Head of Operations - Investigations
Job summary
This is an exciting opportunity to lead a diverse number of Multi Threat and Borders (MTB) and Child Sexual Abuse (CSA) teams investigating serious organised crime, across a range of threat areas.
As part of the Investigations Command Leadership Team, you will report directly to a Deputy Director and will be responsible for a number of key portfolios for the Investigations Command, as well as the wider Agency.
The role involves working closely with key partners and stakeholders, both internal and external to the agency.
You will be responsible for acting as a role model, committed to leading, developing and nurturing a high-performing and talented workforce, being a positive advocate for inclusion, diversity and equality, and improving culture.
Teams for the Multi Threat and Borders teams are in the following locations: Chelmsford, Crawley, Dover, Gatwick, Heathrow, Slough and Tolworth. The Head of Operations can work out of any of these locations.
Teams for the Child Sexual Abuse teams are in: Birmingham, Bristol, London and Warrington. The Head of Operations can work out of any of these locations.
Please state if you have a preference to work in the MTB or CSA teams.
Job description
As the Head of Operations, you will lead a diverse set of teams across regional sites: Chelmsford, Crawley, Dover, Gatwick, Heathrow and Slough. CSA sites are in Birmingham, Bristol, London and Warrington. Your operational teams will be involved in tackling serious organised crime (SOC) across a range of threat areas to substantially reduce the level of serious and organised crime affecting the UK and deterring and disrupting further criminality.
As Head of Operations, you will be accountable for the delivery of NCA operations and performance (including reporting). You will ensure that your teams utilise and support the range of capabilities across NCA and work closely with partner organisations both domestically and internationally in order to deliver operational impact against the SOC threat. You will take key strategic decisions in order to maximise the ability of the NCA to deliver its strategy and mission, whilst ensuring adherence to corporate standards and policies, overseeing resources and budgets efficiently and effectively, and managing operational risk.
Duties and Responsibilities
Operational Leadership - Oversight of and responsibility for the management of major investigations for strategic effect.
Collaboration - Build effective partnerships with business areas across the Agency and other external stakeholders both domestically (e.g. CPS) and internationally (e.g. overseas law enforcement agencies and partners).
Operational Delivery - Being accountable for operational performance across 4Ps – ensuring the business area is contributing to wider Agency performance ambitions (Including P1-P2 high impact disruptions) and all performance related data is recorded and reported in line with Agency requirements. Ensure that all operational activity is prioritised, being conducted diligently and expeditiously in line with the tasked outcomes, delivered through corporate case management systems and is compliant with relevant legislation, codes of practice, policy and procedure and best practice.
Operational Accountability - Ensure operations are reviewed and best practice identified and implemented – ensuring a high-performing culture delivering criminal justice excellence. Ensure that the business area is compliant with requirements under the Victims’ Code and Home Office Counting Rules for Recorded Crime (Crime Recording).
Cultural Leadership - Lead and drive a positive inclusive culture ensuring all officers understand and are held accountable for making a positive contribution towards inclusion, diversity, and equality (IDE). Own, develop and implement a business area action plan that responds to/addresses feedback from the People Survey.
Organisational Change and Improvement - Lead and implement organisational change activity, effectively planning and communicating proposed changes with staff and stakeholders.
Professional Development - Create an environment that supports and encourages the development of staff, including ensuring officers’ continual professional development (CPD) is prioritised, implementing the Command’s talent management programme and tackling poor performance and behaviours.
Risk Management - Ensure that operational risk is managed effectively within the business area and wider organisation. Lead, promote and implement health and safety measures and ensure risk assessments are conducted effectively in line with Agency policy and safety legislation.
Strategic Leadership - As part of the Senior Management Team, lead on strategic areas of work as directed by the Deputy Director and Investigations Command Team.
Budget Management - Manage resources effectively with financial control of departmental budgets.
Please note: Prior to commencing the role, you will need to successfully complete SC Enhanced clearance and then achieve DV Enhanced clearance within the first 12 months in post.
