** Compliance Manager

Job summary

The Home Office works to build a safe, fair and prosperous UK. We achieve this through our work on counter-terrorism, policing, crime, drugs policy, immigration and passports.

Immigration Enforcement is responsible for enforcing the government’s immigration laws, tackling illegal migration, removing foreign national offenders and immigration offenders from the UK. We also aim to disrupt the organised criminal groups that exploit the vulnerable for their personal gain. Learn more on our careers pages.

The Compliance Team's overall purpose is to provide independent Home Office oversight of Campsfield IRC, ensuring the centre is run safely, securely, legally, and humanely while holding the service provider accountable for delivering high standards of care and performance. The team's priorities focus on compliance, assurance, resident welfare, operational risk management, and continuous improvement of detention services.

Job description

The Detention Operations Compliance Team at Campsfield Immigration Removal Centre is responsible for providing Home Office oversight and assurance that the centre is operating safely, securely, humanely and in accordance with legislation, policy, operating standards and contractual requirements. The team works closely with the centre’s service provider, healthcare partners, Home Office colleagues and other stakeholders to monitor performance, drive continuous improvement and ensure that the welfare of detained individuals remains at the heart of service delivery.

As a Compliance Manager, you will play a pivotal leadership role within the Compliance Team, balancing reactive operational decision-making with planned assurance activity in a fast-paced and dynamic environment. You will lead a team of Deputy Compliance Managers, providing support, direction and oversight while ensuring effective monitoring of the contractor’s performance across a broad range of operational areas. You will work closely with senior managers, represent the Home Office in operational and strategic meetings, and contribute to maintaining high standards across the centre. The role requires sound judgement, resilience and the ability to manage competing priorities while building effective working relationships with a wide range of partners.

Key Responsibilities

• Lead and manage a team of Deputy Operations Managers, ensuring effective workload allocation, performance management, coaching and development to support high-quality service delivery.
• Provide oversight of a comprehensive compliance and monitoring programme, testing the contractor’s performance and ensuring delivery of services in line with legislation, Detention Centre Rules, Operating Standards, Detention Service Orders and contractual requirements.
• Support the Area Manager and Service Delivery Manager in identifying risks, driving continuous improvement and implementing action plans arising from inspections, audits and other assurance activities.
• Exercise statutory responsibilities within the Immigration Removal Centre, including authorising temporary confinement or removal from association, and investigating complaints against the service provider where required.
• Monitor operational performance, resident welfare and security arrangements, ensuring issues are identified promptly, appropriately escalated and resolved in accordance with Home Office policies and procedures.
• Build and maintain effective working relationships with contractors, healthcare providers, Home Office colleagues and other stakeholders to support the safe, secure and humane operation of the centre.
• Chair contractual and operational meetings, providing challenge where necessary and holding providers accountable for the delivery of agreed standards and outcomes.
• Participate in an out-of-hours on-call rota and provide operational guidance, advice and decision-making support in response to incidents, emerging risks and urgent operational matters.

Flexible working

You may be required to undertake the same or a similar role within a different team or teams (where possible, at your base location or within reasonable travel distance), depending on business priorities. With appropriate training and support, this will provide opportunities to broaden both your experience and skill set.

Working Pattern

Due to the operational requirements of the role, it is only available on a full-time basis. Compressed hours are available; however, successful candidates must be able to work a rotating shift pattern including early, late, night and weekend shifts, and participate in an out-of-hours on-call rota.

Training

You will receive full training and support to do the job. Training on the job with a mentor who supports you until you are fully confident in the role. Even then you are never alone; you work as part of a team where there is always someone around for advice and support. Further information on what the training involves can be found on our website.

Successful candidates will receive training and support. Initial training will be delivered at on site at Campsfield IRC followed by structured mentoring and on-the-job development to build competence and confidence in the role.

The role is primarily based at Campsfield IRC in Kidlington, Oxfordshire though occasional travel to other centres and Home Office locations will be required.

Person specification

Essential Criteria

• Demonstrated ability to build and maintain effective working relationships with a wide range of internal and external stakeholders, using strong interpersonal skills to influence and achieve positive outcomes.
• Experience of planning, organising and prioritising competing tasks, with the ability to deliver high-quality outcomes in a fast-paced operational environment.
• Proven ability to lead, motivate and support a team, creating a positive and accountable working environment that promotes high performance and continuous improvement.
• Ability to make sound decisions, exercise judgement and manage operational risks effectively, particularly when dealing with complex or sensitive issues.
• Experience of working under pressure, adapting to changing priorities and responding positively to emerging operational challenges while maintaining attention to detail.
• Strong verbal and written communication skills, with the ability to present information clearly, provide constructive challenge and tailor messages to a range of audiences.

Desirable Criteria

• Experience of working within a detention, prison or other regulated operational environment.
• Experience of managing teams and providing performance, welfare and development support to staff.

Behaviours

We'll assess you against these behaviours during the selection process:

• Leadership
• Making Effective Decisions
• Working Together

We only ask for evidence of these behaviours on your application form:

• Leadership

Benefits

In addition to your salary, a career with the Home Office offers a range of benefits, including:

• A Civil Service pension with an employer contribution of 28.97%.
• In-year reward scheme for one-off or sustained exceptional personal or team achievements.
• 25 days annual leave on appointment, rising with service to 30 days.
• Eight days of public holidays, plus one additional privilege day.
• Wher