Job Opportunities/Oportunidades laborales
POSITION DOCUMENTATION
Title: Visa Officer
Agency/Branch/Work Unit: Visas and Immigration Section (DIAC)
Location: Embassy of Australia, Santiago de Chile
Salary: CLP 1.023.951 per month
Contract: This is a permanent full-time position
Security Assessment: Not required
Job Description
This position is located in the Visas and Immigration Section and reports to the Senior Migration Officer. Visa Officers are responsible for making visa decisions in accordance with Australian migration laws and Department of Immigration and Citizenship (DIAC) guidelines. Visa Officers deliver accurate, timely and high quality service and information to clients in accordance with Departmental service standards. They also apply high ethical standards and a high level of judgement in making visa decisions on a range of applications including straightforward and complex cases. Visa Officers work as part of a team and are responsible for the day to day management of high volume workloads with limited supervision. Occasionally, Visa Officers are required to attend work out of regular hours for example, to attend stakeholder events or undertake official work travel. Fluency in written and oral communication in Spanish and English is essential.
Duty Statement
In accordance with Workplace Diversity and Work Health and Safety principles and practices, specific duties may include (but are not limited to):
• Assess and decide visa applications in accordance with Australia’s Migration Act, Regulations and policy instructions. This includes researching and applying legislation as well as maintaining knowledge of relevant legislation.
• Undertake all aspects of managing visa applications in accordance with the best practice principles of “Total Case Management”. This includes:
o Preparing all relevant documentation for visa processing and decisions including client correspondence;
o Conducting client interviews and requesting additional information via face-to-face contact, email or telephone;
o Responding to client enquiries in a timely manner;
o Accurately recording information on departmental systems including client contact and receipt of documents;
o Maintaining and using information stored on online databases (including data entry and retrieval);
o Initiating relevant security checks and/or conducting identity checks;
o Assisting with enquiries from Australia including from the Migration Review Tribunal and DIAC’s Freedom of Information (FOI) section, and
o File management.
• Manage a high volume workload with limited supervision to ensure service standards are met. This includes meeting expected performance standards in relation to productivity, integrity and quality.
• Provide services to clients that are fair, reasonable, timely, accurate and professional. This includes liaising with clients, and a diverse range of stakeholders and other departmental offices on visa processing matters.
• Undertake Referrals work on a rotational basis or as required within expected performance standards in relation to productivity, integrity and quality.
• Work collaboratively within a team environment to deliver a high quality service to ensure client and Departmental outcomes are met.
• Escalate urgent and sensitive cases to an Australian-based officer and/or direct supervisor as necessary.
• Identify integrity issues, trends and high risk cases and ensure they are appropriately actioned and referred to the Locally Engaged Integrity Manager (LEIM).
• Actively support A-based staff to achieve operational and administrative excellence in the office.
• Undertake other duties on a rotational basis as required. This may include liaison with the panel doctor network, providing assistance in maintaining the embassy website, and administrative and client appointment duties.
Selection Criteria
1. Communications skills. Well developed English and Spanish oral and written communication skills; an ability to communicate effectively with clients from diverse backgrounds over complex issues; and an ability to represent the Department in a professional manner.
2. Managing information. Sound general knowledge of the role and function of Australia’s Department of Immigration and Citizenship; ability to quickly understand, interpret and apply legislation; good judgement and decision making skills; and an ability to maintain the confidentiality of privileged information.
3. Managing work. Good work planning and organisational skills; ability to work independently and manage specific activities; and an ability to set appropriate priorities.
4. Managing people. Ability to deal sensitively and tactfully with clients; ability to develop productive working relationships; and an ability to show personal initiative.
5. Focusing on quality. Ability to provide quality decision making and recording outputs in a professional and ethical manner; ability to seek guidance in an appropriate manner.
Contact Information
Contact Officer: Information about the position can be obtained from Denise Wee by email [email protected]
To apply
Please email your application to Denise Wee, Principal Migration Officer, via [email protected]
Your application should include:
• current résumé (not exceeding 2 pages) in English, including the names and contact details of two referees
• statement addressing how you meet each of the selection criteria with reference to the duties of the visa officer position and your current position (not exceeding two pages in total).
Closing Date
The closing date for receipt of applications for this position is 14:00hrs (Santiago time) Monday, 2 September 2013. Applications received after the closing date will not be considered. If you have not been requested to attend an interview within 3 days of the closing date please assume that your application has not been successful on this occasion.
Order of Merit
An order of merit will be established during this recruitment exercise. This may be used to fill any other visa officer positions which may become available during the remainder of 2013.