About the job

Job summary

We are seeking experienced digital forensics (DF) practitioners, who can demonstrate their ability to  examine an array of digital devices to an evidential standard, and supervise a team of fellow specialists. You will have knowledge and understanding of co-ordinating and managing digital forensic capabilities, including the supervision of a digital forensic team.

If you have digital forensics skills and experience and would like a new challenge within an operational role, leading a team of scene-based Digital Forensic officers as well as providing a tactical digital input to investigations, then this could be the ideal opportunity for you. 

Job description

The role of a Senior DF operations officer strikes a balance between managing a team of scene based DF practitioners with  the facilitation of  digital forensic service delivery for investigations into serious and organised crime. This will involve working with a diverse range of investigation teams across the UK, advising of the tactical and strategic  capabilities and options available to ensure the capture of best evidence. 

Due to the level of responsibility and dynamic working environments, it is essential that applicants have a strong digital forensic knowledge base and skillset, with experience in acquiring and preserving digital evidence. A period of on-boarding and mentoring within an NCA Digital Forensics laboratory will be provided for applicants, whilst you complete mandatory safety and legislation training in preparation for crime scene deployments. At the NCA, we celebrate diversity and are committed to creating an inclusive environment. We welcome neurodivergent thinkers and offer reasonable adjustments to those who need them.

Scene deployments are national and can be at unsociable hours. As such, the successful candidate must be prepared to drive long distances and work long hours when deployed, which can often involve overnight stays. The successful candidate will also be expected to join the on-call rota. 

Please note; The NCA DF team is a national asset. While candidates will be based regionally - Bristol, Tamworth, or Kingston upon Thames - you will be regularly deployed throughout the UK (and occasionally abroad). Regular attendance at one of our main hubs (Warrington, Bristol and Kingston upon Thames) will be expected for training and accreditation related purposes when not deployed operationally.

**To be considered, you will need to successfully complete SC Enhanced clearance before commencing the role.**

Person specification

Main Responsibilities

• Supervise and lead a team of scene based digital forensic officers, allocating crime scene deployments and operational activity accordingly;
• Work in a dynamic crime scene environment, ensuring  suitable prioritisation of activities to optimise recovery and preservation of all sources of digital evidence; 
• Liaison with Investigation teams to identify forensic requirements and provide advice and guidance on techniques and capabilities to deliver operationally; 
• Devise digital tactical collection plans, to ensure optimal evidential recovery from an array of crime scene types; 
• Participate in tasked operations, projects and investigations, gathering information, intelligence and evidence in order disrupt and degrade criminal capability;
• Assess, triage, and prioritise digital submissions, supporting forensic operations managers in exhibit reviews to ensure a quality service delivery, that offers value for money; 
• Maintain meticulous records and compile evidential reports,  witness statements and provide testimony at court, as required; 
• Active involvement in the development and on-boarding of Quality Standards (ISO 17020/17025) within the DF environment. 

Benefits

Alongside your salary of £41,347, National Crime Agency contributes £11,163 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.

If you wish to apply for this vacancy, you must submit your application by Sunday 28th April 2024.

You will be asked to complete a CV as part of the application process,  Please see the candidate information pack for more information.

During your application process your CV will assess the following criteria

• Intermediate to advanced level certification in Digital Forensics.
  
• Significant experience within a digital forensics environment
  

Please note depending on the volume of applications a Longlist at sift may be conducted on following criteria:

• Experience of capturing digital media to an evidential standard.

Candidates must pass this criteria for their application to be progressed.

A panel will then assess your application to select those demonstrating the best fit for the role by considering the evidence you have provided against the criteria set out in the Entry Criteria section.

Failure to address any or all of these may affect your application.

Sift results are expected to be released w/c Monday 20th May 2024.

Interviews will take place throughout June 2024 - locations to be confirmed. Please be advised that the type of interview (eg. virtual/face-to-face) may be subject to change and successful candidates will be notified of this prior to attending. However the interview is conducted, the interview criteria will remain as shown on page 16 of the candidate information pack.

The above sift and interview dates are an indicative timeline.

