Head of National Returns Progression Command - SCS PB1

Why this role matters

The National Returns Progression Command (NRPC) is the pivotal Home Office capability whose mission is to maximise the return of immigration offenders (illegal entrants, overstayers, failed asylum seekers) whilst ensuring individuals are dealt with in a dignified manner, utilising a strong set of safeguards to identify and manage vulnerabilities.

This work includes leadership of 4 strands of work to maximise returns for immigration offenders.

The on-going and core elements of the role involve the following:

Leading on detained returns – ensuring that return is progressed for individuals from point of detention through to removal, effectively clearing barriers to removal, and identifying and managing any vulnerabilities.

Leading on the detained asylum casework process – ensuring the progression of individuals who claim asylum whilst in detention, including consideration of their asylum claim.

Leading on Non-Detained case progression – ensuring the progression of individuals without permission to stay in the UK to an appropriate conclusion, either by removing barriers to return or by signposting to other parts of the Home Office to regularise their status.

Leading on third country returns, returning individuals to a country other than their country of origin.

Key accountabilities

You will:

• Managing and building relationships with a wide range of delivery partners including uniformed enforcement teams, Returns Assistance and Engagement Operations, Foreign National Offender Returns Command, Commnity Harm Prevention Command, International Returns Services Command, Detention Services, Migration and Borders Policy, Asylum and Human Rights Operations and Customer Services.
• Line management of three Grade 6s and leadership and management of approximately 500 staff within the command, over 12 different locations.
• Providing wider leadership support to Immigration Enforcement and Returns Directorate as a whole and contributing to wider Home Office objectives.
• Managing a budget of just under £22m.

This job is broadly open to the following groups:

• UK nationals
• nationals of the Republic of Ireland
• nationals of Commonwealth countries who have the right to work in the UK
• nationals of the EU, Switzerland, Norway, Iceland or Liechtenstein and family members of those nationalities with settled or pre-settled status under the European Union Settlement Scheme (EUSS) (opens in a new window)
• nationals of the EU, Switzerland, Norway, Iceland or Liechtenstein and family members of those nationalities who have made a valid application for settled or pre-settled status under the European Union Settlement Scheme (EUSS)
• individuals with limited leave to remain or indefinite leave to remain who were eligible to apply for EUSS on or before 31 December 2020
• Turkish nationals, and certain family members of Turkish nationals, who have accrued the right to work in the Civil Service

Further information on nationality requirements (opens in a new window)

How to Apply

Please follow the Job Advert instructions on the Civil Service Jobs website to apply online by 23:55hrs on 5th October 2026.

You will be asked to provide:

A CV – (3 pages max) setting out your career history, highlighting specific responsibilities and achievements that are relevant for this role. Please provide reasons for any gaps within the last two years.​​

A Statement of Suitability – (limited to 1250 words) providing examples of how your experience meets the essential criteria.​​ This is your opportunity to give examples and show how your skills and experience fit the job requirements.

When writing a supporting statement, it is important that you:

• Read the job specification so you are clear about the job requirements. Structure your personal statement to reflect the essential criteria listed in the advert.
• Make sure you provide evidence against each of the listed criteria - i.e. ‘experienced in leading high performing and diverse teams and promoting inclusivity.’ When have you led a team, how large, what did you do to promote inclusivity, how did you handle diversity?
• Ensure any evidence you provide demonstrates the impact of your actions in that situation, provide statistical evidence where relevant.

For more information on how to write a personal statement, click here.

Guidance on the use of AI

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Before you submit an application, we will ask you to confirm the information you provide is true and accurate. More details about this will be provided in the application form and we may reject applications where AI is used inappropriately at any stage of the process.

Feedback will only be provided if you attend an interview or assessment.