Head of Proactive Intelligence

Job summary

This is an exciting time to be joining the SFO, central to our ambitious plans is to grow and enhance our intelligence capabilities, with a focus on deploying the full range of intelligence techniques, including the most sensitive.

You will have responsibility for the day-to-day running of the Intelligence Division, alongside two other Band A (Grade 6) colleagues. Using the full range of intelligence techniques and processes to exploit investigative opportunities you will manage a proactive team that will identify and develop the most serious and complex economic crime cases in accordance with the SFO’s Statement of Principle.

The team comprises intelligence, investigation and analytical specialists and you will be responsible for proactive case development that will enhance the SFO’s case work by identifying the right cases at the earliest possible opportunity. You will use the full suite of proactive intelligence/investigative techniques at the SFO’s disposal in order to strengthen the Intelligence Division’s capability.

The SFO is broadening its intelligence gathering capabilities (e.g. Internet Intelligence Investigations) and you will be required to build-on existing practices and explore different ways of operating within a unique law enforcement landscape. You will be expected to operate dynamically, ensuring all available intelligence and investigative options are considered and implemented to enable effective progression of our referrals and intelligence operations.

You will work with the Head of the Intelligence Division to develop and implement strategy, structures, and processes in support of the SFO’s key priorities.You will maintain close working relationships with all SFO Divisions, ensuring the Intelligence Division supports case progression, helps improve performance, and contributes to developing strategy to tackle serious economic crime. You will represent the SFO at a number of external forum’s including those co-ordinated by the NECC. You will ensure that the Intelligence Division operates to the highest standards in line with the SFO values, and you will be responsible for ensuring the professional development and welfare of staff is central to the ethos of the Division.

Collaboration with partners, domestic and international, is essential and you will be expected to foster strong relationships to help progress the SFO’s priorities and influence and shape the national response to tackling serious economic crime. You will role model and promote SFO values and behaviours, demonstrating strong leadership and a commitment to our Equity, Inclusion, and Diversity Plan as well as supporting the career development and wellbeing of your team. There may be a requirement for travel across both the UK and overseas, staying overnight as and when necessary.

Successful candidates must meet the security requirements before being appointed. Developed Vetting clearance is a requirement for this role.

Job description

As the Head of Proactive Intelligence, you will be responsible for:

• Day-to-day leadership and oversight of the Intelligence Division’s covert capabilities and the proactive team.
• Oversee the development and use of proactive intelligence and operational techniques.
• Day-to-day oversight and management of the Intelligence Division, ensuring divisional performance is supportive of the SFO’s Strategy and Business Plan.
• Overseeing the effective management of intelligence referrals and operations, intervening as necessary to ensure effective case progression and high-quality outcomes.
• Provide visible leadership, actively promoting the values and priorities of the SFO, including its commitment to inclusion, equality, and diversity.

For more information about the role and for a full list of key responsibilities, please see attached Job Pack.

Person specification

See above and attached Job Pack.

Behaviours

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

• Leadership
• Making Effective Decisions
• Changing and Improving

Benefits

Alongside your salary of £74,670, Serious Fraud Office contributes £21,631 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).

Option to join the Civil Service pension scheme. For further details, click here http://www.civilservice.gov.uk/pensions

Generous annual leave provision of 25 days which increases to 30 days after five years’ service plus an additional day in recognition of the King’s Birthday and the option to buy or sell up to five days’ leave per year. Different terms may apply if you are already a Civil Servant.

Discretionary performance-related bonus scheme.

Interest-free season travel ticket, bicycle loan and cycle to work scheme.

Access to the Rental Deposit Salary Advance Scheme which assists employees in meeting the costs of deposits for privately rented homes.

Opportunities for learning and development.

Flexible working arrangements and family-friendly policies.

Voucher for eye care and discounted spectacles.

Access to a range of discounts through membership of the Civil Service Sports and Social Club, CSSC Sports and Leisure. http://www.cssc.co.uk/

Maternity and paternity leave provision over and above the statutory entitlements.

Access to My CPS Rewards Gateway. My CPS Rewards offers staff a range of rewards and savings including:

• Discounts with high street retailers
• Savings on grocery shopping at a range of supermarkets
• Special salary sacrifice and recognition schemes
• Reloadable gift cards and e-cards
• Instant vouchers

Any move to the Serious Fraud 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. Determine your eligibility at https://www.childcarechoices.gov.uk/

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 stage

As part of the application process you will be required to provide:

• A personal statement of no more than 750 words that explains how your skills and experience meet the following essential experience criteria:
  • Significant and demonstrable operational experience of leading teams at senior intelligence professional or investigator level tackling serious or complex crime in a multi-disciplinary environment.
  • Demonstrable experience of building and developing teams to improve performance and encouraging a culture of initiative, flexibility and accountability.
  • Demonstrable recent experience of leading proactive and covert operations, together with good understanding of RIPA 2000 and IPA 2016, including covert human intelligence sources within an investigative and prosecutorial environment.
  • Skilled at managing relationships with intelligence partners including evidence of utilising sensitive intelligence across organisational and national boundaries.

• A supporting CV outlining your job history and qualifications.

As part of the sift stage, a telephone screen will be conducted for candidates who pass the initial sift. This will take place on either the 13th or 14th July and this is an opportunity to provide further information on your skills and experience. Successful candidates at this stage will progress to the in person interview stage.

It will not be possible to provide feedback to applicants who are unsuccessful at the application stage.

Interview stage

Behaviours and experience criteria as outlined in the job pack will be tested at interview. Candidates invited to interview will also be required to complete an assessment on the day, no prior preparation is required.

Full details of the interview process will be made available to shortlisted candidates in the invite to interview.

Initial sift to take place from 6th July.

Telephone Screens to take place on 13th and 14th July.

Interviews are expected to take place in person at the SFO offices on 28th July.

All dates are indicative and subject to change.

Successful candidates must meet the security requirements before they can be appointed. To be eligible you must meet the following residency requirements dependent of the level of security vetting required:

• DV: 10 years residency in the United Kingdom preceding this application.

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.

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 : People and Culture
• Email : People@sfo.gov.uk

Recruitment team

• Email : People@sfo.gov.uk

Further information

For external competitions there is no appeal against the selection decision. However, individuals have a right to appeal if they feel that the principle of appointment on merit through fair and open competition and the Civil Service Commissioners’ recruitment principles have not been met. Individuals who want to appeal should do this by setting out their grounds for appeal in an email for the attention of Head of People to People@sfo.gov.uk. If, after an internal appeal, you still believe that the Civil Service Commissioners’ Principles have not been met, then you can contact the Commission directly: Complaints should be sent in writing to: Civil Service Commission, Room G08 ,1 Horse Guards Road, London SW1A 2HQ. Email info@csc.gov.uk

Attachments

Head of Proactive Intelligence Job Pack Opens in new window (pdf, 224kB)