Digital Forensic Technical Manager

Details
Reference number

436116

Salary

£45,326 - £54,909

This position attracts a Recruitment and Retention Allowance (RRA) of £3000 (Per Annum) available as an addition to the advertised salary.

Roles based in London will receive an additional London Weighting (Per Annum) of £4,218

A Civil Service Pension with an employer contribution of 28.97%

GBP

Job grade

Higher Executive Officer

Senior Executive Officer

NCA Grade 4 / Police Sergeant

Contract type

Permanent

Business area

NCA - Investigations

Type of role

Digital

Investigation

Working pattern

Flexible working, Full-time, Part-time

Number of jobs available

2

Contents

• Location
• About the job
• Benefits
• Things you need to know
• Apply and further information

Location

Bristol, Tolworth (Kingston upon Thames), Tamworth, Warrington

About the job
Job summary

Supporting operational forensics officers, the Technical Managers are experienced digital forensics practitioners with a strong understanding of international quality standards related to digital forensic disciplines.

Working closely with the Quality Management Team and digital forensics managers, you will ensure maintenance and development of current procedures, actively seeking more effective and efficient ways of working. Also supporting digital forensic practitioners, you will be the first point contact for technical-related accreditation and compliance queries.

The successful applicant will be an experienced digital forensic practitioner, knowledgeable in the acquisition, processing, analysis and reporting of digital media to an evidential standard. They will be knowledgeable in legislation effecting digital forensic activities and cognisant of the impact it has within an accredited environment.

Technical managers work with internal and external stakeholders to develop digital forensic best practice across the Agency, ensuring an efficient forensic delivery to investigating officers.

Striking a balance between digital forensic practitioner and quality management, the digital forensic technical managers are integral to the operational delivery of digital forensics to the Agency.

Job description

Investigations Command is the core crime fighting capability of the NCA. We take an intelligence-led approach and concentrate on tackling the criminals and risks to the public which are beyond the capability or capacity of other law enforcement bodies. Our work is largely focused on investigating Organised Immigration Crime, Human Trafficking, Child Sexual Exploitation and Abuse, Economic Crime, Firearms, Drugs, Kidnap and Extortion and Money Laundering. The Investigations Command provides a flexible, shared operational capability, designed to maximise the impact of the UK's collective resources against serious and organised crime. Our teams respond to a broad range of threats, many of which also remain a responsibility for police forces and other agencies as well as private industry.

Information about Forensic Services:

Forensic Services provides a range of specialist forensic capabilities to support the NCA's fight against Serious and Organised crime. We are a team of dedicated forensic science experts qualified in a range of specialist disciplines. We search for clues at crime scenes, as well as recover, analyse and examine evidence to support investigations.

Forensic Services are key to an effective and fair criminal justice system because we provide objective and timely information for multiple phases at different stages of the criminal justice process. At the heart of everything we do is the Forensic Science Regulator's Codes of Practice.

Forensic Services comprises of the following departments:

Forensic Operations: Working with Investigations teams to deliver traditional forensic capability in support of tasked activity at scene, and in accredited forensic laboratories.

Forensic Assurance: This department seeks to assure forensic service delivery through forensic governance, quality assurance and digital innovation.

Digital Forensics: This team comprises of digital forensic experts who provide specialist scene and lab-based capabilities to support NCA tasked operations.

Duties & Responsibilities

Accreditation management - Lead and oversee the attainment, maintenance and continuous improvement of ISO 17025:2017 accreditation and forensic regulation compliance for all digital forensic activity

Support operational - Support digital forensic operational officers with compliance to the Quality Management System

Collaborative working - Provide technical expertise and guidance, working collaboratively with the Quality Management Team and stakeholders, in relation to digital forensic activity

Auditing - Completion of internal audits against lab and scene-based digital forensics working practices

Risk Management - Identify and mitigate risks related to digital forensic activity, completing root cause analysis and problem resolution when scientific/technical issues arise

Validation, verification and calibration testing - Develop and execute validation, verification and test/calibration processes for hardware, software and examination methods

Competency and learning pathways development - Develop suitable training and development pathways and competency procedures

Co-ordination of proficiency testing - identify and co-ordinate Proficiency Testing and Inter-laboratory testing for digital forensic activity

Policy Implementation - Develop policies and procedures in relation to digital forensic activities to ensure compliance to international standards and the Forensic Science Regulator's Code of Practice

Equipment on-boarding - Identify and implement new equipment, policies and procedures, to enhance digital forensic operational delivery

Person specification

Skills, Knowledge and Experience

Experienced digital forensics practitioner - Strong knowledge and proven experience of working with digital forensics tools, techniques and capabilities.

Knowledge of international standards affecting digital forensic activities - Comprehensive understanding of the requirements to attain and maintain an accredited status for digital forensics processes (ISO 17020/17025, ILAC G-19 and associated international standards)

Understanding of the Forensic Science Regulator's Code of Practice - Conversant in the requirements of the FSR Code of Practice and the application to all digital forensic activities

Digital Forensics Hardware and Software - Proficient in the use of mainstream digital forensic hardware and software solutions

Report writing - Experienced in writing reports for use in the criminal justice system

Knowledge of Legislation - Understanding and practical application of legislation affecting digital forensic practices

Qualifications

Certified Digital Forensic Practitioner qualifications, or equivalent workplace experience (assessed via CV)

Please state what qualification/s you have in your CV or your equivalent workplace experience.

