About the job

Job summary

The National Intelligence Hub (NIH), is part of our Intelligence Directorate, and at the heart of the NCA. Analysing and exploiting all source intelligence to develop and deliver operational opportunities, our National Targeting Centres and Regional Intelligence Teams drive the NCA’s and our partners’ response to the highest threats from Serious Organised Crime (SOC).

You will lead teams developing fast paced intelligence operations against key priority targets, or providing proactive and dynamic intelligence expertise to criminal investigations. Your work will be intertwined with the NCA’s specialist intelligence collection, data exploitation, and international departments. You will work in close collaboration with other UK and International Intelligence, Law Enforcement and policy partners.

Often operating in a sensitive, complex and ambiguous environment, and sometimes managing significant risk, you will deliver a vital component of the NCA’s mission to protect the public from serious and organised crime.

In this role you will need to inspire your teams on current work and future opportunities, be confident and consistent in your engagement with others, and above all, empower those you lead to deliver amazing outcomes.

To be successful you will lead authentically, with kindness and respect in all interactions. Making difficult decisions in a consistently values based way, you will use empathy and your emotional intelligence to provide effective support and to earn the trust of your staff. 

Job description

You will be required to provide strategic management for the delivery and development of the NCA’s operational capability. Overseeing multi-functional teams performing complementary and interlocking tasks, you will be responsible for the development of tactical and strategic intelligence, and/or prevention initiatives, focused on disrupting serious and organised crime affecting the UK.

There are currently four G2 Senior Manager roles available in the NIH:

G2 National Targeting Centre A - National Drugs Targeting Centre (NDTC):
NTC ‘A’ deals with Firearms, Prisons and Lifetime Offender Management, our Multi Agency Border Hubs, Drugs Trafficking and Immigration Disruption. 

In this role you will lead and drive 3 components of that activity, the NTDC, our cross-cutting project responding to the threat from West Balkans criminality, and the Immigration Disruption Team. With access to the full breadth of the NCA’s intelligence collection and investigative functions, including secret and sensitive sources, these teams are responsible for identifying those operating at the high end of high harm and developing tasked activity / opportunities aimed at disrupting their impact on the UK.

You will lead and represent all three teams, including being their advocate in the Agency’s tasking process, making a compelling case and championing the work so it is correctly assessed against competing demands and aligns with agency priorities. 

Both the Balkans team and the Immigration Disruptions cell operate across all threats, so you will collaborate with your colleagues in NIH and a broad cadre of Threat Leadership officers to understand, prioritise and direct these cross-cutting resources. 

You will work closely with internal and external partners to improve our collection opportunities, widen intelligence access and constantly refine our understanding of the threat. 

You will have experience in managing the progression of intelligence developments and be familiar with some of the equities available to support that work. Understanding and knowledge of the drugs threat impacting on the UK is essential to this role, as is a detailed grasp of the niche immigration powers we can deploy, and so your growth mind-set and passion to learn will be integral to your success. 

***To be considered, you will need to successfully complete DV STRAP clearance before commencing the role. Applicants must be willing to undergo DV clearance and STRAP induction and be full UK Nationals or Dual Nationals, of whom one component is British may be considered on a case by case basis.***

G2 National Targeting Centre B - Economic Crime - CHAPELGATE:
The NTC for economic crime deals with Fraud, Money Laundering, Bribery & Corruption, and it hosts the International Anti-Corruption Coordination Centre (IACCC). 

It also owns and directs the NCA’s Project CHAPELGATE. In this role you will lead and drive the asset recovery performance delivered by that Project.

CHAPELGATE is the NCA’s primary tactical and strategic response to International Controller led money laundering networks. (ICNs) It targets the highest harm UK based cash couriers and co-ordinators operating under the direction of the most impactful and prolific ICNs. Working with secret and sensitive material in an All Source environment the project’s cadre provides range of intelligence services to the NCA and partners. This includes running development operations and functioning as a Sensitive Intelligence Unit (SIU) to tasked investigations. You will also hold strategic responsibility for at least two other, closely aligned, sensitive projects operating in the same arena. 

Alongside developing and sustaining  nationally and internationally significant money laundering disruptions, the nature of this intelligence development leads to the frequent identification of Threats of Harm or to Life (TTH/TTL), which you will also be responsible for managing.

You will work very closely with a wide range of key internal and external stakeholders, including NPCC forces and UKIC partners. CHAPELGATE is matrix funded via several differing streams. To maintain and justify this funding you will regularly collaborate with seniors from across Whitehall and law enforcement, to highlight successes, agree KPIs and advise on potential policy and other strategic matters.  

