The Home Office works to build a safe, fair and prosperous UK. We achieve this through our work on counter-terrorism, policing, fire, crime, drugs policy, immigration and passports.
The Science, Technology, Research and Analysis (STAR) Group sits at the heart of the Home Office. The group ensures the best evidence and analysis are used to address the strategic issues facing the Department. We also provide the science, technology, data, and international insights and collaboration capabilities to drive delivery.
This is an exciting opportunity to join the International Engagement team within the Home Office’s International Strategy, Engagement and Devolution (ISED) Directorate. The International Engagement team has responsibility for working across the Department and wider HM Government (HMG) to agree international strategies for relevant countries and ensuring they are delivered effectively through engagement at all levels of seniority. Our work is high-profile and can vary significantly day-to-day dependent upon international events and current affairs.
We are currently recruiting a Senior Afghanistan / Pakistan Desk Officer to join the South and Central Asia team. This is an interesting and varied role which includes work on a number of high-profile issues with significant Ministerial attention. The successful candidate will lead on the Home Office’s relationship with Pakistan, a key partner across a number of equites. They will be expected to work collaboratively across the Home Office and wider HMG, to identify issues risks and opportunities for our engagement with Pakistan agreeing plans to take these forward to deliver HMG objectives. On Afghanistan, the successful candidate will play a key role in continuing to shape the Home Office’s strategy in relation to Afghanistan following the Taliban takeover in 2021. This will require close working across HMG and with Home Office policy teams to ensure the Home Office is well placed to address risks from Afghanistan including on illegal migration, CT and narcotics,
The successful candidate will be the principal point of contact for the Home Office’s engagement and strategy setting for Pakistan and Afghanistan.
Please note: Currently there is some restructuring within the international functions of the Home Office therefore responsibilities and exact nature of the role are subject to change.
Key Responsibilities
• Being the ‘subject matter expert’ for the two countries and maintaining a sound knowledge of events in the other countries within the region.
• Leading Home Office engagement with Pakistan to deliver international objectives (on illegal migration, returns and serious organised crime in particular), through developing a deep understanding of the context, liaising closely with a wide range of partners across the Department, wider HMG and Posts, and seeing opportunities and risks.
• Working across the Home Office and HMG to ensure Home Office views and priorities (including Ministerial) are reflected in HMG’s Afghanistan strategy.
• Identifying and arranging engagement opportunities for Ministers and senior officials to drive forward Home Office objectives, including co-ordinating agendas, briefings and programmes for events and visits.
• Supporting the development and implementation of policies and programmes across the Home Office priority areas. Working closely with internal and external partners demonstrating flexibility to move quickly between multiple areas of policy, identifying, agreeing, and driving priorities as they emerge.
• Acting as a conduit between Home Office officials posted at our High Commissions / missions overseas and the Home Office team in the UK.
• Developing country strategies and plans. Handling the delivery of each country strategy in line with the Home Office International objectives.
• Possible line management of one staff member.
Working pattern
Due to the business requirements of this role, it is only available on a full-time basis. However, job-share and compressed hours are available .
Travel
There may be an occasional opportunity to travel overseas.
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