Apply before
15/07/2026, 23:55
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Reference number
987
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Salary
£45,326 - £54,909 (full salary band)
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RRA - Recruitment and Retention Allowance (Per Annum)
£ 3000
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Role grade
G4
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Contract type
Permanent
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Command
Investigations
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Business Area
Multi-Threat & Borders & Forensics
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Type of role
Digital, Investigation, Operational Delivery, Operational Research, Policing, Science
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Working pattern
Full time, Flexible Working
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Number of roles available
1
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Senior Digital Forensic Operations Officer
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Location(s)
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Tamworth
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About the Role
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Information about the Command
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.
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Information about the Business Area
This DD area comprises the Command’s national multi-threat teams (in the north, central & Wales, and the south), as well as the Command’s Forensic capability.
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Role Summary
The Senior Digital Forensic Operations Officer role combines leadership of scene-based digital forensic practitioners with the delivery of high-quality forensic services in support of serious and organised crime (SOC) investigations. The postholder will work closely with a wide range of investigative teams across the UK, providing tactical and strategic advice to maximise digital forensic opportunities and ensure the effective identification, capture and preservation of evidential material.
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Role Description
The Senior Digital Forensic Operations Officer role combines leadership of scene-based digital forensic practitioners with the delivery of digital forensic services in support of investigations into SOC.
The postholder will work in collaboration with a diverse range of investigative teams across the UK, providing both tactical and strategic advice on digital forensic capabilities to maximise opportunities for the identification, capture and preservation of evidential material across a range of electronic devices, including computers and mobile devices.
Given the level of responsibility and the dynamic operational environment, candidates must possess a strong digital forensic knowledge base, alongside proven skills in the acquisition and preservation of digital evidence.
Successful candidates will undertake a period of structured onboarding and mentoring within an NCA Digital Forensics laboratory. This will include completion of mandatory safety and legislative training in preparation for deployment to crime scenes.
The NCA is committed to fostering an inclusive and supportive working environment. We actively welcome applications from individuals with diverse backgrounds, including neurodivergent candidates, and will provide reasonable adjustments where required.
This role requires regular national travel, including deployments at unsociable hours. Candidates must be willing and able to drive long distances, work extended hours when required, and undertake overnight stays. Participation in an on-call rota is also an essential requirement of the role.
You may be deployed to support a range of investigations, including those involving Child Sexual Abuse (CSA). By applying for this role, you are confirming your willingness to undertake work in this area. The NCA recognises the potential impact of such work and provides access to Occupational Health Services. In addition, candidates assigned to CSA roles will be required to undergo a psychological assessment prior to appointment. Applicants should carefully consider these requirements before applying.
Information about Forensic Services
Forensic Services delivers a broad range of specialist forensic capabilities in support of the NCA’s mission to tackle SOC. Our multidisciplinary team of forensic professionals applies expertise across a variety of scientific and technical disciplines to support investigations. This includes attending crime scenes to identify and recover evidential material, as well as conducting detailed analysis and examination within laboratory environments.
Our work plays a critical role in supporting an effective and fair criminal justice system. We provide objective, impartial and timely forensic evidence across all stages of the investigative and judicial process. All activities are conducted in accordance with the Forensic Science Regulator’s Codes of Practice, which underpin the quality, integrity and reliability of our services.
Forensic Services comprises the following functional areas:
Forensic Operations - Works in partnership with investigative teams to deliver traditional forensic capabilities, supporting operational activity both at crime scenes and within accredited laboratory environments.
Forensic Assurance - Provides oversight of forensic service delivery through governance, quality assurance, and continuous improvement, including the development and adoption of innovative forensic approaches.
Digital Forensics - A specialist team delivering both scene-based and laboratory digital forensic capabilities, supporting NCA operations through the identification, acquisition and analysis of digital evidence.
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Duties and Responsibilities
Leadership - Lead and supervise a team of scene-based digital forensic Officers, allocating deployments and operational activity to ensure effective and timely delivery.
Strategic and Tactical Operational Planning - Develop and implement digital forensic collection strategies to maximise evidential recovery across a range of crime scene types. Coordinate deployments, acting as a subject matter expert to support operational effectiveness.
Communication and Stakeholder Engagement - Work closely with investigation teams to identify forensic requirements, providing clear advice and guidance on digital forensic capabilities and techniques.