***To be considered, you will need to successfully complete DV STRAP clearance before commencing the role. Applicants must be willing to undergo DV clearance and STRAP induction and be full UK Nationals or Dual Nationals, of whom one component is British may be considered on a case by case basis.***

G2 National Targeting Centre (NTC) C – Organised Immigration Crime (OIC), Modern Slavery and Human Trafficking (MSHT):
Combating OIC and MSHT is a unique challenge for the NCA. This role provides a unique opportunity to lead at the forefront of intelligence development utilising a range of diverse and innovative tools, covert collection techniques and collaborative work within intelligence and overseas law enforcement partners.

You will be exposed to the full range of covert intelligence tactics used within the agency and will be working in a fast-paced intelligence environment; targeting high priority threats providing opportunities across the entire intelligence spectrum.

Your predominant responsibility will be to lead teams with the aim of generating high harm operations against OIC and MSHT Organised Crime Groups; and you will be responsible for engaging, supporting and influencing strategic partners in government and UKLE immigration crime stakeholders; and representing the NCA and UK domestically and internationally on OIC/MSHT crime issues.  

You will be required to provide holistic, authoritative and authentic leadership to the National Targeting Centres (NTC) OIC/MSHT department; leading and directing operations against serious and organised criminals; and ensuring the successful delivery of multiple tactical programmes and projects that build the tactical intelligence picture in support of effective identification, targeting and disruption of the most serious illegal immigration facilitators impacting the UK.

***To be considered, you will need to successfully complete DV clearance before commencing the role and achieve DV STRAP clearance within the first 6 months in post. Applicants must be willing to undergo DV clearance and STRAP induction and be full UK Nationals or Dual Nationals, of whom one component is British may be considered on a case by case basis.***

G2 National Targeting Centre (NTC) - Child Sexual Abuse and Exploitation (CSAE):
The NTC for CSAE is responsible for developing intelligence and supporting criminal investigations to disrupt serious organised criminals involved in offences against children. It is located at 3 sites; in the NW Hub, Spring Gardens and Heron House in Manchester. It comprises 5 functions; the Intelligence Assessment and Development (IAD), a referral gateway into the NTC/NCA; the Victim ID Team, undertaking the national lead for victim identification work; targeting and development teams that develop intelligence in relation to priority threats (dark/clear web, grooming, blackmail and extortion, TCSOs, Livestreaming etc); the JOT which works with UKIC partners, and a dedicated CSAE RIT/SIU supporting the dedicated CSA investigations teams. The team works to target the highest harm offenders in the UK and works with international partners to disrupt overseas offenders. 

This is a new G2 role providing resilience to the SLT and will evolve, with the successful applicant working with the existing SLT to shape and define the role and determine how best to provide operational and intelligence development resilience to the team, as well as lead on the vision for building capability and capacity for future success. 

Your role will be to work across all of the NTC-CSAE functions, leading on building capabilities to help generate an efficient and impactive pipeline of high priority operational work. You will have experience in managing the progression of intelligence developments and be familiar with capabilities available to support that work. You will lead on planning and delivery of capability build, including tooling to semi-automate triage and prioritisation of new intel leads as well as planning for response to new threats and ambitions for NTC-CSAE.

You will lead performance management within the NTC-CSAE and coordinate underpinning capability activity including resource management. Your portfolio  will include engagement with Threat Leadership and Investigations colleagues to provide NTC input to strategic and tactical picture (in collaboration with ops G2).You will lead collaboration with SOC system partners ensuring all source intelligence is used and appropriate managed. You will work very closely with a wide range of key internal and external stakeholders, including NPCC forces and UKIC partners, to widen intelligence access and refine our understanding of the threat. You will lead a portfolio seeking to improve communication within the NIH, and across the wider Agency.

***To be considered, you will need to successfully complete DV clearance before commencing the role and achieve DV STRAP clearance within the first 6 months in post. Applicants must be willing to undergo DV clearance and STRAP induction and be full UK Nationals or Dual Nationals, of whom one component is British may be considered on a case by case basis.***

There will be more roles available in the near future.  

A reserve list will be created from this campaign should there be more suitable candidates than the posts currently advertised. We will look to appoint from that reserve list as and when further posts become available in the next 12 months. 

