About the job

Job summary

Are you interested in developing and furthering your career within the field of digital forensics? If so, the Competition and Markets Authority (CMA) presents an exciting opportunity to work across varied and complex investigations of national importance. 

We help people, businesses, and the UK economy by promoting competitive markets and tackling unfair behaviour. Our work is wide ranging, ambitious and often new and challenging.

As a Digital Forensics Officer, you will join our Digital Forensics and Intelligence Services team, which supports investigations and projects carried out by the CMA.  

You will need an undergraduate degree in Digital Forensics or Cyber Security OR substantial experience of working within a Digital Forensics laboratory for a law enforcement, government or private sector entity. 

You will also need experience of carrying out research and analysis to support cases, as well as excellent verbal and written communication skills and proficiency in the use of Microsoft Office applications. Knowledge of Windows and Apple operating systems (including Android and iOS and associated devices) is equally important. 

If you believe you have the necessary skills and experience required for the role and are excited about career development opportunities within Digital Forensics and / or eDiscovery disciplines we would be delighted to hear from you. 

You will undertake a variety of digital forensics and eDiscovery tasks to support the aims of the CMA in the collection, processing and analysis of electronic evidence including forensically analysing data collected from seized media (computers, laptops, mobiles, portable media etc.) and from internet and cloud-based sources, in order to develop and present high quality and robust investigation reports.

The CMA is a hugely diverse, rewarding and stimulating place to work – an opportunity to work for the public good and to stretch and develop yourself in doing so. We offer generous benefits, including an excellent pension scheme with an average employer contribution of 27%, at least 25 days leave (increasing to 30 over five years), and generous maternity/paternity leave provision. You can also take advantage of interest-free season ticket loans, a cycle to work scheme, and our extensive flexible working options. 

To find out more about this opportunity and about working for the CMA, please click on the APPLY button. 

CMA – Working for the CMA , Civil Service Careers (civil-service-careers.gov.uk) 

https://www.linkedin.com/company/competition-and-markets-authority/ 

Closing date: 11:55pm on Monday 5th February 2024.

Job description

Key responsibilities will include:

• Conduct eDiscovery The ingestion of ‘big data’, removal of Legal Professional Privilege material (LPP), relevance keyword filtering, scripting and production of review cases and exports.
• Conduct digital forensic collection, investigation research and analysis in a professional and ethical manner, and develop and present high quality and robust investigation exports and reports.
• To forensically examine and analyse data collected for seized media to the necessary standards for each case. This includes the lawful on-site (‘dawn raid’) and off-site collection of electronically stored data from corporate systems, the seizure or imaging of hard disks from laptops (incl. Apple devices) or desktops, portable media (such as USB flash drives, DVDs), mobile devices, tablets and smartphones, and cloud-based storage in support of criminal or civil enforcement cases.
• Review evidence in forensic investigations into email communications, internet history, document falsification, non-repudiation, metadata analysis and application history, and to prepare witness statements and analysis reports in order to potentially give evidence in Court.
• Undertake Internet Intelligence and Investigation (III) techniques to collect evidence to the applicable standard, for use in the support of criminal or civil enforcement cases or other markets or mergers work. This could include capturing internet based evidence such as web pages, video content, social media data or pricing history.
• Provide advice and assistance to stakeholders across the CMA on the effective use of evidence review (using eDiscovery platforms).
• Supporting best practice of digital evidence gathering, analysis tools, sources, techniques, and methodologies.
• Adhere to the policies and procedures for conducting digital tasks in accordance with relevant guidance including the Digital Forensic Team’s Standard Operating Procedures and participate in peer-review quality assurance processes.
• Actively contribute to the development and delivery of tools, techniques, standards and operating procedures to improve the capacity and capabilities of the team.

