Manager – Refugee and Protection
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Tēnei tūranga – About the role
The Manager, Refugee and Protection is responsible for leading a high-functioning team of Refugee and Protection Officers to manage deliverables and performance. The Manager will motivate and influence team members to ensure high quality and efficient decision making and ensure quality decisions in line with New Zealand and international law. They will work alongside the Practice Lead and Technical Advisors to ensure systems are in place and processes and procedures are followed to the required quality standards. The Manager, Refugee and Protection also supports the Head of Operations and the wider Refugee Status Unit in accordance with organisational needs.
Ngā herenga – Requirements of the role
Personal specifications
- Knowledge and in-depth understanding of New Zealand and international refugee and protection law, particularly the jurisprudence of the Immigration and Protection Tribunal, the Refugee Status Appeals Authority, the UN Committee Against Torture, and the UN Human Rights Committee in relation to Articles 6 and 7 of the ICCPR.
- Ability to lead, develop and manage a high-performing team.
- Experience leading, coaching and mentoring others to achieve results and personal growth.
- Experience in implementing quality processes and strategies designed to improve individual and team performance.
- Ability to positively influence internal and external stakeholders, and earn their respect, trust and confidence.
- Experience in the application of risk management concepts and techniques as they pertain to decision making and business operations.
- Bringing a broader perspective and horizon to build business leadership.
- High attention to and an eye for detail.
- The ability to gain and maintain a top secret security clearance.
Qualifications
- Tertiary qualification in a relevant field and/or comparable relevant experience in refugee and protection status determination and people management.
Takohanga tuhinga o mua – Key accountabilities and deliverables
Leadership
The Manager, Refugee and Protection will be required to deliver results in the following areas:
- Providing leadership and oversight to staff and assuring quality decisions on claims to refugee and protection status according to the United Nations 1951 Convention relating to the Status of Refugees (“Refugee Convention”), the UN Convention Against Torture and Other Cruel, Inhuman or Degrading Treatment or Punishment (“CAT”) and Articles 6 and 7 of the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights (“ICCPR”).
- Providing leadership and oversight and assuring quality decisions on cancellation and cessation of the same according to criteria set down in the Immigration Act 2009 and relevant law.
- Providing leadership and oversight and assuring quality decisions on a refugee or protection person’s deportation liability per section 164 of the Immigration Act 2009.
- Assisting the Ministry in appeals to the Immigration and Protection Tribunal and MBIE Legal and Crown Law in cases in the courts.
- Participating in processing of a mass arrival of refugee and protection claimants.
- Providing advice and oversight to staff regarding status investigations within the bounds of section 151 of the Immigration Act.
- Deciding particularly complex cases and those that involve classified information (requiring top secret clearance).
- Providing leadership and oversight to staff and assuring quality decisions regarding the application of classified information to status determinations as required under the Immigration Act 2009.
People management
- Monitor and manage team members’ performance to ensure fair process standards and timeliness are met.
- Motivate and influence team members to ensure high-quality and efficient decision making.
- Celebrate and reward excellence and challenge and deal effectively with poor performance and unacceptable behaviour.
- Regularly meet with team members individually to provide constructive feedback and guidance, discuss performance, review work and plan ahead.
- Advise the Head of Operations of any performance issues and actively manage them as required.
- Lead the allocation of work and deployment of staff and recruitment as required.
- Provide coaching mentoring and training as required.
- Investigate and respond to any complaints.
- Demonstrate high standards of communication and behaviour including fairness, respect and courtesy in dealings with staff.
- Adhere to and apply relevant HR policies.
- Actively support organisational change – lead by example in the implementation of change.
Ensuring quality business process
- Assist in identifying gaps and making improvements in processes, forms, and templates as required.
- Assist in compiling, analysing and advising on statistical and other information related to business performance and OIAs.
Wellbeing, health and safety
- Displays commitment through actively supporting all safety and wellbeing initiatives.
- Ensures own and others safety at all times.
- Complies with relevant safety and wellbeing policies, procedures, safe systems of work and event reporting.
- Reports all incidents/accidents, including near misses in a timely fashion.
- Is involved in health and safety through participation and consultation.
Tō tūranga i roto i te Manatū – Your place in the Ministry
The Manager, Refugee and Protection position reports into Refugee and Migrant Services branch. The branch sits within the Immigration New Zealand group.
Matatautanga – Competencies (Leadership Success Profile)
The Leadership Success Profile (LSP) is a leadership capability framework, developed by the New Zealand public sector for the New Zealand public sector. It creates a common language for leadership and establishes what great leadership looks like. You can look at the twelve underpinning capabilities and four leadership characters here: Leadership Success Profile | Te Kawa Mataaho Public Service Commission(external link)
To mātou aronga – What we do for Aotearoa New Zealand
Hīkina Whakatutuki is the te reo Māori name for the Ministry of Business, Innovation and Employment. Hīkina means to uplift. Whakatutuki means to move forward, to make successful. Our name speaks to our purpose, Grow Aotearoa New Zealand for All.
To Grow Aotearoa New Zealand for All, we put people at the heart of our mahi. Based on the principles of Te Tiriti o Waitangi / The Treaty of Waitangi, we are committed to upholding authentic partnerships with Māori.
As agile public service leaders, we use our breadth and experience to navigate the ever-changing world. We are service providers, policy makers, investors and regulators. We engage with diverse communities, businesses and regions. Our work touches on the daily lives of New Zealanders. We grow opportunities (Puāwai), guard and protect (Kaihāpai) and innovate and navigate towards a better future (Auaha).
Te Tiriti o Waitangi
As an agency of the public service, MBIE has a responsibility to contribute to the Crown meeting its obligations under Te Tiriti o Waitangi (Te Tiriti). Meeting our commitment to Te Tiriti will contribute towards us realising the overall aims of Te Ara Amiorangi – Our Path, Our Direction, and achieve the outcome of Growing New Zealand for All. The principles of Te Tiriti - including partnership, good faith, and active protection – are at the core of our work. MBIE is committed to delivering on our obligations as a Treaty partner with authenticity and integrity and to enable Māori interests. We are committed to ensuring that MBIE is well placed to meet our obligations under the Public Service Act 2020 (Te Ao Tūmatanui) to support the Crown in strengthening the Māori/Crown Relationship under the Treaty and to build MBIE’s capability, capacity and cultural intelligence to deliver this.
Mahi i roto i te Ratonga Tūmatanui – Working in the public service
Ka mahitahi mātou o te ratonga tūmatanui kia hei painga mō ngā tāngata o Aotearoa i āianei, ā, hei ngā rā ki tua hoki. He kawenga tino whaitake tā mātou hei tautoko i te Karauna i runga i āna hononga ki a ngāi Māori i raro i te Tiriti o Waitangi. Ka tautoko mātou i te kāwanatanga manapori. Ka whakakotahingia mātou e te wairua whakarato ki ō mātou hapori, ā, e arahina ana mātou e ngā mātāpono me ngā tikanga matua o te ratonga tūmatanui i roto i ā mātou mahi.
In the public service we work collectively to make a meaningful difference for New Zealanders now and in the future. We have an important role in supporting the Crown in its relationships with Māori under the Treaty of Waitangi. We support democratic government. We are unified by a spirit of service to our communities and guided by the core principles and values of the public service in our work.
What does it mean to work in Aotearoa New Zealand’s Public Service?(external link) — Te Kawa Mataaho The Public Service Commission