Person specification

• Lead a multi-functional team to quality assure, develop and deliver strategic and tactical intelligence to Agency operations, investigations and prevention initiatives - exploiting all source intelligence to drive operations against high harm / high risk serious and organised criminals.
• Oversee and authorise operations and projects and ensure that all operational activity is prioritised and aligned with strategic objectives, nationally agreed standards, complies with statutory provisions and relevant control strategies. 
• Effective risk management, prioritisation; and effective and accountable decision-making in support of serious and complex intelligence operations.
• Provide advice on legislation, policy, tactical options and evidential opportunities to assist the planning of investigations and operations. 
• Manage organisational change activity and effectively plan and communicate proposed changes with staff and stakeholders.
• Oversee the achievement of performance indicators and budgetary controls in support of business/operational planning.
• Lead and direct intelligence collection and assessment activity to ensure that it is securely handled and appropriately tasked.
• Deliver an all source intelligence environment including a pipeline of actionable intelligence (threat targeting teams) and intelligence capability to tasked investigations (RITs) and mitigate the risk of intelligence failure.
• Oversee the development and publication of Agency reports/assessments. 
• Develop and implement business plans in line with the Agency’s operating model and strategy.
• Ensure effective financial management with financial control of annual operating budgets and capital allocation.
• As part of the Senior Management Team contribute to the strategic and operational development of the department deputising for the Head of Department as required.
• Prepare briefings for minsters and senior officials.
• Lead on building effective internal and external partner relations and work collaboratively with stakeholders and external agencies, within the UK and internationally.

Please Note: Occasional travel to London may be required.

Benefits

Alongside your salary of £67,293, National Crime Agency contributes £18,169 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 23:55 on Sunday 21st July 2024.

Sift Process 

You will be asked to complete a CV as part of the application process. Your CV should set out your career history including training and qualifications, with key responsibilities and achievements. Please ensure that each entry of your career history also has a few sentences outlining a description and the key elements of that role, and that you provide reasons for any gaps within the last two years. Please ensure the dates of any accreditations you are relying on are entered onto the CV. 

• CV – CV will be used for reference only, and will not be scored as part of the recruitment process. 
• 3 x Technical / Experience skills via a 250 word Statement of Suitability per criteria as listed in the advert above.

For further application guidance please visit https://www.nationalcrimeagency.gov.uk/careers/applying-and-onboarding

Once submitted your application will be acknowledged by the Government Recruitment Service.

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.

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

• Experienced in effective decision making with accountability for decisions made.

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

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

Sift results are expected to be released w/c Monday 19th August 2024.

Interview Details 

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. 

There will be 1 round of interviews where candidates will be assessed against the Behaviour and Technical criteria outlined in the Person Specification above.

Interviews will take place throughout September and October 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 detailed within this advert.

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.

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.

Interview Outcome 

Candidates will be alerted of the outcome of their interview via their CS Jobs Portal.  We will be retaining a candidate pool of successful applicants to draw from as vacancies arise for up to 12 months.

If your application is successful and we are unable to offer you a post immediately, you will be invited to join our reserve list. If over the next 12 months we are able to offer you a position, we will contact you as soon as possible. 

Once we make you an offer you will then go through our vetting and pre-employment checks processes.

All Appointments will be made in location merit order. 

Loan/Secondment

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.

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 

If you are not found appointable at the advertised grade you may be offered the lower grade role if you are considered to meet the skills, experience and behaviours for the lower level. The benchmark for appointing to the lower grade is set at the start of each campaign. All offers will be made in merit.

If you are found appointable at the higher grade but there are no positions available you may be offered an appointment at the lower grade.

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, 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: Contact Government Recruitment Service via ncarecruitment.grs@cabinetoffice.gov.uk as soon as possible before the closing date to discuss your needs. 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.

Inclusion and Accessibility

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. For details of the available group please visit https://www.nationalcrimeagency.gov.uk/careers/benefits-and-support

In order to monitor the effectiveness of the National Crime Agency’s Diversity & Inclusion strategy, the NCA require certain personal details about you on submission of your application. Please note that this will be treated in confidence and will not impact your application. You will be asked to complete an E-consent survey asking for permission to share this data with the NCA to be used for statistical/monitoring purposes only, refusal of consent to share the information will not impact your application.

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

Additional Information 

• The NCA is a 24/7 organisation, and working patterns must support business requirements. Some roles may require you to respond at short notice or outside of core hours.
• Individuals will be required to undertake and pass a substance misuse test as part of pre-employment checks.
• Successful candidates may be required to undertake a medical. If required, the medical will take place in either London or Warrington. Unfortunately, travel costs will not be reimbursed.
• If you are an internal candidate who has passed interview but is undergoing an internal investigation or have a written warning in place preventing a post move you may not be able to be posted until this investigation is concluded or restriction lifted. You will remain on the reserve list for a max of 12 months.
• 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.

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

VETTING REQUIREMENTS - DV 

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

The requirement for DV is to have been present in the UK for at least 7 of the last 10 years.

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

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

Checks will be made against:

• successful completion of the BPSS
• UK criminal record and identity checks
• credit reference checks
• relevant personnel and medical checks (if required)

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 visit the NCA careers page for further information please visit https://www.nationalcrimeagency.gov.uk/careers

If you have any specific queries about the role that are not covered above please contact:  ncarecruitment.grs@cabinetoffice.gov.uk

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 developed vetting (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

Open to UK nationals only.

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.