Deputy Head, Threat Lead - National Economic Crime Centre

Job summary

The National Economic Crime Centre (NECC), hosted within the National Crime Agency (NCA), is a unique, multi-agency environment bringing together specialists from across law enforcement, government, and the private sector. As a dynamic and diverse centre, we are committed to developing our people, fostering innovation, and building the capabilities needed to tackle complex economic crime threats.

Our work is high-profile and mission-critical. From disrupting organised fraud to targeting corrupt elites, we focus on protecting the public—particularly the most vulnerable—and safeguarding the integrity of the UK’s financial system. Economic crime affects more UK citizens than any other crime type and poses a significant threat to national security, economic stability, and global reputation. As a leading international financial centre, the UK’s openness and prosperity continue to be exploited by those seeking to generate, move, and conceal illicit funds—from low-level criminal activity to sophisticated global corruption.

As aDeputy Head, Threat Lead, you will play a key leadership role in shaping and delivering our response to economic crime threats. This is a highly visible position requiring strategic thinking, operational insight, and the ability to lead across organisational boundaries.

We are seeking motivated, proactive, and adaptable leaders who are able to build and sustain strong partnerships across agencies, sectors, and disciplines. The ideal candidate will provide clear strategic direction within a fast-paced and evolving threat landscape, demonstrating the ability to prioritise effectively and make sound decisions under pressure. They will also inspire and develop diverse teams, driving them to deliver impactful and meaningful outcomes.

Diversity of thought, background, and experience is fundamental to our success. We strongly encourage applications from individuals of all backgrounds who bring the skills, insight, and perspective needed to thrive in this role.

If you are driven by purpose and want to make a tangible impact in tackling economic crime at a national level, we encourage you to apply.

Job description

As a Deputy Head, Threat Lead within the NECC, you will play a pivotal role in driving a dynamic, coordinated response to economic crime, helping to protect the public and the communities we serve. This is an exciting opportunity for a high-performing individual to join a thriving and diverse team at the forefront of tackling complex threats. We are seeking a strategic leader with the ability to drive a broad and ambitious portfolio of priorities, while fostering a cohesive, high-performing team. The successful candidate will balance strategic oversight with strong people leadership, ensuring delivery as part of a unified and collaborative whole.

A number of Deputy Head, Threat Lead roles are available across the NECC’s teams. An overview of these teams, along with the respective Deputy Head, Threat Lead positions they support, is provided below:

Fraud Threat Team

• The Fraud Threat Team sits at the heart of delivering the UK’s 2026–2029 Fraud Strategy. The team provides expert insight into the fraud threat and the UK’s response, drawing on the strategic intelligence picture, the evolving political landscape, and insight from ongoing 4P (Pursue, Prevent, Protect, Prepare) activity. This enables the team to shape operational priorities and drive a more effective, coordinated response across the UK and internationally.
• The Deputy Head role within the Fraud Threat Team forms part of the G2-grade management team, leading a key portfolio within the NECC’s Fraud Threat function. Portfolios include International Jurisdictions of Risk, High Harm Frauds (including investment fraud and payment diversion fraud) and Fraud Enablers. You will take ownership of a defined portfolio, working collaboratively to set strategic direction and deliver against priority workstreams, ensuring a coherent and impactful response to the evolving fraud threat.

Operational Response and Coordination Allocation (ORCA) Team

• ORCA is the operational coordination arm of the NECC, leading the UK law enforcement response to economic crime threats. The team is responsible for delivering national projects and intensifications, driving the whole-system Pursue response to fraud and illicit finance in line with NCA Threat Lead priorities. It works across the economic crime system to maximise the use of capabilities and capacity, ensuring high-priority opportunities to reduce harm and protect the public are fully realised. This is achieved through strong partnerships with policing and key operational stakeholders. ORCA also manages the NECC referrals process, ensuring cases are allocated to the most appropriate agencies and coordinated through an effective multi-agency approach.
• The Deputy Head role within ORCA will lead a portfolio focused on delivering intensification and project activity, driving the Pursue elements of strategic action plans across the economic crime system. The role is responsible for maximising system-wide resources, ensuring cases are appropriately prioritised and allocated, and enabling effective collaboration through expert advice, knowledge sharing and access to specialist capabilities.

