About the job

Job summary

Background:

Technology is at the heart of the SFO’s business, and the Information Technology team is responsible for a broad range of systems which support the investigation and prosecution of economic crime. In addition to our core business applications, it utilises specialist case management and forensic systems to process and review evidential material.

We are looking for an exceptional individual to lead our specialist software development team, with responsibility for delivering multiple Agile work streams through requirement analysis, solution design, build, test and verification processes, producing clear system and user documentation.

Purpose of the Post:

As a subject matter expert, the post holder will be responsible for leading and managing a team of internal software developers, taking ownership of key development projects and tasks to support the organisation’s technology objectives. Engaging senior stakeholders, gathering requirements and developing high quality technical solutions/line of business applications that address business needs.

As a centre of excellence, the post has central responsibility for maintaining coding standards and practices across the organisation, dependency mapping, driving efficiencies through systematic development, code reviews and process automation.

Job description

As a Senior Software Developer you will be responsible for: 

• Work with the leadership team to develop strategies and operational delivery plans to support the organisation’s technology objectives.
• To engage senior stakeholders and work with the team to develop user stories, product backlogs, wireframes and signing-off against agreed scope, and delivering through structured sprints.
• Manage team members in the design, development and support of a range of bespoke applications and databases, in line with business requirements, applying a range of project methodologies. Ensuring applications conform to SFO standards for deployment, management and performance, including secure by design principles.
• Maintain and update the catalogue of existing applications, applying regular code updates/patches to correct software defects. Ensure the team are deploying appropriate application-level monitoring, tracking and auditing.
• Develop wireframes and work with stakeholders to clearly demonstrate feature-set delivery. Create and deploy software test plans, providing quality assurance, coordinate practical user acceptance testing, with technical and non-technical members of staff.
• Collaborate with the wider IT teams and partners to ensure applications conform to deployment standards and management requirements. Work with internal teams and third-party suppliers to integrate products with SFO applications, processes and working practices.
• Provide guidance, knowledge transfer and technical assistance to front line teams, which includes detailed system, end user and administrator documentation. Ensure central source code/libraries are properly managed and maintained, documented and version controlled.
• Lead the team, researching/evaluating development products, techniques and methodologies. Keeping up to date with regulatory compliance requirements, new technologies, best practice and training to ensure the IT team continue to deliver quality services to the SFO. Provide guidance, coaching and individual mentoring within the team, as required.

This Job Description sets out current duties of the post that may vary from time to time without changing the general character of the post or the level of responsibility entailed.

For more information about the role and for a full list of key responsibilities, please see attached Job Pack

Person specification

See above and attached Job Pack

Benefits

Alongside your salary of £57,998, Serious Fraud Office contributes £15,659 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 and Experience.

Application stage

• As part of the application process you will be required to provide:
• A personal statement of no more than 500 words that explains how your skills and experience meet each of the essential experience criteria and the “Managing a Quality Service” behaviour as listed in the job pack
• A supporting CV outlining your job history and qualifications

Interview

• All 3 Behaviours as outlined in the job pack will be tested at interview.

Full details of the interview process will be made available to shortlisted candidates in the invite to interview.

Sift to take place from 8th August.

Interviews are expected to take place w/c 19th August.

All dates are indicative and subject to change.

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.