Job summary
Please note � You must be over 18 and entitled to UK citizenship to apply for these roles.
The Home Office works to build a safe, fair and prosperous UK. We achieve this through our work on counter terrorism, organised crime, modern slavery, trafficking, drugs policy immigration, and passport control.�
We are Border Force, a Law Enforcement arm of the Home Office with primary responsibility for UK Border Security.�
We are responsible for handling the UK Border Controls by implementing Immigration and Customs rules and regulations whilst working within the Home Office.�
UK Border Force currently has six operational regions- Central, Europe, Heathrow, North, South, Southeast.� These regions have responsibility for securing the border 24 hours a day, 365 days a year at the UK�s 140 seaports, airports, 200+ general aviation ports, postal depots, Inland Border Facilities and international rail networks.
This is a fantastic opportunity to be part of a team that both protects and enhances the UK economy. Our work is varied and rewarding, attracting people from all backgrounds and walks of life.
As a Border Force Assistant Officer specialising in International Trade, you will belong to an ever-evolving function which ensures the UK is open for business, trade and commerce. Day to day you will be investigating a range of goods, ensuring compliance with a range of International Trade legislation such as Intellectual Property and Customer Safety laws, while collecting any unpaid taxes from goods either being imported or exported to and from the UK.
Job description
The role our Assistant Officers perform is dynamic, fast paced and always evolving. As a Border Force Assistant Officer in International Trade, you will play a pivotal role in facilitating the legitimate movement of goods to/from the United Kingdom at some of the busiest ports in the world. Our work can be challenging, but there will always be your team to support you throughout your career, not just the start. The part you play will be fundamental in both enhancing the UK�s reputation as a place to do business and protecting our public and domestic markets by preventing the importation of prohibited or restricted goods.�
International Trade includes a wide range of systems and functions that work in tandem to provide the world class border that the public expects. Whilst primarily focussed on commodities and freight, our International Trade assistant officers also lead on the UK�s commitment to the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species, strategic exports and Intellectual Property Rights and work closely with partner agencies to help deliver the UK�s trade strategy. ��
The work you will perform has a tangible impact on boosting UK prosperity by collecting revenue owed at the border, closing the tax gap and supporting the integrity of the economy. �
Our operational activity is intelligence-driven, with searches for undeclared and mis-declared goods. ensuring that imported/exported goods are declared, validated and the relevant taxes have been correctly applied.�
As a Border Force Assistant Officer in International Trade, you may be involved in the following types of activities:
1. Undertaking checks and research on IT systems to identify companies, traders and goods at the border.�
2. Conducting searches on companies, traders and goods to establish if a customs offence has been committed.
3. Documentary checks on goods and traders and & physical inspections on goods
4. International Trade work including processing and recording documentation, investigating errors and responding to complaints.
5. Using and gathering intelligence to inform border activity.
6. Using law enforcement powers to arrest people, detain and seize goods involved in border offences, preserving evidence and liaising with other law enforcement partners.
For more information about working for Border Force and to hear from some of our colleagues, please visit our careers website at .
For information on the specific locations and wording patterns being offered please follow this link:�
Working for the Home Office �
There�s no one type of person working at the Home Office. Just like in wider society, everyone here is different. We believe that different backgrounds, perspectives, and voices add up to richer, fuller thinking that helps us deliver fairer, better outcomes.�
We�re committed to creating a welcoming, inclusive workplace where all our people can bring their whole selves to work and perform at their best.��
We are particularly keen to welcome applications from women and those from an ethnic minority background who are currently underrepresented in Border Force.
Person specification
Essential Criteria
Because of the work we do and where we do it, Border Force teams can operate in sometimes difficult and dynamic environments. These are public facing law enforcement roles where the work is often fast-paced and changeable - our apprentices need to be able to respond to challenges in a calm and professional manner. You will receive full role-specific and personal safety training and you will have the support of a team.
Successful candidates will need to have:
7. The professional behaviours and personal integrity associated with a law enforcement organisation. This means acting ethically and with integrity, always doing the right thing, being impartial and honest.
8. Demonstrable interpersonal skills and you enjoy interacting with colleagues, members of the public and external stakeholders.
9. A genuine interest in people, an inquisitive, open mind and empathetic manner.
10. The ability to work as part of a team, be flexible and adaptable to changing priorities.
11. The ability to deal with potentially difficult and challenging situations in a professional manner.
12. An objective, analytical and methodical approach to tasks.
Eligibility
You must be at least 18 years of age at the time of submitting your application.You will be required to work between and, so this is a legal requirement. For more information visit:�
Home Office applicants with a live attendance management warning are not eligible to apply for vacancies during the initial 3-month improvement (live warning) period; however, they can apply for posts during the following 9 month sustained improvement period.
Working patterns
For more information regarding the working patterns in the various locations please visit:�
Travel between Home and Work
While you will not be required to hold a full UK Driving Licence for these roles due to the 24/7 and 365 operational nature of this role, you will need ensure you are able to commute, when there may be no public transport available.
For more information on multiple assignments, outside activity of Civil Servants, training, apprenticeship opportunities and the security checks required, please visit:
Benefits
As well as offering the opportunity to make a real difference to people�s lives, a career with the Home Office comes with a range of amazing benefits including:�
13. A�career salary average, defined benefit pension scheme�with an average employer contribution of
14. 25 days annual leave on appointment, rising with service to 30 days.
15. In-year reward scheme for one-off or sustained exceptional personal or team achievements.
16. Allowances of between & dependant on shift and location, which equates to an additional �4,912 - �10,981 per annum. Please visit�
�for full details of the AHA for your chosen location and working pattern. Further information can be found
For more information on our wide range of benefits, please see�.