Main purpose of job:
To provide valuable support to the visa application process by conducting mandatory checks/referrals on visa applications, liaising with colleagues in the UK on referred applications and managing the referred case process to ensure that applications are processed in a timely manner. Act in accordance with the Code of Conduct and Home Office Values at all times.
Roles and responsibilities:
- Conduct a pre-sift of all applications that have a record as a result of the mandatory biographic and biometric checks. Deal with any that don’t relate directly to the applicant.
- Complete and send off any mandatory referrals to colleagues in the UK; dealing with the response; and passing the application to an operational manager to resolve.
- Complete and send off any dependant territory application referrals; dealing with any response; and passing onto a decision maker to assess.
- Managing the biographic referral process, sending off referrals to the UK and logging the responses so that the application can be assessed.
- Using the outstanding application spreadsheet to manage the referred/deferred applications, chasing where necessary and ensuring that all deferred/referred applications are processed within customer service targets.
- Monitoring the outstanding settlement applications using the tracking spreadsheet to ensure that the oldest priority and standard applications are ready for assessment and assessed first. Will include sending off mandatory biographic checks, requesting asylum interview records from the UK and monitoring these requests.
- Pre-assessment of exempt/gratis visa applications to confirm that the applicant has applied under the correct category.
Essential qualifications, skills and experience
- Good communication with excellent spoken and written English
- Computer literacy with accurate typing skills of at least 25 words per minute
- 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
Desirable qualifications, skills and experience
- 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
Required behaviours
Making Effective Decisions, Managing a Quality Service, Delivering at Pace, Communicating and Influencing
Application deadline Application deadline – day Application deadline – month Application deadline – year
Grade
Administrative Officer (AO)
Salary
R 264,704.80 (per annum) plus R 48,868.56 responsibility allowance per annum
Start Date Start Date – day Start Date – month Start Date – year
Other benefits and conditions of employment
Learning and development opportunities (and any specific training courses to be completed):
- In house training and mentoring will be given
- Use of Visa Management databases and tools
Training in document security, information protection, keeping children safe, all aspects of Entry Clearance decision making, equality and diversity.
The British High Commission pays in full for the Key Care Plus option on Discovery Health for staff including spouses/partners and dependants.
- Once you have successfully completed your probation the British High Commission will contribute 9 % of your monthly salary to a Provident Fund.
- Annual leave entitlement of 25 days
- Working hours per week of 36.5
Additional information
- Security Clearance Level required: SC(O)
Please note that only nationals of UK, USA, Canada, Australia, New Zealand who have resided within these countries within the last five years are likely to meet this requirement.
- Please complete the application form in full as the information provided is used during screening.
- Please check your application carefully before you submit, as no changes can be made once submitted.
- The British High Commission will never request any payment or fees to apply for a position.
- 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 and security clearances will be conducted on successful candidates.
- 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”.
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.
