Digital Forensics Officer

Job summary

Do you have an interest in dealing with Digital Forensics? Are you interested in helping vulnerable people by tackling criminal activity? Are you motivated to deliver the right outcomes in challenging situations? The Department for Work and Pensions (DWP) could be the place for you.

This is a hugely important public service, and our challenge is bigger than ever. DWP's Economic, Serious and Organised Crime (ESOC) team is the arm of DWP's Counter Fraud, Compliance and Debt (CFCD) Directorate that deals with complex and sophisticated attacks on DWP benefits and grants payments - usually by Organised Crime Groups.

DWP are looking for people to join our Digital Forensics Team, to support investigations teams tackling fraud against the Department on a team committed to tackling fraud, encountered through our ESOC team. You will be at the forefront of tackling serious and organised crimes against DWP, which often has links into wider criminality of modern slavery, human trafficking, and identity fraud.

You will work to support Senior Leaders and Investigators delivering across multi law enforcement agencies on high profile and serious fraud operations.

Additionally, as work streams change and DWP reacts to the changing behaviours in criminal activity, digital forensic officers must keep pace with modern methods in the digital world.

Job description

• The role of the Digital Forensics Officer (DFO) is to support investigations through the examination of digital devices and the development of the Digital Forensics Strategy.
• DFOs act as subject matter experts, giving guidance to investigative staff, to create Digital Forensic Strategies, including extracting evidential data and its correct use, in line with relevant guidance and legislation, e.g. the Forensic Science Regulator (FSR) Code of Practice.
• DFOs are required to undertake complex examination, processing, analysis and interpretation of digital evidence and take the lead on a range of digital forensic matters.
• DFOs will provide technical support to the Investigation Teams, including reviewing data from devices and assisting them in obtaining an informed overview of the techniques available to gather required information.
• They will advise of the appropriate digital forensic tools and methodology to sift and examine material relevant to the case, ensuring this is reasonable and proportional.
• They will manage the progress of digital forensics work in liaison with Investigators.
• The DFO will arrange production and exhibiting reports within agreed timescales, always ensuring evidential continuity.
• DFOs will correctly examine, retain, record, review and reveal data from digital forensics in accordance with relevant frameworks and policies, for example: CPIA, FSR Statutory Code of Practice, Attorney Generals Guidelines on Disclosure, and other appropriate legislation or guidance.
• DFOs will lead, support, and guide Digital Forensic Technicians (DFTs) with complex technological / digital forensic issues by coaching, mentoring and sharing knowledge to help build capability and work in collaboration to resolve issues.
• The role will require practitioners to demonstrate professional competency, as per the Forensic Science Regulator (FSR) Code of Practice, attain and maintain certifications/accreditations, pass relevant technical courses and maintain knowledge of forensic science activities.
• Practitioners will liaise with relevant stakeholders on digital forensic related matters to provide creative, compliant solutions to technical and evidential issues.
• There will be a requirement for frequent national travel, for example to assist other DFOs or investigation teams, attend briefings, and attend the scene to assist investigators as part of teams overseeing search and seizure of digital devices.

Please note:

• Competency testing is a key requirement of accreditation, and practitioners will need to demonstrate this on an ongoing basis, and as part of any witness statements produced to support criminal investigations. Assessment of competency is required before candidates can undertake forensic science activities.
• Candidates will need to pass relevant technical courses, undergo initial and ongoing training and be regularly assessed, to be deemed competent to operate in line with the FSR Code of Practice. This will include undertaking tasks under observation to demonstrate level of competency.
• All candidates must attain a Level 4 Digital Forensics apprenticeship within the prescribed timescales (normally 2 years). In addition to the apprenticeship, candidates will require to achieve a pass mark in formal certification to be able to use digital tools.
• Support will be provided to all candidates to enable them to achieve the required standard.
• Where the required standard is not achieved, it will not be possible to fulfil the role and candidates will be redeployed, following DWP Workforce Management Policy and Procedures.
• Maintenance of professional competence will be required for themselves and any colleagues they line manage within the Digital Forensics (DF) unit, as required by the FSR Code of Practice.

