OFFICE CIRCULAR NO: 18/11
APPLICATIONS FOR EXPECTED VACANCIES AT (EXPATRIATE) SENIOR VISA OFFICER LEVEL
The Immigration and Citizenship Section of the Australian High Commission, New Delhi is seeking suitably qualified people to submit applications for vacancies at the (Expatriate) Senior Visa Officer level. Selection will be made strictly on the merit principle.
NOTE FOR ALL APPLICANTS
• Applications must be typed. Handwritten applications will not be accepted.
• Applicants must submit the following documents:
(1) a completed Registration and Personal Particulars Form; and
(2) a written statement addressing each of the selection criteria.
Applications not meeting these criteria will not be considered.
• 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.
ADDITIONAL NOTE FOR (EXPATRIATE) SENIOR VISA OFFICER POSITIONS
• Only applicants who hold a valid visa with work rights or Person of Indian Origin status will be considered. Prospective applicants are responsible for checking their eligibility for visa and work permits before lodging an application.
• Occupants of these positions may be required to handle sensitive information. Applicants with a current Australian security clearance to Protected level (or above) should state this in their application.
• These are locally engaged positions. Conditions of employment are set by the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade. No relocation costs or cost of living allowances are payable to successful applicants. Successful applicants living outside India will be responsible for travel to, accommodation and obtaining working visas for India. The Australian High Commission is unable to assist in this regard.
HOW TO APPLY
Applications addressing the selection criteria should be forwarded by mail or email to the Human Resources Section of the Australian High Commission, 1/50G Shantipath, Chanakyapuri, New Delhi 110021 or at [email protected], by
12 noon Wednesday, 24 August 2011.
Late applications will not be considered.
Please note there is no age restriction for applicants.
All prospective applicants should also take the time to familiarise themselves with the Australian High Commission’s Code of Conduct and the Department of Immigration and Citizenship’s organisational values.
Position description
The Department of Immigration and Citizenship (DIAC) 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 DIAC New Delhi Office is divided into seven operational teams: Visitors, Business and Client Services, Students, Family and Humanitarian Migration, Referrals, Compliance and the Risk Assessment and Support Unit.
Senior Visa Officer (SVO) positions are open to expatriates. However, only applicants who hold a valid visa with work rights or Person of India Origin status will be considered. Occupants of these positions may be required to handle sensitive information. Applicants with a current Australian security clearance to the Protected level (or above) are encouraged to consider these positions. These positions are locally engaged positions. Conditions of employment are set by the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade. No relocation costs of cost of living allowances are payable to SVOs and the Australian High Commission is unable to assist with obtaining a working visa for India.
There are several Senior Visa Officer (Expatriate) positions across the DIAC New Delhi Office. Generally there is at least one SVO in each of the operational teams and each SVO reports directly to a Second Secretary/Senior Migration Officer (SMO). The duties of the SVO positions are varied but can include conducting complex interviews, assessing and deciding visa applications and may involve extensive travel throughout India and possibly Nepal.
Senior Visa Officers are expected to have the ability to work independently, with no or limited supervision, and have high levels of judgement and initiative, in addition to an ability to provide quality advice to senior managers.
Senior Visa Officers will need to have strong English language written and oral communication skills, sound information technology skills and the capacity to quickly become proficient in High Commission and DIAC systems, programs and policies. Senior Visa Officers will also have proven organisational abilities and successful workload management practices in order to deliver in a high-pressured environment of tight deadlines and competing priorities.
Duties
Senior Visa Officers carry out a range of tasks assigned to them by a SMO. They may include any of the following:
• assess and decide visa applications in the context of the Australian legislative framework;
• manage a caseload of visa applications or referrals for integrity checking, including organising and monitoring work flows;
• undertake investigations of claims and documents from applicants and sponsors, including conducting interviews and site visits in various parts of India and possibly Nepal;
• prepare reports, case notes, interview notes, correspondence and other material, including presentations, in relation to immigration issues; and
• manage specific projects relating to the work of the DIAC New Delhi office.
