Director Legal

Job summary

This is a high-profile role at the heart of the NCA’s Senior Leadership Team, operating at board level and actively contributing to wider policy developments across Whitehall.

The Director Legal provides independent, accurate, timely and high-quality legal advice to the Director General NCA and the Board on the business of the Agency.

The job holder is expected to be an active member of the Agency Command team, proactively spotting risks and leading cross Agency work on strategic issues.

Job description

Key responsibilities:

• Advising the Director General and the Board on all legal matters relating to the Agency’s business, including governance and exercise of its powers, litigation, contract and employment law, and the management of strategic legal risks relevant to the NCA’s work;
• Leading and managing the NCA’s internal team comprising circa 70 - 80 generalist and specialist lawyers, paralegals and a business support function and managing a budget of circa £11m.

• Lead a multidisciplinary legal function, setting strategic direction and ensuring legal advice supports the NCA's operational priorities and corporate objectives.

• Lead the modernisation of legal services and drive digital transformation including the adoption of AI enabled tools.

• Working with operational colleagues, the Crown Prosecution Service (CPS) and their specialist prosecutors to maximize the probability of successful prosecutions, or other legal interventions;

• Advising on relevant EU and international legal developments.

• Managing external legal contacts for specialist advice as required and maintaining excellent relations with the legal profession generally;

• Representing the Agency across Whitehall on all aspects of legal developments and proposals for legislative change affecting the Agency, and in respect of matters relevant to the wider law enforcement and intelligence communities.

• Build organisational capability by developing future legal leaders, strengthening succession planning and creating an inclusive, high-performing culture.

• Active member of the NCA’s senior leadership team and, as such, takes on leadership activities beyond their specific role.

• As a lawyer in the NCA you will be a member of the Government Legal Profession.

Person specification

In your application you will need to demonstrate evidence against the below essential criteria:

We ask that you write a statement of suitability of no more than 1250 words using examples to explain how your skills and experience meet the essential criteria. Failure to address any or all of these may affect your application.

• Inclusive leadership skills – comfortable operating in a complex operational environment, and able to manage political and operational risks, with a demonstrable commitment to lead, develop and nurture a highly performing, diverse and talented workforce based in the UK.

• Ability to advise on, and deal calmly and decisively with, complex and sensitive legal issues. Significant experience of identifying legal risks and operating at senior levels in an organisation, up to Board level;

• Experience of articulating vision and strategy for a large organisation or system, influencing up and out to ensure support, and translating this into operational delivery, in your own organisation and with and through partners;

• Experience of building effective partnerships across a wide range of organisations e.g. government, UK public and private sectors and with international partners at a strategic level. and feel comfortable communicating complex issues to a wide audience e.g. parliament, ministers and non-executives;

• The ability to lead and deliver change, with a track record of delivering substantial improvements to increase operational effectiveness and value for money, including through running programmes and setting up new capabilities;

• Experience of working in, and building networks in, the law enforcement environment e.g. intelligence & security, or home affairs/criminal justice policy or the ability to translate your work and networking experience successfully into a law enforcement environment;

• Experience of delivering interventions that ensure that Equality, Diversity & Inclusion (EDI) is embedded in the organisation’s way of working, fostering a culture of trust which enables people to speak up, feel safe and advocate for others;

• Experience with a wide range of complex cases and/or issues in public law fields relevant to the NCA's work and jurisdiction e.g. the European Convention on Human Rights (ECHR), Investigatory Powers Act (IPA), Regulation of Investigatory Powers Act (RIPA) and Data Protection Act (DPA). The successful candidate will need to demonstrate they have relevant legal skills for this role and be able to offer credible legal leadership to NCA's expert lawyers.

• Applicants must be qualified to practice as a Solicitor, Barrister or Chartered Legal Executive in England and Wales.

Please Note

The NCA is a 24/7 organisation, and working patterns must support business requirements. You are expected to participate in an on-call rota (approx. 4 - 5 weeks per year).

On-call runs 1800-0800 Mon-Fri and 24/7 weekends and bank holidays and training will be given prior to joining the rota.

This is a corporate requirement and no additional remuneration is paid.

