Operations Officer

Operations Officer – Home Office

Location: Gatwick (Horley)
Salary: £34,749 – £35,270 per year
Annualised Hours Allowance: 22.82% of salary, currently worth an additional £7,929.72 per year based on the minimum salary
Contract: Permanent
Grade: Executive Officer
Working pattern: Full-time, annualised hours, compressed hours and shift working
Vacancies: 3
Reference: 483009
Closing date: 19 October 2026

Right to work: This vacancy is broadly open to eligible UK nationals and other groups who have the right to work in the UK under Civil Service nationality rules. The advert does not state that Skilled Worker visa sponsorship is available. Applicants who require new visa sponsorship should therefore confirm eligibility with the Home Office before applying.

About the role

The Home Office is recruiting Operations Officers to join the Immigration Detention Compliance Team within Immigration Enforcement at Gatwick.

The team works within Immigration Removal Centres (IRCs), monitoring supplier performance and helping ensure detained residents receive appropriate standards of care and service.

As an Operations Officer, you will monitor operational activity, assess compliance, gather and analyse information, identify concerns and support improvements across the site. You will maintain a visible presence within the IRC and work closely with colleagues, suppliers and other stakeholders.

The role also includes supporting performance monitoring, producing reports, overseeing incidents and safeguarding concerns, and contributing to compliance reviews and audits.

Key responsibilities

Your duties will include:

• Monitoring contractual compliance and providing performance updates to the Home Office Compliance Manager.
• Overseeing supplier compliance with contractual, health, safety and security requirements.
• Producing thematic reviews, dip-sample reports and assurance summaries.
• Monitoring service delivery against Immigration Detention Performance Standards and Framework requirements.
• Carrying out statutory Immigration Enforcement duties within the IRC, including authorising temporary confinement or removal from association where necessary.
• Processing and auditing complaints in line with relevant policies.
• Advising managers on IRC policies and procedures.
• Supporting responses to parliamentary questions and official correspondence.
• Managing the team’s shared inbox and responding to enquiries.
• Representing the Home Office at operational meetings and forums, including removals planning, resident consultative committees, Independent Monitoring Board meetings, security, healthcare and safer community forums.

Essential requirements

Applicants should be able to demonstrate:

• The ability to build and maintain effective relationships with internal and external stakeholders.
• Strong written and verbal communication skills.
• Good organisation and time-management skills, including the ability to prioritise competing demands.
• Experience using Microsoft Office applications including Word, Excel, PowerPoint, Outlook and SharePoint.

Desirable experience

Experience in any of the following would be advantageous:

• Working in a detention or prison environment.
• Understanding of the immigration system.
• Contract monitoring, audit or assurance.

Working hours and shifts

This is a full-time position. Compressed hours may be available after training, subject to business requirements.

Applicants must be able to work the required shift patterns, which may include:

• Early starts
• Late finishes
• Overnight shifts
• Rota-based shifts
• Weekend shifts

Some shifts may begin or end outside normal public transport operating hours, so applicants should consider their ability to travel to and from the workplace.

Training and development

The Home Office will provide comprehensive training and support, with experienced colleagues and mentors available to help new employees develop in the role.

Some shifts may be worked independently, particularly during weekends, night shifts and late shifts after 5pm.

Selection process

The recruitment process uses the Civil Service Success Profiles framework and will assess behaviours, strengths and experience.

Applicants will first complete an eligibility stage followed by the Civil Service Judgement Test.

If successful, candidates will complete:

• Personal Statement: Maximum 500 words.
• Communicating and Influencing: Maximum 250 words.

The sift is scheduled to commence on 21 October 2026.

Successful candidates will be invited to an interview, scheduled to commence from 11 November 2026. Interviews will take place in person at Brook House IRC, Gatwick.

Travel expenses for the interview will not be reimbursed.

Security and checks

Successful applicants will be required to meet the necessary security requirements, including a Counter-Terrorist Check (CTC) and relevant criminal record checks.

An additional Integrity Check will also be carried out as part of the pre-employment process.

Benefits

The Home Office offers a range of benefits, including:

• Civil Service pension with an employer contribution of 28.97%.
• 25 days’ annual leave on appointment, increasing to 30 days with service.
• Eight public holidays plus an additional privilege day.
• In-year reward schemes for exceptional individual or team achievements.
• Annualised Hours Allowance currently worth 22.82% of salary.

Application

Applications must be submitted by 11:55 pm on Monday 19 October 2026.

Applicants should complete the online test and application as soon as possible. The advert recommends completing the online test within 24–48 hours of receiving the invitation.

Vacancy reference: 483009

Original vacancy and application: Civil Service Jobs – Operations Officer, Home Office, Gatwick (Horley).