Intelligence Analyst – National Food Crime Unit (NFCU)

Job summary

Are you an experienced intelligence analyst looking to apply your skills to tackle serious crime and protect public trust in the UK food system?

Join the Food Standards Agency (FSA) as an Intelligence Analyst within the National Food Crime Unit (NFCU), where your work will help identify, disrupt and deter those involved in food crime. Working as part of a specialist intelligence team, you will play a vital role in strengthening the UK's response to food-related criminality through high-quality analysis that supports operational and strategic decision-making.

This is an exciting opportunity for analytical professionals from law enforcement, regulatory, investigative or similar environments who enjoy turning complex information into actionable insight. You will collaborate with a wide range of partners across the UK and internationally, contributing to meaningful outcomes that support the FSA's mission of delivering food you can trust.

Job description

You will deliver a range of strategic and tactical analysis projects, producing intelligence products, assessments and reports that support operational activity and inform strategic and tactical decision-making. This will involve examining complex and varied information sources, identifying emerging trends, risks and patterns, and presenting evidence-based findings to colleagues, partners and stakeholders in a clear and engaging way. You’ll ensure your work is completed to recognised professional standards and within agreed timescales.

The role also involves building effective relationships with internal and external partners to support intelligence requirements and strengthen the collective understanding of food crime threats. You will contribute specialist knowledge, represent the NFCU at meetings and events, and may prepare evidential material for use in criminal prosecutions, including supporting court proceedings where required. Some postholders may also provide line management support to an Intelligence Researcher.

If this sounds like you, we’d love to hear from you.

Working pattern guidance

Applicants who wish to work compressed hours are welcome to apply - however your preferred working pattern may not be available and you should discuss this with the vacancy holder before applying.

Due to the nature of the role we are unable to consider requests for part time working.

Please read before applying

As this is an investigatory / intelligence role we need to be aware if any of our employees have any of the following: 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 FSA.

You must declare to the best of your knowledge:

• Any disciplinary finding of guilt / failure to meet the appropriate standard of conduct relating to your employment you have ever had

• Any charge of a disciplinary offence / notification of a failure to meet the appropriate standards you have ever had where the case has not yet been concluded

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

Person specification

Please read the attached Job Description to discover further details about the role, who we are looking for and the criteria we will assess against during the selection process.

We look forward to receiving your application and wish you every success.

Qualifications

Please confirm that you ;

Are prepared to give evidence in court as required

Already hold or be willing to obtain College of Policing Intelligence Professionalisation Programme certification

Have successful completion (or willingness to attain) National Intelligence Analysis Training or equivalent qualification (GIAT, DIAM, ACT)

If you cannot answer yes to all 3 questions – you will not be able to proceed further with your application.

Benefits

Alongside your salary of £34,955, Food Standards Agency contributes £10,126 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).Our job description details the benefits that the FSA has to offer. Please also refer to the attached Terms and Conditions statement.

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

Application and shortlisting

You will be asked to provide personal details (not seen by the Panel) and to confirm your eligibility to apply for the role.

Technical: You will be asked a question to confirm that you meet the Technical requirements of the role.

• Prepared to give evidence in court as required

• Already hold or be willing to obtain College of Policing Intelligence Professionalisation Programme certification

• Successful completion (or willingness to attain) National Intelligence Analysis Training or equivalent qualification (GIAT, DIAM, ACT)

If you cannot answer yes to this question – you will not be able to proceed further with your application.

You will then be asked to complete an application which will be used to assess you against the following essential criteria.

Essential criteria

Experience

• Lead criteria 1: Experience of working as an Intelligence Analyst within a law enforcement, regulatory, or investigative environment, including the development of intelligence products and evidential packages to support operational or enforcement activity.

• Lead criteria 2: Experience of analysing, interpreting and presenting complex information, producing high-quality intelligence reports, assessments, or briefings that clearly communicate findings and recommendations to meet the needs of a range of audiences.

• Strong analytical and digital skills, with experience of using intelligence, analytical, or data visualisation tools (such as Power BI, i2 Analyst’s Notebook, Chorus/CSAS, or equivalent systems) to identify insights and communicate key messages effectively.

