Total package value up to £33,156 (accompanied) (including allowances and housing)
Additional benefits include annual home leave, vehicle and personal effects shipping, free medical and dental care, free schooling and annual travel insurance.
About the role
A unique and challenging opportunity has arisen for an enthusiastic and dynamic individual, to join the Royal St. Helena Police Service (RSHP) as Senior Immigration Officer on Ascension Island. The Royal St. Helena Police Service covers both Ascension Island and St. Helena and, at full strength, consists of 34 officers.
We are seeking to recruit a Senior Immigration Officer to serve on Ascension Island on a contractual basis for a period of two years in the first instance. The successful candidate will be the subject matter expert and, while answering the Police Sergeant (who is the Chief Immigration Officer) will manage the day-to-day response to the immigration needs of this small British Overseas Territory.
What you’ll do
The key duties and objectives of the post of Senior Immigration Officer are as follows:
- Manage all aspects of day-to-day immigration maters on the island of Ascension,.
- Minimise threats to the borders of Ascension Island by leading the operations of the Immigration and Passport Services.
- Be the highly visible leader of the Immigration Service at Border Control.
- Support the Auxiliary Immigration Officer(s) in an operational context as required, particularly in more complex or contentious cases.
- Assist team members with determining the admissibility of every person who presents themselves at the Border ensuring self and team deal with all arrivals courteously, efficiently and in accordance with relevant legislation, checking relevant documentation.
- Manage the relationship between the Ascension Island Immigration Service and St Helena as well as both RAF and US Military personnel and partnering agencies.
- Oversee the operation of the E-visa system.
- Lead for the passport service and ensure that business continuity is catered for in operational plans and during transition to any new ways of issuing passports.
- Ensure officers provide a swift and efficient ‘check and send’ service for British passport applications
- Provide high level advice to the Chief immigration officer and the Administrator on the full range of immigration and passport issues.
- Take on additional relevant responsibilities as and when required by the Chief Immigration Officer.
- Liaise with law enforcement agencies, government departments and external stakeholders, in consultation with the Chief Immigration Officer and the Administrator, in relation to intelligence sharing.
- Provide government statistics and exchange information within AIG in relation to emerging trends and fraud indicators and assist in identifying potential fraud.
- Investigate Immigration offences or suspected Immigration offences in the course of their duties, referring work upwards to the Chief Immigration Officer where necessary or appropriate.
- Support the Chief Immigration Officer and the Administrator in developing and achieving departmental targets.
- Work with international consultants and international agencies to make continuous improvements to encourage innovation and change to improve Immigration processes.
- Work with Ascension Island’s Public Service senior officials and elected members as required to provide high quality, up to date and forward-thinking solutions to better meet the requirements of all working and visiting on Ascension Island.
- Lead the training programme for all immigration officers combining classroom and ‘on the job’ training.
- Promote IT use and support the Auxiliary Immigration Officer(s) in the rollout and use of relevant IT systems at the borders ensuring officers have received adequate training to use systems.
- Lead the relationship with Immigration, Airport Security, Police and other stakeholders and support the Auxiliary Immigration Officer(s) in the operational coordination between relevant teams.
- Actively responsible for their own health and safety and that of colleagues and other service users, including customers and the general public.
- Manage and develop self and others to improve personal and team performance and deliver successful outcomes against plans and objectives.
- Responsible for the effective management and timely resolution of people management issues which may include acting as Investigating Officer.
- Manage the efficient and effective use of resources to support activities and to achieve section and service objectives.
You will help to develop, shape and influence the development of the immigration service on Ascension Island in order to deliver RSHP and AIG strategic objectives and ensure consistency of approach, delivery and enforcement. More information is contained in the job description.
What you’ll bring
You’ll have operational experience as an Immigration or Senior Immigration Officer as well as a full and clean driving licence for a motor car. You must be fluent in English (written and spoken).
Experience of leading and developing a team is essential, as is an ability to analyse and interpret information in order to develop and deliver effective solutions..
What we offer
In addition to an annual salary of up to £16,248 (taxable on Ascension), the role attracts an Accompanied Status contract and the following benefits:
- Rent free accommodation worth up to £3,000 pa (taxable benefit)
- A food allowance of £7,680 pa accompanied or £3,840 pa single status.
- An electricity allowance worth £3,140 pa.
- A water allowance worth £3,088pa accompanied or £1,852 single status.
- Relocation costs for your personal effects, including assistance with the shipment of a vehicle for a two year contract from Jamestown, St Helena, Cape Town, South Africa or Southampton, UK.
- One mid-contract return journey to your country of recruitment
- A gratuity payable on the successful completion of a 2 year contract
- 30 days holiday (with additional 9 days public holidays).
- Free primary dental and medical care and medical referral or medivac provision if required.
- Free schooling of dependent children up to 16 years.
- Free annual travel insurance for employee and dependents.
The appointment will be subject to:
- Satisfactory employment references
- Criminal Records Check/Police Clearance
- Satisfactory Medical and Dental Clearance
What’s it like to work on Ascension?
Ascension is a small volcanic island, situated in the South Atlantic, with a warm stable climate (26-34°C). We are part of the wider UK Overseas Territory of Saint Helena, Ascension and Tristan da Cunha, situated approximately 1,000 miles from the mainland of Africa and 800 miles from our nearest neighbour, the island of St Helena. To thrive here in this high-profile role, you must be resilient, adaptable and able to live and work in an incredibly small community with limited availability of goods and services (in particular perishable food supplies) and also able to live with poor internet connectivity.
Closing date: 7 July 2025
Interviews: Week commencing 14 July 2025, via Teams if off island
Required start date: As soon as possible.
If you have any queries about the role, email Inspector Mark Coombe (mark.coombe@sainthelena.gov.sh ).
Application forms and Job Profile are available from: Central Human Resources or the SHG website at: www.sainthelena.gov.sh/government/vacancies Applications should be submitted to Human Resources by e-mail recruitment@sainthelena.gov.sh
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