Examples for on-call include staffing incidents; building issues (flooding etc); operational incidents; cross-government liaison.

Individuals will be required to undertake and pass a substance misuse test as part of pre-employment checks.

If successful, the offer made will be conditional on you being able to acquire and retain security clearance Developed Vetting (DV) prior to commencing in the role, and STRAP post appointment.

We want to recruit and retain the very best and broadest diversity of officers so the NCA welcomes applications from individuals from all minority backgrounds and protected characteristics.

Please be aware that you can be posted to any location that you put in your preferences. If you would only like to be posted to one location, please confirm one location only.

If you are posted to a location that you have requested and you do not accept that location, you may not be offered another role.

Benefits

Alongside your salary of £105,000, National Crime Agency contributes £30,418 towards you being a member of the Civil Service Defined Benefit Pension scheme. Find out what benefits a Civil Service Pension provides (opens in a new window).

Civil Service Pension

A competitive contributory pension scheme that you can enter as soon as you join where we will make a significant contribution to the cost of your pension; your contributions come out of your salary before any tax is taken; and where your pension will continue to provide valuable benefits for you and your family if you are too ill to continue to work or die before you retire.

If you are an active police pension member immediately prior to joining the NCA, you can continue your membership throughout your employment with us.

Annual Leave

25 days annual leave on entry (plus one privilege day for the King’s Birthday), plus 8 Bank Holidays, increasing to 30 days after reaching 5 years continuous service (plus one privilege day for the King’s Birthday), plus 8 Bank Holidays.

If qualifying criteria is met new joiners to the NCA from UK Police Forces or 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 30 days leave (plus 1 privilege day for the King’s Birthday).

Parental Leave

Family friendly policies including paid maternity, adoption, paternity and shared parental leave of up to 26 weeks.

Access to the government Tax-Free Childcare (TFC) scheme. Existing employees may be able to continue to claim childcare vouchers.

Flexible Working

Flexible working arrangements allowing you to split your work between the office and home, subject to the nature of the role.

Alternative working patterns such as part-time and compressed hours options subject to business needs.

Support for officers who are Reservists and Special Constables.

Learning and Development

Access to a range of learning and development activities, and opportunities to support career progression.

Paid time off to facilitate continuous professional development, and access to Civil Service Learning up to 5 days per year.

Wellbeing and Inclusion

Occupational sick pay and access to occupational health services.

A network of qualified Mental Health First Aiders and Workplace Support Officers, who can provide advice, signposting and support to all our officers.

On site facilities including fitness centres and canteens (where available). Access to a variety of active staff network groups.

Employee Savings

Interest-free loans allowing you to spread the cost of an annual travel season ticket.

Access to a wide range of discounts, offers and gift cards with a number of high street and online retailers through the Blue light Scheme and EdenRed.

Cycle2work salary sacrifice scheme to hire a bicycle up to the value of £4,000 to assist in improving health and fitness and save you money.

Access to a home and technology purchase scheme, allowing you to purchase items and spread the cost over 12 months through salary sacrifice.

Key worker status, enabling access to accommodation at a discounted rate, subject to eligibility.

Access to a range of sports, leisure and health benefits at reduced prices through membership with Civil Service Sports Council (CSSC).

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

To apply for this post, you will need to complete the online application process, outlined below. This should be completed no later than 23:55 on Monday 9th November 2026

• Enter your CV details setting out your career history, including key responsibilities and achievements. It is essential that your CV reflects the role you are applying for. Please ensure you have provided reasons for any employment gaps within the last two years.

• A statement of suitability of no more than 1250 words using examples to explain how your skills and experience meet the essential criteria of the person specification on page 11.

In order to monitor the effectiveness of the National Crime Agency’s Diversity & Inclusion strategy, the NCA require certain personal details about you on submission of your application. Please note that this will be treated in confidence and will not impact your application.

As part of your application, you will be asked to complete a diversity monitoring form. If you do not wish to provide a declaration on any of the particular characteristics, you will have the option to select ‘prefer not to say’. All monitoring data will be treated in the strictest confidence and will not be provided to the selection panel. The information you provide when submitting

your application will help us monitor our progress towards the Civil Service becoming the most inclusive employer.

