HR Officer

Job summary

We are seeking proactive and motivated Human Resources professionals to join our growing HR function. As an HR Officer, you will play a key role in delivering high-quality HR services, supporting managers and staff across a variety of people matters. You will work in a fast-paced environment, contributing to operational delivery as well as continuous improvement across HR processes.

Successful candidates may be deployed across a range of HR teams depending on business need, including employee relations, recruitment, HR operations, workforce planning or specialist HR functions.

• Recruitment and Strategic Workforce Planning: Manages end-to-end recruitment processes, including pre-employment checks, while delivering strategic workforce planning insights and leading talent attraction and outreach activity.
• Specialist Services: Provides expert support across complex casework, employee relations, health and safety, and policy, advising on sensitive issues such as grievances, disciplinary matters, long-term absence, and employment tribunals.
• Learning and Development: Leads the design and delivery of learning and development initiatives to build capability and meet organisational workforce needs.
• Clinical Services and Wellbeing: Manages relationships with health service providers, coordinating occupational health referrals, psychological support, and workplace adjustments to promote employee wellbeing.
• Policy, Pay and Reward: Develops and manages pay and reward frameworks, including pay negotiations, allowances, and employee recognition schemes to ensure a competitive and effective offering, while leading on policy development and review to ensure compliance with current employment legislation and organisational standards.
• HR Business Liaison Unit (HR BLU): Provides a centralised HR advisory and service centre function, offering guidance and processing across a wide range of HR topics to ensure employees and managers receive timely, accurate support. The team plays a key role in promoting understanding of HR policies and procedures, ensuring compliance, consistency, and fair application across the organisation.
• Operational Standards Coach and Assessor (OSCAU): responsible for driving up standards across the NCA by delivering a professional and independent quality assurance process for Investigations and Intelligence.
• Partnering and Leadership: Partnering with leaders to design and embed talent strategies that attract, develop, and retain officers, while enabling meaningful development through structured programmes, learning support, and effective performance conversations.

Please note: Some roles may require a psychological assessment before commencing within the role.

Job description

This is a diverse role where no two days are the same. Responsibilities may span a broad spectrum of HR functions, ranging from policy development, governance and best practice, to diary management, data entry, and statistical reporting. You will be expected to work with accuracy and professionalism, ensuring the handling of secure information while maintaining strict confidentiality and sensitivity in line with NCA policies.Duties and Responsibilities

As an HR Officer, you may:

• Provide HR advice and guidance to managers and staff, supporting the effective application of HR policies and procedures

• Manage a range of HR queries or casework, ensuring timely and consistent resolution

• Support the delivery of core HR processes such as recruitment, employee relations, workforce, or people initiatives

• Maintain accurate HR records and ensure compliance with policies and employment legislation

• Build and maintain effective working relationships with stakeholders across the organisation

• Contribute to process improvements and support wider HR projects and initiatives

• Collate and analyse HR data (where required), supporting reporting and decision-making

Person specification

AreaDescriptionCustomer ServiceDemonstrates a strong understanding of customer needs, delivering a high-quality HR service that meets requirements and exceeds expectations where possible.CommunicationCommunicates clearly and confidently, both verbally and in writing, adapting style to suit different audiences and ensuring information is accurate and easy to understand.Working TogetherCollaborates effectively with colleagues and stakeholders to achieve shared outcomes, contributing positively to team objectives and the wider organisational goals.Time ManagementManages workload efficiently in a fast-paced environment, prioritising competing demands, identifying risks, and ensuring tasks are completed to agreed standards and deadlines.Relationship ManagementBuilds and maintains strong working relationships with internal and external stakeholders to support business needs and deliver effective HR outcomes.Data ManagementHandles sensitive and confidential personal data with care, ensuring accuracy, security, and compliance with organisational policies and GDPR requirements.HR KnowledgeDemonstrates a sound understanding of HR functions, policies, processes, and employment legislation, applying this knowledge to support decision-making and service delivery.HR AdministrationCarries out HR administrative tasks accurately and efficiently, maintaining high standards of data integrity and ensuring compliance with GDPR and organisational procedures.Working in a Fast-Paced EnvironmentShows resilience and professionalism in managing multiple tasks and priorities, working independently while seeking support when needed to maintain consistent service delivery.