Work level standards
People working at the Senior Visa Officer level may be required to:
• Manage and/or decide casework of a sensitive and complex nature. Decisions made may be complex and have ramifications that go beyond the work area
• Undertake complex operational or administrative tasks, including tasks of a specialised or technical nature
• Undertake research and analysis on strategic issues relevant to the work area and provide input into complex policy and procedural development
• Undertake project work, including projects of a technical and specialised nature
• Liaise, consult and negotiate within the department and with external agencies/clients
• Exercise judgement in making decisions and exercising delegations on a wide range of complex issues involving many factors that need to be identified and analysed
• Represent and promote the department’s interests
• Prepare complex correspondence
• Manage a work unit/team, including leading staff and monitoring performance standards
• Undertake reviews of work procedures and practices and identify opportunities for streamlining processes and optimising efficiencies
The monthly salary for Senior Visa Officers is currently Rs. 119,495.
SELECTION CRITERIA
CRITERION 1
Give examples of your ability to interpret and apply legislation and policy and use sound judgment in visa and citizenship decision-making. (Maximum 300 words.)
CRITERION 2
Give examples of your initiative, flexibility and willingness to promote continuous improvement in the workplace. (Maximum 300 words.)
CRITERION 3
Give examples of your ability to provide a professional service to clients, model ethical behaviour in the workplace and maintain integrity in your work. (Maximum 300 words.)
CRITERION 4
Give examples of your written and oral English communication skills and ability to liaise effectively with, and provide excellent client service to, a range of people and organisations. (Maximum 300 words.)
CRITERION 5
Give examples of your ability to lead and manage a team, including organising and monitoring work flows and team performance. (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.
LES must not misuse information obtained in the course of his/her duties, including taking advantage of another person on the basis of information held about the person in official records.
LES must disclose, and take reasonable steps to avoid, any conflict of interest (real or apparent) in connection with his/her employment in the High Commission, including in relation to any outside employment and/or business activities.
LES must seek the permission of the High Commissioner or Consul General before engaging in outside employment.
The High Commissioner/Consul General may not grant permission to engage in outside employment that is incompatible with the employee's duties on behalf of the High Commission.
LES who have interests, financial or otherwise, including in respect of family and friends that could conflict with the proper performance of their duties must disclose this interest to their supervisor and take whatever action is necessary to avoid that conflict.
LES must use resources in a proper manner and avoid waste or extravagance. LES must be scrupulous in the use of official money, human and other resources.
LES have a responsibility to care for and maintain High Commission property. The property of the High Commission is to be used for official purposes only and is to be used efficiently and effectively.
LES must not, in the course of their employment in the High Commission, provide false or misleading information in response to a request for information that is made for official purposes.
An employee is expected to:
• exercise reasonable care in giving written or oral information or advice; and
• take reasonable steps to ensure that the information provided is accurate.
Where there are doubts about the reliability of information this should be checked with a supervisor. Where the information being given is of an interim or conditional nature, this should be made clear.
An employee must not make improper use of inside information or the employee's duties, status, power or authority in order to gain, or seek to gain, a benefit or advantage for the employee, or for any other person, including the acceptance of gifts, sponsored travel, hospitality, accommodation, hire car costs and entertainment.
These restrictions also apply to the families of LES, where the gift or benefit is a direct result of the official duties of the employee.
Gifts or benefits generally should not be accepted. In cases where not accepting would cause offence to an extent that could adversely affect Australia's interests, a gift or benefit can only be accepted with the written approval of the High Commissioner or Consul General.
If in doubt about whether or not to accept a gift the matter should be discussed with the employee's A-based supervisor.
A bribe is a gift given or offers made with the intention of influencing an employee to take or not to take a specific action. The acceptance of a bribe will result in disciplinary action being taken against the employee.
Money must never be accepted as a gift.
DEPARTMENT OF IMMIGRATION AND CITIZENSHIP
Our purpose
Build Australia’s future through the well-managed movement and settlement of people.
Our values
As professional public servants
We value performance
• We listen and are responsive to the individual needs of clients and stakeholders and constantly strive to improve policy and program performance.
• Our integrity and honesty fosters teamwork, supporting high performance throughout the department.
We value our people
• We work collaboratively to achieve our business outcomes.
• We value diversity, actively seek contributions and commit to open discussions.
• Our leaders seek to encourage staff to enhance their skills through training and development.
We value integrity
• We are an open and accountable organisation, providing visibility and transparency of our processes.
• Our decision making is fair, reasonable and transparent with an understanding of each individuals’ needs.
We value service
• We are committed to service excellence and to delivering our services in a fair, lawful and reasonable way.
• We show respect for our clients, stakeholders and one another by being fair, honest, objective, professional and and polite.