Operational Activity - Participate in operational deployments, projects, and investigations, supporting the collection of intelligence and evidential material to disrupt and degrade criminal activity.
Oversight of Digital Forensic Submissions - Assess, triage and prioritise digital forensic submissions, supporting exhibit review processes to ensure efficient, high-quality, and value-driven service delivery.
Accreditation and Compliance - Contribute to the development, implementation and maintenance of quality standards (e.g. ISO 17020/17025), ensuring compliance within the digital forensic environment.
Performance Management and Reporting - Maintain accurate records and produce evidential reports, witness statements and, where required, provide testimony in court.
Staff and Team Development - Promote continuous improvement by sharing learning from operational deployments and identifying training opportunities to support professional development through internal programmes and external providers.
Flexibility and Operational Readiness - Operate effectively across varied and dynamic environments, prioritising activity to ensure the optimal recovery and preservation of digital evidence. Undertake regular travel, including attendance at NCA hubs (Warrington, Bristol and London) for training, accreditation and operational requirements.
Training Requirements
Successfully complete and maintain required training, including Partial Powers training and assessment, within agreed timescales.
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Person Specification
Digital Forensic Experience - Significant experience working within a digital forensics environment, with a strong understanding of forensic principles, methodologies and tools.
Management and Leadership - Proven experience of leading and managing teams, including task allocation, performance oversight, and supporting team development in an operational environment.
Evidence Capture - Demonstrable experience in the acquisition and handling of digital media to evidential standards, ensuring integrity, continuity and admissibility.
Legislation and Compliance - Sound knowledge of relevant legislation governing the lawful capture, handling, and preservation of digital evidence (e.g. PACE, CPIA, IPA), and its practical application in investigations.
Making Effective Decisions - Experience of making timely and well-reasoned operational and investigative decisions, with clear accountability for outcomes.
Seeing the Big Picture - Ability to understand the wider operational and organisational context, aligning forensic activity to strategic objectives and investigative priorities.
Culture and Continuous Improvement - Demonstrable commitment to fostering a positive and inclusive team culture, with the ability to drive continuous improvement and measure success through team performance, engagement, and outcomes.
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On-call working
Candidates are required to work an on-call rota to provide 24/7 365 cover. This on-call pattern is for a period of 7 days. The requirement is for approximately 1 week in 8, subject to business needs and staff availability. This may be subject to change.
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Essential Criteria
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You must meet the essential criteria and evidence this within your application to be considered for the role.
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Entry Requirements
Officer Safety Training (OST) - Successful candidates will be required to pass a mandatory five-day Officer Safety Training (OST) course. Applicants should carefully consider their ability to meet this requirement before applying.
The OST programme combines theoretical and practical elements, including personal safety awareness, unarmed and armed defensive techniques, and operational tactics. Training involves a degree of physical activity and repetition, covering areas such as movement and positioning, use of force techniques (including strikes and blocks), restraint and control, and team-based scenarios.
Candidates must be able to meet a reasonable standard of physical fitness. This includes the ability to safely participate in dynamic training activities, including controlled ground descent and recovery without assistance. Structured warm-ups are conducted throughout the course to minimise the risk of injury.
The OST must be successfully completed within the first six months of appointment. Failure to do so will result in the individual being unable to continue in an operational Investigator role, and employment with the NCA will be terminated. Except in exceptional circumstances, alternative roles within the Agency will not be offered.
Successful completion of the OST does not replace the requirement to pass the full 12-month probationary period, which remains a condition of continued employment.
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Qualifications, Membership and Licences
Full UK or International Driving Licence - Candidates must hold a valid driving licence permitting them to drive a car in the UK. This may include a full UK driving licence or an appropriate international driving licence recognised for use in the UK, as the role requires regular travel to NCA sites and other locations across the country.
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Any applications from candidates not meeting this eligibility criteria will not progress.
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Desirable Criteria
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Desirable criteria are only used for assessment in the event of a tie break.
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A recognised intermediate to advanced digital forensics certification (e.g. CFCE, GCFE, GCFA or equivalent vendor/tool-specific certifications such as Magnet AXIOM or Cellebrite).
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Salary
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Allowances are reviewed annually and may be increased, decreased or removed.
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All salary offers will be made in line with Remuneration Policy.