Benefits

Alongside your salary of £36,057, National Crime Agency contributes £10,445 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).

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

Entry Requirements

You must be able to demonstrate:

• Experience of working in an HR role, with a sound understanding of core HR processes (e.g., employee relations, recruitment, HR operations, workforce, or people processes)

Any applications from candidates not meeting this eligibility criteria will not progress.

Desirable Criteria

Desirable criteria are only used for assessment in the event of a tie break.CIPD qualification (Level 3), or working towards

How we will assess you

Your application will be assessed against the following: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: Candidates are required to demonstrate how they meet the entry criteria: You must be able to demonstrate:
Experience of working in an HR role, with a sound understanding of core HR processes (e.g., employee relations, recruitment, HR operations, workforce, or people processes)

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

• Experience of working in a fast-paced environment, managing competing priorities, and delivering to tight deadlines

• Strong organisational skills and attention to detail, ensuring accuracy in HR processes and documentation

• Ability to handle sensitive and confidential information with professionalism and discretion

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.

- Experience of working in a fast-paced environment, managing competing priorities, and delivering to tight deadlines .

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

• Delivering at Pace

• Working Together

• Managing a Quality Service

Technical

• Experience of working in an HR role, with a sound understanding of core HR processes (e.g., employee relations, recruitment, HR operations, workforce, or people processes)

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.

Vetting requirements - SC Enhanced

Prior to commencing the role, you will need to successfully complete SC Enhanced clearance. The requirement for SC clearance is to have been present in the UK for at least 3 of the last 5 years.Failure to meet the residency requirements will result in your security clearance application being rejected.For further information on National Security Vetting checks please visit the following page Demystifying VettingIndividuals will be required to undertake and pass a substance misuse test as part of pre-employment checks.

Occupational Health

Successful candidates will be expected to undertake an occupational health assessment. Depending on the role an in-person medical may be required in either London or Warrington. Unfortunately, travel costs will not be reimbursed.

Things you need to know

Multi Location

Where multiple locations are advertised, appointments will be made in merit order for each location.

Please indicate up to three location preferences clearly. Only your first three preferences will be considered. You may be allocated to any of the locations you select. If you decline an offer for a location you have selected as a preference, a further offer may not be made.

If you choose to reject an offer and no alternative preferred location can be offered, you will not be able to return to the process or be placed on a reserve list.

Only the advertised locations are available; any additional notes added to the application will not be taken into account.

Near Miss

If you meet the criteria for a lower grade, you may be offered that role if not appointable at the advertised grade.

Conversely, if found appointable at a higher grade but no posts are available, you may be offered a lower-grade role.

All offers are made based on merit.

Hybrid Working

The NCA supports hybrid working. The extent of remote working will depend on the role and can be discussed at the offer stage.

Reasonable Adjustments

We’re proud to be a Disability Confident Leader and an inclusive, equal opportunities employer.

We’re committed to creating a workplace where everyone can be their authentic self. If you’re neurodiverse, have a disability, or live with a long-term health condition, we encourage you to let us know about any reasonable adjustments you may need during the recruitment process.

If you experience accessibility issues with the advert or require reasonable adjustments, please contact our Recruitment Team at Central.Recruitment@nca.gov.uk before the advert closing date.

Please ensure you complete the ‘Equal opportunities’ and 'Reasonable Adjustments' sections in the application form to inform us on what support you may need in the recruitment process.

For more on our Disability Confident commitment, visit Disability Confident Scheme , Civil Service Careers.

Visit NCA Benefits and Support for more details.

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 security check (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 : Central 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.