Person specification

As a Digital Forensic officer, you will:

• Be IT literate with a keen interest in information and digital technology, including handheld and desktop devices as well as digital apps.
• Keep abreast of changes in technology, (case) law, personal development through training, collaborating with other forensic professionals, for example specialist service providers and training establishments, and other professional bodies.
• Have the ability to digest and understand, disseminate and make recommendations and decisions about scientific and/or technical publications, and collaborate with others by coaching and influencing them, e.g. to set and achieve overall digital forensic strategy aims.
• Be able to provide impartial advice to Investigators at all stages and identify considerations for the Digital Forensic Strategy, e.g. safe handling of devices, analysis of digitally stored material, Pre-Charge Engagement and specific Disclosure requirements relating to digitally stored material.
• Have good presentation and communication ability with excellent written/drafting skills and can effectively present complex information to a high standard in a variety of ways, verbally and electronically, to suit the audience.
• Have effective stakeholder management, developing and maintaining positive and professional working relationships with diverse groups of people and organisations, prioritising the needs of the business while negotiating best outcomes for all stakeholders.
• Be able to co-ordinate and undertake the examination of digital devices, as per the Digital Forensic Strategy, to support criminal investigations.

Key Criteria

Candidates will be able to demonstrate the following Key Criteria:

• Experience of working collaboratively with internal and external partners, demonstrating your ability to build relationships to agree common objectives, and sharing resources and information (Lead Criteria).
• Have experience of the Criminal Justice System and the ability to relate digital material to investigations.
• Experience of leading an investigation, audit or examination, demonstrating your decision-making process and how you’ve involved others to consider the wider impact.

Essential Security Criteria

Please note that the role that you are applying requires National Security Vetting (NSV) to the level – Security Check (SC). You can find more information at United Kingdom Security Vetting: Applicant - GOV.UK (www.gov.uk) . If you are successful in your application, you will need to attain SC clearance before you can take up post. This is mandatory and is in addition to completion of Baseline Personnel Security Standard (BPSS).

The purpose of the NSV process is to provide a level of assurance about an individual’s trustworthiness, integrity and reliability, and other factors that increase their vulnerability to corruption or risk of committing a security breach. It involves the investigation of an individual’s background and circumstances to achieve this aim.

For meaningful checks to be carried out, you will need to have lived in the UK for a sufficient period of time to enable appropriate checks to be carried out and produce a result which provides the required level of assurance. Applicants are required to meet the UK residency requirements so that National Security Vetting (NSV) checks can be conducted. Depending on the level of NSV required, you must have resided continuously in the UK for at least 3 of the last 5 years, 2 of which must have been the immediately preceding years from the point of applying for this job.

The application process will ask for personal details about you, your address history, previous relationships, your parents, your employment history, your financial circumstances, and details of any pending, spent or unspent convictions. This list is not exhaustive. Please view the Vetting explained - GOV.UK (www.gov.uk) for more information.

If you require any further information, please contact the vacancy holder – the details are on the jobs portal through which you made your application.

If you are successful in your application, we recommend that you familiarise yourself with the NSV process and advise that you collate as much information as you can prior to starting your Vetting application.

If you go on to attain Security Clearance, then you should be aware of the following:

Behaviours expected of you to maintain clearance

Keeping your clearance is dependent upon maintaining good security behaviours. You must:

• Not take any illegal drugs.
• Always act with honesty and integrity and, if you are a Civil Servant, adhere to the Civil Service Code.
• Always act in a way that will not put you at risk of being unduly influenced, exploited or blackmailed by people such as criminals and journalists.

Candidate Integrity Declaration

In addition to the above candidates who are successful will be asked about the following before we offer them a position. Candidates must declare to the best of their knowledge:

• Any disciplinary finding of guilt / failure to meet the appropriate standard of conduct relating to their employment they have ever had.
• Any charge of a disciplinary offence / notification of a failure to meet the appropriate standards they have ever had where the case has not yet been concluded.
• Any past convictions, criminal findings, or police cautions, regardless of whether they are ‘spent’, they have ever had.

The disclosure of this information will not automatically disbar the candidate from this role, but we need to be aware of any event or issue which could impinge on the candidate’s credibility if questioned in court.

What checks are Involved?