Your application will be acknowledged within 48 hours of receipt.

Should you encounter any issues with your application please get in touch with our recruitment partner at the following email address: scscandidate.grs@cabinetoffice.gov.uk

The NCA is also currently advertising for a Director International. Candidates may apply for both vacancies but must submit two separate applications.

Further Information

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.

Complaints

If you feel your application has not been treated in accordance with the recruitment principles or you wish to make a complaint, in the first instance, please raise it with scscandidate.grs@cabinetoffice.gov.uk

Location

The role will be based in either London, Bristol, Warrington. Please ensure you are only selecting locations you are willing to work in as you may be offered a post in any of your location preferences.

Shortlist

A shortlisting meeting will be held in the week commencing 16th November 2026

Assessment

A virtual Staff Engagement Exercise which will be delivered virtually on MS Teams in the week commencing 23rd November 2026

You will also be asked to do an ILA, Individual Leadership Assessment.

This stage will not result in a pass or fail decision. They are designed to support the panel’s decision-making and highlight areas for the panel to explore further at interview.

Final Panel Interview

The interview will be held in London week commencing 7th December 2026. The panel will assess your previous experience and professional competence against the essential criteria of the person specification on page 10. You may be asked to give a presentation and/or undertake a pre-interview exercise.

Full details of the requirements will be given to shortlisted candidates ahead of their interview.

Shortlisted candidates may also be offered the opportunity to find out more about the role in conversation with the vacancy holder or a member of the senior executive team.

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

Selection Panel

The panel will be chaired by Elizabeth Hambley, Civil Service

Commissioner and will include:

Wendy Clark, NCA Director General Capabilities and Chief Operating Officer

Rob Jones, NCA Director General Operations

Kay Taylor, NCA Director Police Reform

Offer

Regardless of the outcome, we will notify all candidates as soon as possible.

If your application is successful and we are unable to offer you a post immediately, you will be invited to join our reserve list so that we can continue to communicate with you regarding your employment with the Agency, and the incredible work that we do. If over the next 12 months we are able to offer you a position, we will contact you as soon as possible.

Appointments will be made in adherence to the Civil Service Recruitment Principles and in strict merit order with the highest scoring candidates being appointed first.

The NCA 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 by 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 form 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.’

Indicative Timeline

The anticipated timetable is as follows:

Advert Closing Date Monday 9th November 2026

Expected shortlist announcement w/c 16th November 2026

Virtual Assessments w/c 23rd November 2026

Interviews w/c 7th December 2026

Pre-employment checks

Pre-employment checks take on average 16 weeks from the point of offer to arranging a start date. This includes vetting, occupational health assessments, employment history checks and substance misuse tests. This is an approximate time frame and is to be taken as a guideline only as this can very between candidates. This is dependent on when all requested documentation is provided.

Candidates are asked to note the above timetable, which may be subject to some change, and are asked to exercise flexibility through the recruitment and selection process.

Feedback will only be provided if you attend an interview or assessment.This role has a minimum assignment duration of 3 years. An assignment duration is the period of time a Senior Civil Servant is expected to remain in the same post to enable them to deliver on the agreed key business outcomes. The assignment duration also supports your career through building your depth of expertise.

As part of accepting this role you will be agreeing to the expected assignment duration set out above. This will not result in a contractual change to your terms and conditions. Please note this is an expectation only, it is not something which is written into your terms and conditions or indeed which the employing organisation or you are bound by. It will depend on your personal circumstances at a particular time and business needs, for example, would not preclude any absence like family friendly leave. It is nonetheless an important expectation, which is why we ask you to confirm you agree to the assignment duration set out above.

Security

Successful candidates must undergo an enhanced (or equivalent) criminal record check.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.

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 : SCS Recruitment Team
• Email : scscandidate.grs@cabinetoffice.gov.uk

Recruitment team

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

Further information

If you feel your application has not been treated in accordance with the recruitment principles, please contact Civil Service Commission Info Mailbox info@csc.gov.uk

Attachments

NCA Director Legal CIP final Opens in new window (pdf, 1459kB)486012 Director Legal - Accessibility Pack Opens in new window (docx, 3493kB)