Authorising Officer

Job summary

Who we are

The Investigatory Powers Act 2016 established the office of the Investigatory Powers Commissioner (IPC) and provides for the appointment of Judicial Commissioners (JCs) to approve and oversee the use of investigatory powers by public authorities. The current IPC is Sir Brian Leveson.

The IPC and JCs have the important function of balancing the public interest and the rights of the individual independently of Government, specifically protecting the public by reviewing whether public authorities’ interference with those rights is justifiable.

IPCO are committed to creating an increasingly diverse and inclusive workplace. Our people are our greatest asset and so we aim to foster a safe environment where diversity of thought is welcomed, work-life balance is valued and opportunity for growth is encouraged.

Communications data authorisations

The IPC is responsible for the work of communications data authorisations. The Authorisations Team considers applications for the acquisition of communications data (CD) from law enforcement and public authorities. The team is located across two offices in Birmingham and Manchester.

Communications data is the information generated which relates mostly to telephone communication or internet activity. The data describes the communication but not the content of this.

Communications data is now used in 95% of serious and organised criminal prosecutions and has been used in every major counter terrorism investigation over the past decade. As such, the acquisition of CD must be independently authorised and that is the function of IPCO as an independent body.

Job description

The role of an Authorising Officer

Authorising Officers are responsible for assessing public authorities’ requests to acquire communications data in compliance with the Investigatory Powers Act 2016 and other relevant legislation.

Your role will be to independently assess the necessity and proportionality of applications received from public authorities. Applications are received from across the UK, and you will have the responsibility for the final decision as to authorise, decline or return applications.

The applications IPCO receive contain large amounts of information and need to be fully considered. Each application should be considered on its own merit, and you will make timely and objective decisions based on the facts available.

The role of Authorising Officer is vital as communications data can either support or disprove an alibi and can identify links that may exist between suspects and a crime scene. Sometimes CD is the only way to identify these offenders, particularly where offences are committed online, such as child sexual exploitation or fraud.

Our operation is a fast-paced environment, with high volume workloads.

Due to the nature of this work, high levels of discretion will be expected from the successful candidates.

Person specification

Responsibilities

IPCO welcomes applicants from all backgrounds. To work in this role, successful applicants will be expected to:

• Assimilate complex information quickly and use it to make effective decisions independently within the strict constraints of legislation.
• Understand the impact of their decisions, take responsibility, and have the confidence to justify them.
• Have effective written and oral communication skills and be comfortable engaging with a variety of stakeholders at different levels.
• Respond positively to changes in working systems, processes and teams and follow the productivity targets, showing commitment to continuous improvement in an environment where performance matters.
• Ability to work responsibly in dealing with confidential/sensitive information, being mindful of data security.
• Maintain ethical principles and adhere to IPCO core values, applying them to every aspect of your work.

Shift and hybrid working

This role is scheduled as a shift working role. IPCO Authorisations operates business hours of 0700 – 2200 and therefore the shift pattern includes early starts, evening and weekend working, as well as working on public holidays.

All staff working shifts receive an Annualised Hours Working (AHW) allowance. This is an additional allowance received alongside your basic salary, based on your attendance patterns for the year that compensates for working shifts. You will receive an annualised hours agreement, which is a written agreement between you and your manager, detailing the period the agreement runs for, your attendance requirements and your AHW percentages. This figure is currently circa 18%. This percentage calculation is assessed in line with the operational demands of the business and is subject to change and review. It is not guaranteed and may cease at any time.

Whilst part-time work is available, it must fit within IPCO business hours, 0700 – 2200 and include weekend and public holiday working hours.

It is your responsibility to ensure that shift working is suitable for you before accepting the offer.

IPCO are currently adhering to the Home Office hybrid working model, which enables staff to split their time working in the office and at home. Currently this is 60% of working hours spent in the office.

Please note that office attendance is mandatory as critical aspects of the role must be carried out on systems that cannot be accessed from home.

It is your responsibility to ensure that office attendance is suitable for you before accepting the offer.

Training

You will be given the necessary training to fulfil the role of Authorising Officer. You will receive a comprehensive package of classroom-based, interactive and mentor-based learning, over a period of 6 weeks to develop an understanding of the relevant legislation and how to consider an application.

During this time, you will be fully supported by IPCO’s trainers and mentors. At the end of training, you will complete an assessment which must be passed before you can undertake the duties of the role.

The training course is run on a full-time basis on weekdays. During the initial 6-week training period, you will receive 0% AHW allowance to reflect the Monday to Friday working pattern.

Security Clearance

DV clearance is an essential requirement for this role. Successful candidates will be permitted to start with SC clearance whilst they undergo the NCA Enhanced and DV clearance processes. During the period where you hold SC clearance, you will only perform elements of the role which fall under SC clearance. If your DV clearance application is unsuccessful, you may enter Restructuring, Redeploymentor Redundancy.