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This position attracts a Recruitment and Retention Allowance (RRA) of £3000 (Per Annum) available as an addition to the advertised salary.
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On Call Allowance (Per Annum) £TBC - approximately £225/week when on-call
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On Call Allowance details
The post holder will be required to be part of an on-call 24/7 rota (approximately 1 week in 8).
This may be subject to change and the frequency will be directed by your line manager.
If you do perform on-call duties, where eligible, you will be entitled to an On-Call allowance for each session you are on call.
(Additional remuneration is applicable to spot rate roles Grades 6-4 and non-spot-rate roles Grades 6-3).
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Benefits
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All NCA employees are members of the UK Civil Service and eligible for the Civil Service pension scheme, alongside your salary the NCA contributes £13131. Further information on the benefits of the scheme is available on the Civil Service Pension Website.
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.
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Selection Process Details
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This vacancy is using the Success Profiles framework and will assess using the following criteria: Behaviours, Experience, Technical Skills
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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.
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How we will assess you
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Your application will be assessed against the following:
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Technical - this will be assessed by 250 word examples on:
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Demonstrable experience in the acquisition and handling of digital data to evidential standards, ensuring integrity, continuity and admissibility.
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Proven experience of leading and managing teams, including task allocation, performance oversight and team development.
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Experience - This will be assessed:
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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 your CV are as follows: Please provide a concise and up-to-date CV that clearly demonstrates how you meet the Person Specification outlined in this advert, with particular reference to your Digital Forensic Experience, and Management and Leadership Skills.
Your CV must include:
- A full employment history, with explanations for any gaps in employment within the last five years.
- Details of all relevant qualifications, certifications and professional training.
- Evidence of your experience working within a digital forensics environment.
- Evidence of your experience leading or managing a digital forensic team, including responsibilities for quality management and service delivery.
All information provided should be relevant, clearly presented, and supported with examples where appropriate. Your CV must be no longer than two pages and presented in a font size of no less than 10pt.
PLEASE NOTE - Your CV will be used for Longlisting. This means that it will be assessed on a scale of 1–7, with a minimum score of 4 required to progress to full sift. Candidates who do not provide sufficient evidence in their response will receive a score of 3 or below; in such cases, the remainder of the application will not be assessed and will be recorded as “0 – Not Assessed” across all remaining criteria.
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A panel will assess how well your application demonstrates the requirements outlined above.
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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.
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For guidance on the application process, visit:
NCA Applying and Onboarding
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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.
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Success Profiles at Assessment
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Behaviours
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Making Effective Decisions
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Managing a Quality Service
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Technical
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Demonstrable experience in the acquisition and handling of digital data to evidential standards, ensuring integrity, continuity and admissibility.
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Proven experience of leading and managing teams, including task allocation, performance oversight and team development.
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Proven experience in identifying, assessing and effectively managing risks, with the ability to implement appropriate mitigation strategies.
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Demonstrable commitment to fostering a positive and inclusive team culture, with the ability to drive continuous improvement and measure success through team performance, engagement, and outcomes.
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Assessment Outcome
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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.
Reserve lists can be used to fill similar role types across the Agency where the assessment criteria is considered a match by the recruitment team and the business area.
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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
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Feedback is provided only to those who attend an assessment.
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You will be subject to vetting and pre-employment checks before appointment.
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Once the vacancy closes, the advert will no longer be accessible. Please save a copy for your records.
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We encourage all candidates to visit the NCA Careers Page for more information.
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Eligibility, Pre-Employment Check and Vetting
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Please see the NCA T&Cs and Privacy Policy (pdf) for details on how your data is handled.
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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.
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Nationality Requirements
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This role is broadly open to the following groups:
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- UK nationals or dual nationals, where one component is British
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- Nationals of the Republic of Ireland
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- Nationals of Commonwealth countries who have the right to work in the UK
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- 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)
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- 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)
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- Individuals with limited leave to remain or indefinite leave to remain who were eligible to apply for EUSS on or before 31 December 2020
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- Turkish nationals, and certain family members of Turkish nationals, who have accrued the right to work in the Civil Service
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Further information on nationality requirements
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You will be required to participate in digital right to work and address checks as part of the recruitment process.
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Security and Vetting
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People working with government assets must complete baseline personnel security standard checks.