Person specification
Ability to lead a diverse number of teams across the country. Understanding of various specialist roles and capabilities - can demonstrate management of teams tackling serious organised crime in several locations across a range of threat areas.
Ability to oversee and direct operations. Understanding of prioritising operational activity - can demonstrate knowledge of how an operation is being prioritised and being conducted diligently and expeditiously in line with the tasked outcomes.
Ability to be responsible for a number of key portfolios and projects for the Investigations Command, as well as the wider Agency. Can demonstrate being part of a senior management team, leading on strategic areas of work.
Ability to manage resources effectively. Understanding financial control of departmental budgets - can demonstrate experience of leading SOC investigations focused on resource and budget management.
Experience of overseeing, leading and planning multiple complex investigations, including associated risk management and safeguarding.
Sound understanding of business and workforce planning processes, budget management and delivery of governance and assurance processes at a senior level.
Proven experience of internal and external partnership working to deliver projects, portfolios or in the management of strategic incidents
A strong understanding of the cultural challenges facing the NCA and/or the wider law enforcement environment
Behaviours
We'll assess you against these behaviours during the selection process:
- Leadership
- Seeing the Big Picture
- Changing and Improving
Technical skills
We'll assess you against these technical skills during the selection process:
- Experience of overseeing, leading and planning multiple complex investigations, including associated risk management and safeguarding.
- Sound understanding of business and workforce planning processes, budget management and delivery of the governance and assurance at a senior level.
- Proven experience of internal and external partnership working to deliver projects, portfolios or in the management of strategic incidents.
- A strong understanding of the cultural challenges facing the Agency and/or wider law enforcement environment.
Benefits
Alongside your salary of £85,021, National Crime Agency contributes £24,630 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 250 word examples on:- Experience of overseeing, leading and planning multiple complex investigations, including associated risk management and safeguarding.
- Sound understanding of business and workforce planning processes, budget management and delivery of the governance and assurance at a senior level.
- Proven experience of internal and external partnership working to deliver projects, portfolios or in the management of strategic incidents.
- A strong understanding of the cultural challenges facing the Agency and/or wider law enforcement environment.
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 you CV are as follows: Please provide an up-to-date CV covering the following:
Ability to lead a diverse number of teams across the country. Understanding of various specialist roles and capabilities - can demonstrate management of teams tackling serious organised crime in several locations across a range of threat areas.
Ability to oversee and direct operations. Understanding of prioritising operational activity - can demonstrate knowledge of how an operation is being prioritised and being conducted diligently and expeditiously in line with the tasked outcomes.
Ability to be responsible for a number of key portfolios and projects for the Investigations Command, as well as the wider Agency. Can demonstrate being part of a senior management team, leading on strategic areas of work.
Ability to manage resources effectively. Understanding financial control of departmental budgets - can demonstrate experience of leading SOC investigations focused on resource and budget management.
- Team Preference (This is not assessed and for informative purposes only) - When making appointments we will try to take your preferences into account, but this cannot be guaranteed.
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.
Additional assessment methods used alongside InterviewAs part of the assessment process Presentation will be required to assess the criteria outlined below:As part of the interview, candidates will be asked to deliver a ten-minute presentation covering the three behaviours listed on the advert.Success Profiles at Assessment
Behaviours- Leadership
- Seeing the Big Picture
- Changing and Improving
- Experience of overseeing, leading and planning multiple complex investigations, including associated risk management and safeguarding.
- Sound understanding of business and workforce planning processes, budget management and delivery of the governance and assurance at a senior level.
- Proven experience of internal and external partnership working to deliver projects, portfolios or in the management of strategic incidents.
- A strong understanding of the cultural challenges facing the Agency and/or wider law enforcement environment.
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:
- Lead criteria (behaviours/technical/experience)
- If still tied, desirable criteria will be assessed (if advertised)
- If still tied, application sift scores will be used
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
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 : NCA Recruitment Team
- Email : 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.
Salary range
- £85,021 - £91,735 per year