Further information relating to security vetting can be found at United Kingdom Security Vetting: Applicant - GOV.UK (www.gov.uk).

Behaviours

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

• Making Effective Decisions
• Delivering at Pace
• Managing a Quality Service

We only ask for evidence of these behaviours on your application form:

• Making Effective Decisions

Benefits

Alongside your salary of £30,900, Home Office contributes £8,951 towards you being a member of the Civil Service Defined Benefit Pension scheme. Find out what benefits a Civil Service Pension provides.

• Learning and development tailored to your role
• An environment with flexible working options
• A culture encouraging inclusion and diversity
• A Civil Service pension with an employer contribution of 28.97%

Things you need to know

Artificial intelligence

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 (opens in a new window) for more information on appropriate and inappropriate use.

Selection process details

This vacancy is using Success Profiles (opens in a new window), and will assess your Behaviours and Experience.

Application

As part of the application, you will be asked to complete a CV, statement of suitability (Max word limit 750) and a behavioural example.

Further details around what this will entail are listed on the application form.

Your statement of suitability should be aligned to the responsibilities of the role as set out in the job advertisement.

The CV may be marked as part of an initial sift, if a large number of applications are received.

Candidates who pass the initial sift may be progressed to a full sift, or progressed straight to assessment/interview

Interview

Behaviours assessed as part of the interview will be Making Effective Decisions, Delivering at Pace and Managing a Quality Service.

Candidates will be expected to complete a short assessment as part of the interview process. No preparation is required, and full instructions will be given as part of the interview.

Sift and Interview dates

Sifting will take place from 2nd February 2026.

Interviews will take place from 2nd March 2026.

These timelines are subject to change, based on business need.

Interviews will be conducted in person in either Birmingham or Manchester. Further details will be given to those invited to interview.

Artificial intelligence

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.

Further information

A reserve list may be held for a period up to 12 months from which further appointment may be made.

If you are successful in this position and choose to accept the provisional offer for this role, you will be removed from all other Home Office reserve lists at the same grade

Applicants who are successful at interview will be, as part of pre-employment screening, subject to a check on the Internal Fraud Database (IFD). This check will provide information about employees who have been dismissed for fraud or dishonesty offences. This check also applies to employees who resign or otherwise leave before being dismissed for fraud or dishonesty had their employment continued. Any applicant's details held on the IFD will be refused employment.

A candidate is not eligible to apply for a role within the Civil Service if the application is made within a 5-year period following a dismissal for carrying out internal fraud against government.

If you are invited to an interview you will be required to bring a range of documentation for the purposes of establishing identity and to aid any pre-employment checks.

Please see the attached list of acceptable ID documents.

You will need to meet the nationality requirements for this role and obtain the necessary security clearance to take it up. For meaningful security checks to be carried out, individuals need to have lived in the UK for a sufficient period of time. Learn more on our website. Security Checks - Home Office Careers

For further information on National Security Vetting please visit the Demystifying Vetting website.

New entrants are expected to join on the minimum of the pay band.

Transfer Terms: Voluntary

Any move to the Home Office from another employer will mean you can no longer access childcare vouchers. This includes moves between government departments. You may however be eligible for other government schemes, including Tax Free Childcare; for further information visit the Childcare Choices website.

In order to process applications without delay, we will be sending a Criminal Record Check to Disclosure and Barring Service on your behalf.

However, we recognise in exceptional circumstances some candidates will want to send their completed forms direct. If you will be doing this, please advise Government Recruitment Service of your intention by emailing Pre-EmploymentChecks.grs@cabinetoffice.gov.uk stating the job reference number in the subject heading.

Reasonable Adjustments

If a person with disabilities is at a substantial disadvantage compared to a non-disabled person, 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 HOrecruitment.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

If you are experiencing accessibility problems with any attachments on this advert, please contact the email address in the ‘Contact point for applicants’ section.

Feedback

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

Security

Successful candidates must undergo a criminal record check.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

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.

Diversity and Inclusion

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

Apply and further information

This vacancy is part of the Great Place to Work for Veterans (opens in a new window) 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 : IPCO Recruitment
• Email : recruitment@ipco.org.uk

Recruitment team

• Email : HOrecruitment.grs@cabinetoffice.gov.uk

Further information

If you feel that your application has not been treated in accordance with the Civil Service recruitment principles and you wish to make a complaint, then contact the Government Recruitment Service via HOrecruitment.grs@cabinetoffice.gov.uk. If you are not satisfied with the response that you receive, then you can contact the Civil Service Commission.

Attachments

2025-11-17 Pre-employment Checking - Document Requirements (V17) Opens in new window (pdf, 231kB)Home Office Candidate_Information_v15_DECEMBER_2025 Opens in new window (pdf, 429kB)