• Successful completion of the Baseline Personnel Security Standard.
• Completion, by the individual, of a security questionnaire.
• A departmental/company records check which will include, for example personal files, staff reports, sick leave returns and security records.
• A check of both spent and unspent criminal records.
• A check of credit and financial history with a credit reference agency.
• A check of Security Service (MI5) records.
• Exceptionally, if there are any unresolved security concerns about the individual, or if recommended by the Security Service, the individual may also be interviewed.
• In the event of any unresolved financial concerns, the individual may also be required to complete a separate financial questionnaire so that a full review of personal finances can be carried out.
• Checks may extend to third parties included on the security questionnaire.

Learning Requirements:

• All candidates must attain or already hold a Level 4 Digital Forensics Apprenticeship within the prescribed timescales (normally 2 years). In addition to the apprenticeship and if not already held, candidates must achieve a pass mark in formal certifications to be able to use digital tools.
• In the absence of certifications, candidates must be able to demonstrate sufficient recent experience to be deemed a competent Digital Forensics Examiner.
• Candidates will need to pass relevant technical courses, undergo initial competency testing, ongoing training and be regularly assessed, to be deemed competent to operate in line with the Forensic Science Regulator (FSR) Code of Practice. This will include undertaking tasks under observation to demonstrate the level of competency.
• Please note that any required training is full time.
• Candidates posted to this role must achieve accreditation to fulfil their duties.

Please Note - successful appointments to this role will be subject to completion of the above learning. Failure to comply or failure to achieve the required level to pass the courses may be dealt with under disciplinary or poor performance procedures and may lead to termination of the employment contract or exceptionally, redeployment into another DWP role.

Travel requirements

You will be required to attend:

• Face to face Level 4 Digital Forensics Apprenticeship
• Briefings and operational planning with internal and external stakeholders such as Investigators, Police, Lawyers, Barristers.
• Meetings with other Digital Forensic operatives, for example to conduct forensic examinations or peer reviews
• Attendance at court for criminal proceedings

Successful candidates will need to be able to travel, retrieve evidence and be available at short notice. Due to the nature of the role this could be at any location nationally and during unsociable hours (both night/day and weekends). A departmental vehicle OR hire car may be made available if you hold a full UK driving license.

Behaviours

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

• Leadership
• Making Effective Decisions
• Delivering at Pace

Benefits

Alongside your salary of £38,772, Department for Work and Pensions contributes £11,232 towards you being a member of the Civil Service Defined Benefit Pension scheme. Find out what benefits a Civil Service Pension provides.

DWP have a broad benefits package built around your work-life balance which includes:

• Working patterns to support work/life balance such as job sharing, term-time working, flexi-time and compressed hours.
• Generous annual leave – at least 23 days on entry, increasing up to 30 days over time (pro–rata for part time employees), plus 9 days public and privilege leave.
• Support for financial wellbeing, including interest-free season ticket loans for travel, a cycle to work scheme and an employee discount scheme.
• Health and wellbeing support including our Employee Assistance Programme for specialist advice and counselling and the opportunity to join HASSRA a first-class programme of competitions, activities and benefits for its members (subscription payable monthly).
• Family friendly policies including enhanced maternity and shared parental leave pay after 1 year’s continuous service.
• Funded learning and development to support progress in your role and career. This includes industry recognised qualifications and accreditations, coaching, mentoring and talent development programmes.
• An inclusive and diverse environment with opportunities to join professional and interpersonal networks including Women’s Network, National Race Network, National Disability Network (THRIVE) and many more.

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, Strengths and Experience.

**Please note the closing date for your full application is 23:55 on 16th June 2026**

Stage 1 – Application Form

Please complete the application form with your basic information, which includes your personal details, eligibility to apply and any reasonable adjustments required.

Stage 2 - Curriculum Vitae (CV)

You will be asked to complete a CV with details of your job history, full qualification details, previous skills and experience. You are not required to upload your personal CV.

In the previous skills/experience section you should detail your employment and/or education history relevant to this vacancy (we recommend a maximum of 500 words).

The CV will also cover your work history (we recommend you include up to the last 3 roles of employment history, plus any others that you feel are relevant) and your qualifications.