Should you be successful at sift but cannot attend on the interview date(s) listed the recruitment team cannot guarantee an alternative date. Please contact the recruitment team.

You will then be asked to attend an interview in order to have a more in-depth discussion of your previous experience and professional competence. 

Full details of the assessment process will be made available to shortlisted candidates.

Please ensure that all examples provided in your application are taken directly from your own experience and that you describe the examples in your own words. Any instances of plagiarism including copying of examples/answers from internet sources will result in a withdrawal of your application. Further action, including disciplinary action, may be considered in such cases involving internal candidates. Providing false or misleading information would be contrary to the core values of honesty and integrity expected of all Civil Servants.

Multi-Location

Where more than one location is advertised, candidates will be appointed in merit order for each location. You will be asked to state your location preference on your application.

Please be aware that you can be posted to any location that you put in your preferences. If you would only like to be posted to one location, please confirm one location only. If you are posted to a location that you have requested and you do not accept that location, you may not be offered another role.

Please note, only advertised location can be offered. Notes populated in a free text box will not be taken into consideration.

Near Miss

Candidates who are judged to be a near miss at interview may be considered for other positions in the NCA which may be at a lower grade, but have a potential skills match.

Hybrid Working

Here at the NCA we have a hybrid working arrangement in place enabling officers to work a proportion of their role remotely. Eligibility and the degree of home working will vary depending on the requirements of the role. Further details can be discussed at offer stage.

Reasonable Adjustment

We are committed to ensuring our recruitment process is inclusive and accessible to all. As part of our application process you will be prompted to provide details of any reasonable adjustment to our recruitment process that you may need. If you have a disability or long-term condition (a physical or mental impairment that has a substantial and long term effect on your ability to carry out normal day-to-day activities protected under the Equality Act 2010) and need us to make any adjustments or do anything differently during the recruitment process, please let us know by emailing ncarecruitment.grs@cabinetoffice.gov.uk, we have a duty to make reasonable changes to our processes.

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 further on in the recruitment process. For instance, you may need wheelchair access at interview, or if you’re deaf, a Language Service Professional.

Please contact us by emailing ncarecruitment.grs@cabinetoffice.gov.uk as soon as possible before the closing date if you wish to discuss any reasonable adjustments before applying.

Inclusion and Accessibility

The NCA embraces and values diversity in all forms. Being truly reflective of the communities we serve and building a culture where everyone can perform at their best is critical to leading the UK’s fight against serious and organised crime – something which affects us all. We want to recruit and retain the very best and broadest diversity of officers so the NCA welcomes applications from individuals from all backgrounds.

We are proud to be an inclusive, equal opportunities employer. As a Disability Confident Leader we are committed to ensuring that all candidates are treated fairly throughout the recruitment process.

If you are experiencing accessibility problems with any attachments on this advert, please contact ncarecruitment.grs@cabinetoffice.gov.uk

VETTING REQUIREMENTS SC

All security clearances require you to provide evidence of your UK footprint where you have been physically present in the UK.

The requirement for SC clearance is to have been present in the UK for at least 3 of the last 5 years.

Failure to meet the residency requirements will result in your security clearance application being rejected.

If you require SC clearance you will need to provide evidence of the below requirements.

Checks will be made against:

• Departmental or company records (personnel files, staff reports, sick leave reports and security records)
• UK criminal records covering both spent and unspent criminal records
• Your credit and financial history with a credit reference agency
• Security Services records

For further information on National Security Vetting please visit the following page https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/demystifying-vetting

We encourage all candidates to thoroughly review the candidate pack which explains the role further before submitting an application.

If you have any specific queries about the role that are not covered by the candidate pack, please contact:

ncarecruitment.grs@cabinetoffice.gov.uk

This role is being advertised on a permanent basis. If preferable, Loan or Secondment options will also be available for existing Civil Servants (Loan) and applicants from accredited NDPBs or any other employer (Secondment). Prior agreement to be released on a loan basis must be obtained before commencing the application process. In the case of Civil Servants, the terms of the loan will be agreed between the home and host department and the Civil Servant. This includes grade on return.

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

Security

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.