Australian High Commission
New Delhi
India, Bhutan

Visa Officer B

Office Circular No 17/17

VACANCY: VISA OFFICER B

The Immigration and Border Protection Section of the Australian High Commission, New Delhi is seeking applications from suitably qualified candidates for expected vacancies at the LE3 level arising in the next 12 months.

Subject to the successful completion of probationary period, satisfactory medical check and background verification, the successful applicant will be offered a fixed term contract of employment, inclusive of the probation period. The contract may be extended subject to agreement between the employer and employee. Applicants are advised to read the position description, the attached duty statement and expected work level standards of the LE3 position prior to addressing the attached selection criteria.

POSITION DESCRIPTION

Visa Officers B (VOB) are locally engaged assessing officers within the Immigration and Border Protection Section.  They are assigned visa decision-making duties. They may be placed in a visa or citizenship processing team or within the New Delhi Caseload Assurance Section (NDCAS), undertaking verification checks or assisting with investigations. VOB level officers generally work under the direction of a Team Leader and perform a range of the following duties:

  • managing, assessing and deciding visa caseloads and/or referrals for integrity checking, prioritising cases for interview and assessment, carrying out integrity interviews and undertaking investigations for integrity checking;
  • preparing reports, case-notes, interview notes, correspondence and other material in relation to visa matters;
  • dealing with client queries by phone, email and in person;
  • maintaining accurate files, electronic and other records;
  • providing  translation and interpretation of community languages as required; and
  • willingness to travel and represent the Immigration and Citizenship Section to clients, agents and other stakeholders as required. 

NOTE FOR ALL APPLICANTS

  • Selection will be made strictly on the merit principle.
  • Conform to word limits where specified.
  • Provide examples of relevant work experience where specified.
  • The application process involves questions about your current and past personal and family relationships and living circumstances. It is in your own interest to be honest and accurate in disclosing details about yourself. If you feel uncomfortable about disclosing this information, you should reconsider your application.
  • Applications must be typed. Handwritten applications will not be accepted.
  • Late applications will not be considered.
  • Only short listed applicants will be contacted.
  • We may contact your referees.
  • The commencing salary for LE3 is INR 45,900 per month.
  • Employment benefits are dependent on the contract term offered, and may include leave entitlements, salary bonuses, provident fund and medical insurance.
  • All prospective applicants should familiarise themselves with the Australian High Commission’s Code of Conduct.

HOW TO APPLY               

Applicants must submit the following documents in Microsoft Word format with subject header “Application for DIBP LE3 Position – <insert applicant’s name>” to:  

[email protected] before Midnight 24 July 2017:

(1)  Your current CV including the details of two referees;

(2) A font size 12 typed statement conforming to word limits addressing the selection criteria (attached). 

Applications not meeting these criteria and the specified word limits will not be considered. 

 

POSITION DESCRIPTION – LE3 – Visa Officer B

Agency

DIBP

Position number

Various

Title

Visa Officer (B)

Classification

LE3

Section

Immigration

Reports to (title)

Team Leader

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

About the Department of Immigration and Border Protection (DIBP)

The DIBP Section of the Australian High Commission, New Delhi is Australia’s largest overseas visa processing office, responsible for delivering a wide range of temporary and permanent visas, in addition to limited types of citizenship services, across India, Nepal and Bhutan.  The DIBP New Delhi Office is divided into seven operational teams: Visitors, Business, Students, Family and Humanitarian Migration, Referrals and Caseload Assurance.

About the Position

Visa Officer Bs within the Immigration Section assess visa and/ or Citizenship applications, undertake verification checks and/ or assist with investigations. They usually work under the direction of a Team Leader.

The key responsibilities of the position include, but are not limited to:

  • Under general direction, apply an understanding of relevant legislation, policies and procedures to make lawful, fair and reasonable visa decisions.  Identify and refer complex/sensitive cases to a more senior level.
  • Manage referrals for integrity checks, prioritise cases for interview and assessment, carry out integrity interviews and undertake routine investigations.
  • Prepare and file accurate reports, case-notes, interview notes, correspondence and other material in relation to visa matters.
  • Deal with client queries by phone, email and in person.
  • Provide translation and interpretation of community languages as required.
  • Travel and represent the Immigration Section to clients, agents and other stakeholders as required.
  • Know and uphold What We Value, the APS Values, the APS Code of Conduct and other relevant professional codes of ethics and practice and WHS requirements.