Your CV will not be formally assessed so please put the main evidence of your skills into your personal statement. Your CV will be used to add context to your personal statement.

Stage 3 – Personal Statement and Sift

As part of the application process, you will be asked to complete a personal statement in no more than 1250 words detailing the relevant skills and experience you can bring to the role, based on the key criteria listed.

Please read and understand the key criteria thoroughly, as this is what your written evidence will be assessed against. Pay particular attention to the lead criteria and second lead criteria as if you do not demonstrate these on your application, you will not progress to the interview stage.

Your layout is entirely your preference; you may choose narrative, bullets, etc. You may choose to address each criterion separately; however, one narrative example may cover and evidence several key criterions. You may not be able to meet all the key criteria, but please ensure you evidence the key personal requirements, what have you done that’s relatable to the requirements. You don’t have to explain the whole process, just what you have done and the skills and experience you have used. Further details around what this will entail are listed on the application form.

Should a large number of applications be received, an initial sift may be conducted using the lead criteria. If so, we will sift on:

• Experience of working collaboratively with internal and external partners, demonstrating your ability to build relationships to agree common objectives, and sharing resources and information (Lead Criteria).

Candidates who pass the initial sift may be progressed to a full sift or progressed straight to an interview.

In the event we don’t receive a high number of applications we may not undertake a sift and progress all candidates to interview. For these reasons, the timeline is subject to change depending on the approach we take.

Disability Confident Scheme

If high application volumes are received, the benchmark for candidates to proceed to the next stage may be raised. In line with our commitment to the Disability Confident Scheme (DCS), we aim to advance all candidates applying under the DCS who meet the minimum standard. However, we may only progress those candidates who best meet the required standards.

**Please note the closing date for your full application is 23:55 on 16/06/2026**

The sift is scheduled to be held from 17/06/2026 to 24/07/2026. These dates may be subject to change. No feedback will be provided at this stage.

Stage 4 - Interview

If you pass the written application sift with the required score you will be invited to a blended interview and will receive an electronic notification to your Civil Service Jobs account. The interviews will be conducted face to face. Where possible the interviews will take place at the locations listed in the Candidate Pack (slide 2), however candidates may be expected to travel to an alternative location as required.

If you require any reasonable adjustments to attend a face-to-face interview, please ensure you state those on your application form when asked to do so.

Interviews are scheduled to take place from 10/08/2026, please note that this date is only indicative at this stage and could be subject to change. Interviews will be scheduled Monday to Friday, between 09:00 to 17:00.

Communications will be electronic and/or by SMS/telephone therefore it is important that you check your Civil Service Jobs account regularly, as well as your spam/junk email folder. Telephone calls may show as a withheld number, it is important that you answer so that your interview can be confirmed. If you wish to opt out of SMS messages, please email this address, including the vacancy reference and your candidate ID CFCD.RECRUITMENTINBOX@DWP.GOV.UK. As part of our commitment to improving the candidate experience, you may be contacted during the recruitment process to provide feedback.

Preparing for the Interview

The interview will take approximately 40 to 45 minutes and will consist of behaviour and strength-based questions. A blended interview aims to be more of a conversation offering a more inclusive approach. The behaviour and strength-based questioning explores what you, the candidate, can and have done, but also your potential.

Behaviours

You will be assessed against the Civil Service Behaviours listed at Higher Executive Officer – Level 3.

An example of a behavioural question would be “How did you lead by example to inspire and motivate your teams?”.

It may help to use one or more examples of a piece of work you have completed or a situation you have been in and use the WHO or STAR model to explain:

• WHO - What it was? How you approached the work/situation? What the Outcomes were, what did you achieve? or
• STAR - What was the ituation? What were the Tasks? What Action did you take? What were the Results of your actions?

Strengths

It is difficult to prepare for strength type questions. However, you can think through your answers, focus on your achievements and aspects you enjoy and decide how these can be applied in the organisation and role. While strengths questions are shorter and we do not expect a full STAR response, the panel is interested in your first reaction to the question and information or reasoning to support this.

If you withdraw your application at any stage, it will not be progressed further.