Appropriate courses/qualifications include:

Degree in Computing/Forensic Computing

Attendance to Foundation in Mobile/Computer Forensics Courses

Behaviours

We'll assess you against these behaviours during the selection process:

• Leadership
• Seeing the Big Picture

Technical skills

We'll assess you against these technical skills during the selection process:

• Proven experience of developing digital forensic processes within an accredited environment.
• Understanding of the Forensic Science Regulator's Code of Practice and associated international standards effecting forensic science activity.
• Proven experience in supporting digital forensics activity to ensure the capture of best evidence
• Proven experience of taking steps to improve culture on an individual and team basis

Benefits

Alongside your salary of £45,326, National Crime Agency contributes £13,130 towards you being a member of the Civil Service Defined Benefit Pension scheme. Find out what benefits a Civil Service Pension provides.

New entrants to the NCA receive 26 days annual leave, rising to 31 on completion of 5 years continuous service, plus 8 bank holidays.

If qualifying criteria is met new joiners from UK Police Forces or the UK Intelligence Community (UKIC) will have service with those employers taken into account for continuous service purposes for annual leave entitlement only, this will be up to a maximum of 31 days leave (including 1 privilege day).

Other benefits include:

• Flexible working, including flexi-time, compressed hours and job sharing (in line with business requirements)
• Family friendly policies, notably above the statutory minimum
• Learning and Development opportunities
• Interest free loans and advances, including season tickets, childcare and rental deposits
• Housing schemes - Key Worker status
• Discounts and Savings with a wide variety of services including Cycle to Work, Smart Tech schemes, dental insurance, gym discounts and savings on everyday spending, available through the Reward Gateway , Edenred and Blue Light Card schemes.
• Staff support groups/networks
• Sports and social activities, including membership to the Civil Service Sports Council (CSSC)

Further information is available on the NCA Website.

Things you need to know
Selection process details

This vacancy is using Success Profiles , and will assess your Behaviours, Experience and Technical skills.

This vacancy is using the Success Profiles framework and will assess using the following criteria: Behaviours, Experience, Technical Skills

Artificial Intelligence can be a useful tool to support your application, however, all examples and statements provided must be truthful, factually accurate and taken directly from your own experience. Where plagiarism has been identified (presenting the ideas and experiences of others, or generated by artificial intelligence, as your own) applications may be withdrawn and internal candidates may be subject to disciplinary action. Please see our candidate guidance for more information on appropriate and inappropriate use.

How we will assess you

Your application will be assessed against the following:

Technical - this will be assessed by 250 word examples on:

• Proven experience of developing digital forensic processes within an accredited environment.
• Understanding of the Forensic Science Regulator's Code of Practice and associated international standards effecting forensic science activity.
• Proven experience in supporting digital forensics activity to ensure the capture of best evidence
• Proven experience of taking steps to improve culture on an individual and team basis

Experience - This will be assessed:

CV

Please include your full career history, training, qualifications, key responsibilities, and achievements. Explain any employment gaps in the last two years. Ensure all accreditation dates are accurate.

Details of what is expected within you CV are as follows: Please state what qualification you have in your CV or the equivalent experience

A panel will assess how well your application demonstrates the requirements outlined above.

Longlist

In the event of a high number of applications, we may operate a longlist. Applicants will need to meet the minimum pass mark for the lead criteria.

• Proven experience of developing digital forensic processes within an accredited environment. .

Candidates who do not meet the minimum pass mark for the lead criteria will not progress to having their other criteria assessed. Applications must meet the minimum criteria to be progressed to the assessment stage.

You will receive an acknowledgement once your application is submitted.

We aim to have sift completed and scores released within 10 working days of the closing date of the advert. For high volume campaigns this timeframe may be extended.

Scores will be provided but further feedback will not be available at this stage.

For guidance on the application process, visit:

NCA Applying and Onboarding

Assessment 1

The format of this assessment will be Interview which will be tested on the criteria listed in the Success Profiles at Assessment section.

Success Profiles at Assessment

Behaviours

• Leadership
• Seeing the Big Picture

Technical

• Proven experience of developing digital forensic processes within an accredited environment.
• Understanding of the Forensic Science Regulator's Code of Practice and associated international standards effecting forensic science activity.
• Proven experience in supporting digital forensics activity to ensure the capture of best evidence
• Proven experience of taking steps to improve culture on an individual and team basis

Assessment Outcome

Outcomes will be communicated via the NCA recruitment portal.

If successful but no role is immediately available, you may be placed on a reserve list for 12 months.

In the event of a tie at the assessment stage, available roles will be offered in merit order using the following order:

• Lead criteria (behaviours/technical/experience)
• If still tied, desirable criteria will be assessed (if advertised)
• If still tied, application sift scores will be used

Feedback is provided only to those who attend an assessment.

You will be subject to vetting and pre-employment checks before appointment.

Once the vacancy closes, the advert will no longer be accessible. Please save a copy for your records.

We encourage all candidates to visit the NCA Careers Page for more information.

Full advert details for this vacancy can found on the advert on the NCA Recruitment Portal. Please follow the link to apply at advertisers' site.

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 .

See our vetting charter .

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)
• 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

Working for the Civil Service

The Civil Service Code 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 .

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.

Diversity and Inclusion

The Civil Service is committed to attract, retain and invest in talent wherever it is found. To learn more please see the Civil Service People Plan and the Civil Service Diversity and Inclusion Strategy .

Apply and further information

This vacancy is part of the Great Place to Work for Veterans initiative.

Once this job has closed, the job advert will no longer be available. You may want to save a copy for your records.

Contact point for applicants
Job contact :

• Name : The Recruitment Team
• Email :
• Telephone :

Recruitment team

• Email :

Further information

If you believe your application has not been treated fairly, email: (quoting the vacancy reference).

If unresolved, you may escalate your complaint to the Civil Service Commission.

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