Qualifications/Experience

  • Education: Completion of a graduate level is desired.
  • Language: Strong written and spoken English and skills in a regional language (e.g. Hindi, Punjabi, Gujarati) is desired.
  • Knowledge: Must have sound Information Technology skills, good interpersonal skills and a strong commitment to DIBP’s client service principles and standards in order to support the day-to-day operations of the DIBP.
  • Skills & Abilities:  Must possess ability to work with some autonomy, and have well-developed levels of judgement and initiative, in addition to an ability to provide quality advice to senior managers.
  • Must have good organisational abilities and successful workload management practices in order to deliver in a high-pressured environment of tight deadlines and competing priorities, while also maintaining high levels of client service and professional integrity.
  • Must have the capacity to quickly become proficient in High Commission and DIBP systems, programs and policies.

SELECTION CRITERIA

Visa Officer B - Locally Engaged Level 3 (LE3)

Successful applicants will be required to demonstrate strong interpersonal and liaison skills and have the ability to conduct business with clients from varied backgrounds. They will have well-developed organisational skills, strong written and oral communication skills, sound information technology skills.  Successful applicants will also show initiative, be able to focus on priorities, meet deadlines and work well in a team situation.

Fluent written and spoken English is essential for this position. Skills in a regional language (e.g., Hindi, Punjabi, Gujarati) are desirable.

You should provide a written statement of claims to demonstrate your suitability under each of the following selection criteria. Your statement forms the most important part of the application, as this information, together with your resume, will be used to shortlist applicants for further consideration for the vacancy.

Contributes to Strategic Thinking

Describe a situation that demonstrates your ability to adapt to change and help others understand and support the change and wider goals of an organisation.

In your answer, please ensure you address the following:

  • What was the situation? What role were you performing?
  • What were the change and the goals of the organisation?
  • What was your reaction to the change?
  • What action did you take to help others understand and support the change? Were you successful?

(Maximum 300 words)

Demonstrates Professional/Technical Proficiency

Provide an example of your ability to interpret and apply complex legislation or guidelines.

In your answer please address the following:

  • What was your role?
  • What legislation / guidelines you had to interpret and apply?
  • Why was it complex?
  • What steps you have undertaken to ensure your interpretation was correct?
  • What was the outcome?

(Maximum 300 words)

Achieves Results

Give an example of your ability to work and deliver outcomes in a high volume/high pressure environment.

In your answer, please ensure you address the following:

  • What was your role?
  • What was the situation?
  • What strategies did you use to deliver outcomes?
  • What was the outcome?

(Maximum 300 words)

 

Displays Personal Drive and Integrity

Give an example of a situation where you had to resolve a complex Code of Conduct issue.

In your answer, please ensure you address the following:

  • What was your role?
  • What was the situation?
  • What strategies did you use to address the situation?
  • What was the outcome?

(Maximum 300 words)

 

CODE OF CONDUCT FOR LOCALLY ENGAGED STAFF

INTRODUCTION

The key underlying principles of conduct for locally engaged staff employed at the Australian High Commission, New Delhi are:

1.            To act in accordance with the local law and applicable Australian law;

2.            To deal equitably, honestly and in a professional manner with both the public and colleagues;

3.            To ensure there is no real or apparent conflict of interest; and

4.            To ensure their professional or personal behaviour does not bring the Australian High Commission or Australia into disrepute.

LES must at all times behave in a way that upholds the integrity and good reputation of the High Commission.

•             Personal behaviour should be appropriate

•             Dress and appearance should be in accordance with standards appropriate to an employee's duties

•             LES should not be under the influence of alcohol, drugs or other prohibited or performance impairing substances in the work place

•             The High Commission is a smoke-free work environment

LES must behave honestly and with integrity in the course of his/her employment with the High Commission.

LES should not use their official position to improperly influence or try to influence colleagues or members of the public by giving them gifts or by entering into financial or other arrangements with them.

LES must act with care and diligence in the course of their employment with the High Commission.

In the course of their duties LES are required to:

•             be fair and impartial;

•             give others likely to be affected by a decision an opportunity to have their case considered promptly;

•             explain the reasons for action/decisions;

•             at all times act according to local law and applicable Australian law.

LES, when acting in the course of their employment with the High Commission, must treat members of the public and colleagues with respect and courtesy, and without coercion or harassment of any kind.

LES are required to:

•             treat members of the public and colleagues equitably, regardless of their sex, marital status, ethnicity, age sexual orientation, disability or religious beliefs or any other similar ground;

•             be professional and courteous;

•             provide reasonable assistance to the public and to help them understand their entitlements and their obligations;

•             deal with the public and colleagues in an equitable and fair manner.

LES must comply with any lawful and reasonable direction given by a person in the High Commission who has the authority to give the direction. LES are at all times subject to the authority of the High Commissioner/Consul General and the officer in charge of the section in which they are employed.

The relevant A-based or locally engaged staff supervisor has the primary responsibility for ensuring that the required standards of conduct and work performance are met and maintained by LES.

The LES must maintain appropriate confidentiality about information obtained during the course of their employment at the mission.

Official information must not be disclosed to any person unless an employee is authorised to do so in the course of his/her duties.