Stage 5 – Offer

Once all interviews have been completed, you will be notified of the outcome by email. Offers will be made in strict merit order to the highest scoring candidate first based on your location preferences and the geographical requirements of the business. Dependent on your position on the merit list, if none of your location preferences remain at the point we make a job offer, we may offer you a role at an alternative advertised location. If we are unable to offer you a role in any of your preferred locations, and you are unable to accept a role at an alternative advertised location, we will add you to the reserve list if one is being held.

The successful candidates will be notified of a start date following successful pre-employment and security checks, which is likely to be during December 2026.

Reserve List

A reserve list may be held for a period of 12 months from which further appointments can be made.

If you are placed on a reserve list but we cannot immediately offer you a post, please note:

• If you are later offered the role you applied for, in a location you have expressed a preference for, and you decline the offer or are unable to take up post within a reasonable timeframe you will be withdrawn from the campaign and removed from the reserve list, other than in exceptional circumstances (e.g. a contractual part time working pattern cannot be accommodated in the initial role offered or in the case of serious ill health).
• If we make an offer of an alternative role or location to that which you originally applied for, and you decline that offer, you will be able to remain on the reserve list.

Visa Sponsorship

For these vacancies, we strongly recommend that applicants consult with an immigration specialist or qualified advisor to assess their eligibility for Visa Sponsorship before deciding to apply. Please note that while we consider sponsorship requests in accordance with current DWP guidance and Home Office policy, sponsorship cannot be guaranteed.

Candidate pack

It is important that you take time to read the candidate pack which can be found at the bottom of this job advert. This provides further information about the role and working in DWP.

Location

Please see slide 2 in the candidate pack for list of possible locations.

You should only state a preference for locations where you can travel to and from your home to the office within a reasonable time. Please be aware that this role can only be worked in the UK and not overseas. Relocation costs will not be reimbursed. Make sure the location works for you before applying!

Hybrid working​

This role is not suitable for hybrid working, which is where an employee works part of the week in their DWP office and part of the week from home. This is due to the technical nature of the role which requires the work to be done in a Digital Lab.

Working pattern​

Part-time, part-year, term-time compressed hours and job-sharing working patterns within working hours will be considered but must meet business needs. We will do our best to let people with existing part time contracts retain their contracted hours provided they are in line with current business needs. Please note that successful candidates with agreed alternative working patterns will be required to work full time for specific periods to complete all training and consolidation.

Hours of work ​

The full-time working week in DWP is 37 hours. You may be required to work at any time between the hours of: ​

• 7:45am and 8:00pm on any day between Monday to Friday, and​
• 8:45am to 5:00pm on Saturday.​

Managers will agree working patterns with successful applicants within these business hours and review these as appropriate. You will be given advance notice of your personal schedule.

Learning and Development

DWP takes development seriously. Our aim is for our colleagues in these roles to be appropriately skilled and qualified – as determined by the business. To support this aim you may be required to undertake a work-based qualification, which may be in the form of an apprenticeship, which will support you in further developing your professional knowledge and skills for this role and your future career development. The qualification can be undertaken in work time, you agree to take this job on the basis that you may be required to undertake a work-based qualification; a candidate’s failure to participate fully in the professional programme, once appointed, may be a breach of their employment contract. Important: If you hold a level 3 qualification (2 A levels or equivalent) then please bring your certificates with you to the interview if you have them.

Further Information​

At the Department for Work and Pensions (DWP) we value diversity and inclusion and actively encourage and welcome applications from everyone, including those that are underrepresented in our workforce.

Find out more about working for DWP on the DWP Careers Hub.

Reasonable Adjustments

We consider visible and non-visible disabilities, neurodiversity or learning differences, chronic medical conditions, or mental ill health. Examples include dyslexia, epilepsy, autism, chronic fatigue, or schizophrenia.

If you need a change to be made so that you can make your application, you should contact the Government Recruitment Service via DWPRecruitment.grs@cabinetoffice.gov.uk as soon as possible before the closing date to discuss your needs.

Complete the “Reasonable Adjustments” 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.

Integrity, Plagiarism and Civil Service Principles

The Civil Service values honesty and integrity and expects all candidates to abide by these principles. Please ensure that all examples provided in your application are taken directly from your own experience and that you describe the examples in your own words.

Examples