• Experience of reviewing and interpreting large, complex, or disparate datasets to identify trends, patterns, risks, and opportunities, supporting informed decision-making.

• Ability to manage a substantial and varied workload with minimal supervision, effectively prioritising competing demands and delivering high-quality outputs to tight deadlines.

Lead Criteria An initial sift will take place on the Lead Criteria.

If successful at lead criteria 1 sift your application will progress to lead criteria 2 sift. If successful at lead criteria sift, your application will progress to full sift.

In the event that we receive a large number of applications, the minimum pass mark for the Lead Criteria may be raised at shortlisting stage. Candidates who apply under the DCS, GPTW or RIS schemes and meet the minimum requirements will be unaffected by the pass mark raise.

Interview

If successful at shortlisting stage, you will be invited to a final interview in whichwe will assess you against the following Experience requirements of the role.

Experience

• Experience of the development of intelligence products and evidential packages to support operational or enforcement activity.

• Experience of analysing, interpreting and presenting complex information, producing high-quality intelligence reports, assessments, or briefings that clearly communicate findings and recommendations to meet the needs of a range of audiences.

• Strong analytical and digital skills, with experience of using intelligence, analytical, or data visualisation tools (such as Power BI, i2 Analyst’s Notebook, Chorus/CSAS, or equivalent systems) to identify insights and communicate key messages effectively.

• Experience of reviewing and interpreting large, complex, or disparate datasets to identify trends, patterns, risks, and opportunities, supporting informed decision-making.

• Ability to manage a substantial and varied workload with minimal supervision, effectively prioritising competing demands and delivering high-quality outputs to tight deadlines.

Expected Timeline

Advert closes: 6th September 2026 (23:55)

Sift: Expected to take place during week commencing 7th September 2026

Final panel interview: Expected to take place during week commencing 28th September 2026

Interviews will be held remotely via MS Teams. (If you do not have the Microsoft Teams application installed on your computer, you can join on the web without installing the application).

Please note that indicated dates may be subject to change.

United Kingdom Security Vetting (UKSV) Requirements (SC)

Appointment will be subject to the candidate having, or being able to achieve, National Security Vetting at Security Check (SC) level and Non-Police Personnel Vetting at Level 2..

All security clearances require you to provide evidence of your UK footprint where you have been physically present in the UK.

The requirement for SC clearance is to have been present in the UK at least 3 of the last 5 years, 2 of which must have been the immediately preceding years from the point of application (although there are some exceptions e.g. if you have been serving abroad with HM Armed Forces).

Failure to meet the residency requirements will result in your security clearance application being rejected.

Checks will be made against:

• 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.

Childcare Vouchers

Any move to the Food Standards Agency 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

Reserve List

A reserve list will be held for a period of up to 12 months from which further appointment may be made.

Candidates that do not pass the interview but have demonstrated an acceptable standard may be considered for similar roles at a lower grade.

Visa Sponsorship

Please note that the FSA does not offer visa sponsorship and cannot provide advice on visa applications

Making a complaint

The law requires that selection for appointment to the Civil Service is on merit on the basis of fair and open competition as outlined in the Civil Service Commission’s Recruitment Principles.

If you feel your application has not been treated fairly in accordance with the principles, and you wish to make a complaint, you should email the FSA’s Director of People at jo.bushnell@food.gov.uk. If you are not satisfied with the response, you can contact the Civil Service Commission.

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

Security

Successful candidates must undergo a basic (or equivalent) criminal record check.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 : Victoria Kilpatrick
• Email : Victoria.Kilpatrick@food.gov.uk

Recruitment team

• Email : hr.recruitment.campaigns@food.gov.uk

Further information

If you wish to raise a complaint then please email hr.recruitment.campaigns@food.gov.uk in the first instance.

Attachments

v1.0 Job description Intelligence Analyst (HEO) Jul 26 Opens in new window (pdf, 250kB)Terms and Conditions as at April 2020 Opens in new window (pdf, 42kB)