Hold a current College of Policing Q1 Full Surveillance ticket (or other Force/LEA equivalent as recognised by College of Policing and National Surveillance Working Group).

An accreditation check will take place prior to the sift to confirm you hold the required qualification and car licence. If you do not hold the required qualification and licence, your application will be rejected.

Behaviours

We'll assess you against these behaviours during the selection process:

• Making Effective Decisions
• Working Together
• Seeing the Big Picture
• Communicating and Influencing

We only ask for evidence of these behaviours on your application form:

• Making Effective Decisions

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.
• This role currently attracts Annualised Hours Allowance (AHA) of 42.98% of salary, which equates to an additional £18,696.30 per annum based on salary minimum. Further information can be found on our website.
• See more of our benefits on our careers website.

Sign-up on our website to receive emails with information about careers at the Home Office

Things you need to know

Artificial intelligence

Artificial intelligence can be a useful tool to support your application, however, all examples and statements provided must be truthful, factually accurate and taken directly from your own experience. Where plagiarism has been identified (presenting the ideas and experiences of others, or generated by artificial intelligence, as your own) applications may be withdrawn and internal candidates may be subject to disciplinary action. Please see our candidate guidance (opens in a new window) for more information on appropriate and inappropriate use.

Selection process details

This vacancy is using Success Profiles (opens in a new window), and will assess your Behaviours, Strengths and Experience.

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.

1. Application – by 03 July 2026

As part of the application process, you will be asked to complete:

• CV
• Personal Statement (maximum 500 words).
• Evidence of the Behaviour - Making Effective Decisions (maximum of 250 words per Behaviour).

Your CV should consist of your qualifications, including any key achievements in each role. Your CV will be scored against the experience required for the role as noted within the essential criteria.

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.

2. Sift – 07 July 2026

The sift will be held on the CV, Personal Statement and Behaviour - Making Effective Decisions, as listed in the advert.

Should a high volume of applications be received, an initial sift will be conducted on the CV and Personal Statement. Candidates who pass the initial sift will then be progressed to a full sift that will consist of all the remaining elements submitted Behaviour - Making Effective Decision. Candidates who fail to meet the minimum pass score for the initial sift will not have their remaining submitted elements scored and will only receive a sift score for that assessed at the initial sift.

3. Interview – 03 August 2026

If you are successful at sift stage, you will be invited to an interview that will be Behaviours (as listed in the job advert) and Strength based questions.

The interview will take place MS Teams.

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.

Do not create or attempt to submit another application, online test or use a different Civil Service Jobs account to proceed as this would be in violation of the candidate declaration.

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.

Breaking Tied Scores

The behaviours and strengths have been ranked in order of importance to enable us to differentiate between candidates with tied interview scores.

Standards

All Civil Servants are expected to comply with the Civil Service Code, and its core values of integrity, honesty, objectivity and impartiality.

Integrity Check

As well as successfully obtaining UK Security Vetting clearance, you will also be subject to an additional Integrity Check, as part of the pre-employment process, to determine your suitability to work for Border Force or Immigration Enforcement. For further information on what this involves, please visit our website.

Further Information

In order to process applications without delay, we will be sending a Criminal Record Check to Disclosure and Barring Service on your behalf. However, we recognise in exceptional circumstances some candidates will want to send their completed forms direct.

If you will be doing this, please advise Government Recruitment Service of your intention by emailing Pre-EmploymentChecks.grs@cabinetoffice.gov.uk stating the job reference number in the subject heading.

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

Successful candidates must undergo a criminal record check.Successful candidates must meet the security requirements before they can be appointed. The level of security needed is security check (opens in a new window).

See our vetting charter (opens in a new window).People working with government assets must complete baseline personnel security standard (opens in new window) checks.

Medical

Successful candidates will be expected to have a medical.

Nationality requirements

Open to UK nationals only.

Working for the Civil Service

The Civil Service Code (opens in a new window) sets out the standards of behaviour expected of civil servants.

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).The Civil Service embraces diversity and promotes equal opportunities. As such, we run a Disability Confident Scheme (DCS) for candidates with disabilities who meet the minimum selection criteria.The Civil Service also offers a Redeployment Interview Scheme to civil servants who are at risk of redundancy, and who meet the minimum requirements for the advertised vacancy.

Diversity and Inclusion

The Civil Service is committed to attract, retain and invest in talent wherever it is found. To learn more please see theCivil Service People Plan (opens in a new window) and the Civil Service Diversity and Inclusion Strategy (opens in a new window).

Apply and further information

This vacancy is part of the Great Place to Work for Veterans (opens in a new window) initiative.Once this job has closed, the job advert will no longer be available. You may want to save a copy for your records.

Contact point for applicants

Job contact :

• Name : Home Office Resourcing Centre
• Email : HORCCampaignTeamIE@homeoffice.gov.uk

Recruitment team

• Email : HOrecruitment.grs@cabinetoffice.gov.uk

Further information

If you feel that your application has not been treated in accordance with the Civil Service Recruitment Principles. and you wish to make a complaint, then contact the Government Recruitment Service via HOrecruitment.grs@cabinetoffice.gov.uk. If you are not satisfied with the response that you receive, then you can contact the Civil Service Commission.

Attachments

Candidate_Information_v17_April_2026 Opens in new window (pdf, 207kB)2025-11-17 Pre-employment Checking - Document Requirements (V17) Opens in new window (pdf, 231kB)