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Successful candidates must meet the security requirements before they can be appointed. The level of security needed is SC Enhanced. All security clearances will be managed by the NCA.
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For more information on security vetting please visit: UK Security Vetting guidance for applicants and Demystifying Vetting and see our vetting charter at: The Vetting Charter.
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Vetting requirements - SC Enhanced
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Prior to commencing the role, you will need to successfully complete SC Enhanced clearance.
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The requirement for SC clearance is to have been present in the UK for at least 3 of the last 5 years.
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Failure to meet the residency requirements will result in your security clearance application being rejected.
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For further information on National Security Vetting checks please visit the following page Demystifying Vetting
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Individuals will be required to undertake and pass a substance misuse test as part of pre-employment checks.
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Occupational Health
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Successful candidates will be expected to undertake an occupational health assessment. Depending on the role an in-person medical may be required in either London or Warrington. Unfortunately, travel costs will not be reimbursed.
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Things you need to know
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Operational Roles
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The National Crime Agency is a law enforcement agency and as such we are part of the Criminal Justice System. Therefore if you are going into an operational role we need to be aware if any of our officers have, either before they join us or afterwards, any of the following:
Any criminal conviction (including Court Martial), or caution or fixed penalty notice for disorder or theft;
Any adverse judicial findings;
Any charges or summonses where the proceedings are not complete;
Any misconduct or gross misconduct findings or where proceedings are not complete.
You will be asked to complete a declaration covering the above if offered a role with the NCA.
Each case will be considered on its merits and a positive declaration does not automatically mean that your application will not be progressed. However, should you fail to disclose a relevant matter then your application or employment will be adversely affected. If in doubt, please declare it at this stage.
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Multi Location
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Where multiple locations are advertised, appointments will be made in merit order for each location.
Please indicate up to three location preferences clearly. Only your first three preferences will be considered. You may be allocated to any of the locations you select. If you decline an offer for a location you have selected as a preference, a further offer may not be made.
If you choose to reject an offer and no alternative preferred location can be offered, you will not be able to return to the process or be placed on a reserve list.
Only the advertised locations are available; any additional notes added to the application will not be taken into account.
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Near Miss
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If you meet the criteria for a lower grade, you may be offered that role if not appointable at the advertised grade.
Conversely, if found appointable at a higher grade but no posts are available, you may be offered a lower-grade role.
All offers are made based on merit.
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Hybrid Working
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The NCA supports hybrid working. The extent of remote working will depend on the role and can be discussed at the offer stage.
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Reasonable Adjustments
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We’re proud to be a Disability Confident Leader and an inclusive, equal opportunities employer.
We’re committed to creating a workplace where everyone can be their authentic self. If you’re neurodiverse, have a disability, or live with a long-term health condition, we encourage you to let us know about any reasonable adjustments you may need during the recruitment process.
If you experience accessibility issues with the advert or require reasonable adjustments, please contact our Recruitment Team at
[email protected] before the advert closing date.
Please ensure you complete the ‘Equal opportunities’ and 'Reasonable Adjustments' sections in the application form to inform us on what support you may need in the recruitment process.
For more on our Disability Confident commitment, visit Disability Confident Scheme | Civil Service Careers.
Visit NCA Benefits and Support for more details.
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Inclusion
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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
In order to monitor the effectiveness of the National Crime Agency's Diversity & Inclusion strategy, we require certain personal details about you on submission of your application for statistical and monitoring purposes only. Please note that this will be treated in confidence and will not impact your application.
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This vacancy is part of the Great Place to Work for Veterans initiative.
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Working for the Civil Service
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The Civil Service Code sets out the standards of behaviour expected of civil servants.
We recruit on merit through fair and open competition, in line with the Civil Service Commission's Recruitment Principles.
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.
If you believe your application has not been treated fairly, email:
[email protected] (quoting the vacancy reference).
If unresolved, you may escalate your complaint to the Civil Service Commission.
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Working for the NCA
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The National Crime Agency 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.
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If preferable, alternative contract types may be available. Please review the green bar of this advert to view all available contract types for this role. Where Loan or Secondment options are available, these would be for existing Civil Servants (Loan) and applicants from accredited Non-Departmental Public Bodies (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.
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If you have any specific queries about the role that are not covered by the advert, please contact:
Name : Central Recruitment Team
Email : [email protected]
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