Person specification

It is essential that you can provide evidence and examples for each of the following selection criteria in your application:

• Undergraduate degree in Digital Forensics or Cyber Security (with Digital Forensics Module) OR substantial experience from working within a Digital Forensics laboratory for a law enforcement, government or private sector entity. (Lead criteria)
• Experience of carrying out research and analysis to support case teams or contribute to business process improvement. (Lead criteria)
• Excellent verbal and written communication skills with experience of dealing with internal and external stakeholders to provide a high-quality service.
• Computer literate and proficient in the use of Microsoft Office applications, in particular, Word, Outlook, Excel, and PowerPoint.
• Knowledge of Windows and Apple operating systems (including Android and iOS and associated devices).

Benefits

Alongside your salary of £34,113, Competition & Markets Authority contributes £9,210 towards you being a member of the Civil Service Defined Benefit Pension scheme. Find out what benefits a Civil Service Pension provides.

Things you need to know

Selection process details

This vacancy is using Success Profiles (opens in a new window), and will assess your Behaviours, Experience and Technical skills.

This vacancy is using Success Profiles (opens in a new window), and will assess your Behaviours and Experience.

As part of the application process you will be asked to complete a CV, personal statement and an online application form. Further details about application requirements are listed on the application form.

The selection process will comprise of the sift (CV & application review) and an interview. Arrangements for the interview will be enclosed in the invitation. All interviews will be held at our Canary Wharf office, details of this will be included within your invitation.

An initial sift based on criteria 1 and 2 (Lead Criteria) may be held if a large number of applications are received. If your application progresses to a full sift, all elements of the essential criteria listed under Person Specification of the role profile will then be considered.

Please note that it is essential that your personal statement is aligned to provide evidence that you have the knowledge and experience for each of the following selection criteria (as included on the role profile) in your application:

• Undergraduate degree in Digital Forensics or Cyber Security (with Digital Forensics Module) OR substantial experience from working within a Digital Forensics laboratory for a law enforcement, government or private sector entity. (Lead criteria)
• Experience of carrying out research and analysis to support case teams or contribute to business process improvement. (Lead criteria)
• Excellent verbal and written communication skills with experience of dealing with internal and external stakeholders to provide a high-quality service.
• Computer literate and proficient in the use of Microsoft Office applications, in particular, Word, Outlook, Excel, and PowerPoint.
• Knowledge of Windows and Apple operating systems (including Android and iOS and associated devices).

The role will close 11.55pm Monday 5th February 2024.

The sift will take place 6th - 8th February 2024.

If your application is successful, you will be invited to attend an interview. You will be notified via email to log-in to your Civil Service Account and book your interview slot. You will be sent an email with full details of your arrangements for interview.

Interviews will be held on w/c 19th February 2024. There is 1 interview stage for this role.

The interview will be a 45-60-minute panel interview where you will be asked questions based on the Behaviours and Experience outlined in the role profile.

The first part of interview will be a presentation, the topic of which will be sent to you a week before the interview. 

Reasonable adjustments

We want to make sure no one is at a disadvantage during our recruitment process because of a disability, condition or impairment. To assist you with this, we will reduce or remove any barriers where possible and provide additional support where appropriate.

If you need a change to be made so that you can make your application, you should complete the “Assistance required” section in the “Additional requirements” page of your application form to tell us what changes or help you might need during the recruitment process.  You can also email recruitment@cma.gov.uk.

For example, you may need wheelchair access at interview, or if you are deaf, a Language Service Professional. You might also require additional time to complete a timed assessment or a sign language interpreter to support with the relaying of information.

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

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

Security

Successful candidates must undergo a criminal record check. Successful candidates must meet the security requirements before they can be appointed. The level of security needed is security check (opens in a new window).

See our vetting charter (opens in a new window). People working with government assets must complete baseline personnel security standard (opens in new window) checks.

Nationality requirements

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)

Working for the Civil Service

The Civil Service Code (opens in a new window) sets out the standards of behaviour expected of civil servants.

We recruit by merit on the basis of fair and open competition, as outlined in the Civil Service Commission's recruitment principles (opens in a new window). The Civil Service embraces diversity and promotes equal opportunities. As such, we run a Disability Confident Scheme (DCS) for candidates with disabilities who meet the minimum selection criteria. The Civil Service also offers a Redeployment Interview Scheme to civil servants who are at risk of redundancy, and who meet the minimum requirements for the advertised vacancy.