Public Private Partnerships (PPP) Team

• The PPP Team is a mature and well-established partnership bringing together UK law enforcement, government, and the private sector to combat economic crime. Leveraging NCA capabilities, the team drives innovation in intelligence and data sharing, enabling both strategic and tactical information exchange. Working as a multi-agency, multi-disciplinary function, the PPP Team plays a central role in supporting the NECC’s position as a world-leading, cross-system response to economic crime. It is responsible for developing and delivering the Joint Money Laundering Intelligence Taskforce (JMLIT+) operating model, strengthening intelligence sharing across sectors and advancing the NECC’s private sector engagement strategy.
• The Deputy Head role within PPP will help lead the NECC’s public-private partnership agenda, shaping strategic direction and personally driving engagement with a broad range of stakeholders. As a senior leader within the team, you will be responsible for delivering partnership activity, working closely with operational, policy, and programme teams to ensure the NECC meets its strategic objectives and fully realises the benefits of its collaborative approach.

Illicit Finance Threat Team

• The Illicit Finance Threat Team acts as the cross-system hub for overseeing, directing, and strengthening the UK’s response to money laundering, bribery, and corruption. The team’s purpose is to develop and maintain a comprehensive understanding of both the threat landscape and the effectiveness of the UK’s response. Drawing on data, intelligence, and operational insight, the team designs and delivers initiatives, partnerships, reporting, and specialist services across all 4P activities, with the ambition of ending the UK’s attractiveness as a destination for illicit finance.
• The Deputy Head role within the Illicit Finance Threat Team sits within the senior management team responsible for overseeing the UK’s response to illicit finance. You will lead on a defined threat area, shaping and delivering tailored NCA and system-wide strategies and projects aimed at disrupting criminal activity and strengthening the UK’s resilience to illicit finance.

Please note that all roles will require a minimum of SC (Enhanced) security clearance, while some roles require candidates to obtain DV (Enhanced) clearance within 12 months of commencing the role.

Duties and Responsibilities

Team Leadership - Provide strong, visible leadership to a multidisciplinary team, driving delivery across policy, strategy, business planning, performance, service delivery, and governance. Promote a culture of high performance, inclusion, and adherence to organisational values, whilst managing performance and conduct matters effectively.

Managing Organisational Change - Lead the delivery of projects, programmes, and departmental initiatives, ensuring performance is effectively monitored and reported against plans. Drive organisational change by planning, implementing, and communicating change initiatives clearly and effectively.

Service Delivery and Strategic Alignment - Ensure all activity is effectively prioritised and aligned with strategic objectives, delivering high-quality outcomes while maintaining compliance with statutory requirements and control frameworks.

Stakeholder Engagement and Partnerships - Build and sustain strong relationships with internal and external stakeholders, enabling effective collaboration across agencies and sectors to deliver coordinated and impactful outcomes.

Cross-Government Engagement - Represent the NECC and NCA at cross-government forums, influencing policy, aligning priorities, and strengthening the UK’s response to economic crime.

Performance and Strategic Impact - Drive improvements in performance frameworks to better measure effort, outcomes, and impact, ensuring delivery against NECC strategic priorities and commitments.

Risk Management and Governance - Oversee delivery against risk frameworks and compliance programmes, providing clear management information and updates to governance boards and stakeholders.

People Development and Coaching - Manage, coach, and develop staff to maximise performance, providing clear direction, feedback, and opportunities for professional growth.

Information Management - Ensure the secure handling, quality assurance, and effective dissemination of information in line with Agency policies and legal requirements.

Operational Leadership (ORCA Team only) - Lead national intensifications, coordinating activity across local, regional, and national partners to disrupt illicit finance threats and deliver tangible operational outcomes.

Person specification

Leading and Managing a Team - Demonstrated experience of leading teams and managing resources, while overseeing and supporting large, complex operational functions to maximise service delivery.

Strategic Thinking - Ability to align initiatives and activities with organisational priorities, anticipate future challenges, and develop innovative, forward-thinking strategies that drive organisational success.

Effective Decision-Making - Proven ability to make sound, timely decisions in complex and fast-paced environments, balancing risk, data, and stakeholder needs.

Overseeing Service Delivery - Strong capability to ensure activity is effectively prioritised, aligned to strategic objectives, and delivered efficiently in compliance with statutory and control requirements.

Relationship Management - Highly developed ability to build and maintain effective relationships with internal and external stakeholders to achieve shared objectives.

Managing Resources - Experience of planning and allocating resources effectively to meet demand, deliver value for money, and respond to changing business needs.

Systems Thinking - Ability to understand organisational interdependencies, recognising how actions in one area impact the wider system, and managing these interactions holistically.

Business Planning - Experience of developing, implementing, and delivering strategic and business plans to achieve organisational outcomes.

Monitoring Team Performance - Track record of driving high performance, promoting organisational values, and managing performance and conduct issues effectively.

Business Awareness - Strong understanding of the wider business environment, industry practices, and relevant organisational or sector-specific context.

Risk Management - Experience of delivering against risk frameworks and compliance programmes, with the ability to interpret and communicate risk effectively to stakeholders.

Corporate Governance - Good understanding of governance frameworks, including policy, legislation, and guidance, and how these apply in practice.

Information Management - Ability to oversee the secure handling, quality assurance, and effective dissemination of data in line with organisational policies.

Report Writing - Strong written communication skills, with experience producing clear, concise reports for a range of audiences, including senior leaders and cross-government stakeholders.

Audit Compliance - Experience of working with audit functions to support audit planning and delivery, ensuring compliance with organisational standards and requirements.

Behaviours

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

• Leadership
• Delivering at Pace

Technical skills

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

• Demonstrated experience of building and sustaining effective partnerships with a wide range of internal and external stakeholders to achieve shared objectives and deliver outcomes.
• Strong understanding of the economic crime and illicit finance landscape, including the threats, typologies, and the UK and international law enforcement response.
• Demonstrated experience of leading and managing diverse, high-performing teams, fostering engagement and inclusion to deliver strong operational outcomes.

Benefits

Alongside your salary of £73,767, National Crime Agency contributes £21,370 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

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, Experience and Technical skills.Your application will be assessed against the following:Technical - this will be assessed by 500 word examples on:

• Demonstrated experience of building and sustaining effective partnerships with a wide range of internal and external stakeholders to achieve shared objectives and deliver outcomes.

• Strong understanding of the economic crime and illicit finance landscape, including the threats, typologies, and the UK and international law enforcement response.

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 your CV are as follows: Please submit an up-to-date CV that clearly demonstrates how your skills, knowledge, and experience meet the requirements outlined in the person specification. Your CV must include your full employment history and any relevant qualifications or professional accreditations. Any gaps in employment over the past five years must be fully explained.

Experience Criteria - will be assessed by 250 word examples on:

• TEAM PREFERENCE

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.

- Demonstrated experience of building and sustaining effective partnerships with a wide range of internal and external stakeholders to achieve shared objectives and deliver outcomes. .

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

• Delivering at Pace

Technical

• Demonstrated experience of building and sustaining effective partnerships with a wide range of internal and external stakeholders to achieve shared objectives and deliver outcomes.

• Strong understanding of the economic crime and illicit finance landscape, including the threats, typologies, and the UK and international law enforcement response.

• Demonstrated experience of leading and managing diverse, high-performing teams, fostering engagement and inclusion to deliver strong operational outcomes.

Assessment OutcomeOutcomes 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.

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

1. Lead criteria (behaviours/technical/experience)
2. If still tied, desirable criteria will be assessed (if advertised)
3. 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 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.

Medical

Successful candidates will be expected to have a medical.

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.

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 : central.recruitment@nca.gov.uk
• Email : central.recruitment@nca.gov.uk
• Telephone : central.recruitment@nca.gov.uk

Recruitment team

• Email : central.recruitment@nca.gov.uk

Further information

If you believe your application has not been treated fairly, email: Central.Recruitment@nca.gov.uk (quoting the vacancy reference). If unresolved, you may escalate your complaint to the Civil Service Commission.

Attachments

Offer T&Cs Opens in new window (docx, 135kB)