Principal Technical Officer (PTOM)
Job summary
As a Principal Technical Operations Manager you will lead a small specialist team providing dedicated covert operational technical support to NCA Senior Investigating officers and key partners through the deployment of technical surveillance assets to deliver intelligence and positive operational outcomes.Job description
Within the NCA, Technical Operations work at the high end of high risk. You will be working as part of a Intrusive Surveillance team using your skills and experience to deliver tactical outcomes against some of the UK's most serious criminal investigations. Working closely with NCA colleagues and partners, as well as other Intelligence and Investigating teams, this is an opportunity to use your specialist skills and initiative to ensure the success of some of the NCA's most serious operations. These duties could include training and mentoring Technical staff and developing technical capabilities.
You will be required to have a practical, flexible approach and attitude as well as a willingness to lead on operations at short notice and join an on-call rota to provide 24/7 support. You will be required to work protracted hours in challenging situations across the UK and potentially abroad. You will be required to travel for business purposes across the UK. Therefore, the successful candidate will require a full UK driving licence held for at least 2 years. You will be asked to demonstrate flexibility regarding working hours in line with operational demand and occasionally this may require working away from home.
Person specification
Skills, Knowledge and Experience Description
Knowledge of covert technical capabilities - Gained from working on Intrusive Surveillance operations.
Experience of leading a team - Proven experience of leading a team that worked to tight deadlines within a dynamic environment. Can demonstrate how they have used their in-depth knowledge to lead operational activity in their work, taking a proactive approach alongside operational partners. Demonstrate they can work extensively with colleagues to influence the operational activity.
Experienced Communicator - Can detail use of communication skills to inform and enthuse staff, to brief management and partners and to positively influence operational and non-operational outcomes.
Skilled at Risk Management - Experience of producing detailed Operational risk assessments. Practical experience of managing risks, including evaluating, de-conflicting and escalating risk where appropriate.
Skilled decision maker - Can demonstrate being skilled at using recommended actions and making decisions based on technical ability and evidence.
On-call working
1 week in 4. Cover is required 24/7, however this can be done both from the office and from home.
Essential Criteria
You must meet the essential criteria and evidence this within your application to be considered for the role.
Entry requirements: Skills, Knowledge or Experience Justification/Reasoning
IT Skills - Proficient in IT Skills to enable detailed report writing, briefings and management of staff activity and equipment.
Knowledge of relevant legislation - Detailed Knowledge and understanding of UK Legislation affecting Intrusive Surveillance operations both home and abroad. Can demonstrate the practical application of broad areas of legislation and its impact on operational delivery. Can evidence that they lead on the production of departmental policy and operating procedures effectively.
Operational Experience - Operational experience in deploying on technical intrusive surveillance operations.
For Principle Technical Operations Manager Training role - Experience in mentoring and training staff: To enable leadership of the Tech Ops training team.
For Principle Technical Operations Manager: Electronic Threat Management (ETM) - Experience of successfully deploying on ETM Operations: Requirement for subject matter Expert status to lead this Tech Ops capability.
For Principle Technical Operations Manager - Ops Projects - Experience of delivering project or capability into a technical team: Requirement for subject matter Expert status to lead this Tech Ops capability.
Licences - Candidates must hold a valid driving licence permitting them to drive a car in the UK
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.- Technical Qualification: HND in engineering to support subject matter expert position- Training Qualification - Recognised Training Qualification
Behaviours
We'll assess you against these behaviours during the selection process:
- Leadership
- Delivering at Pace
Technical skills
We'll assess you against these technical skills during the selection process:
- Provide an example of when you have led an intrusive surveillance operation, including how you planned and coordinated activity and managed different levels of risk and achieved outcomes.
- Provide an example of how you introduced a new capability to a team, including how you implemented it and the results achieved.
- Please provide an example of when you have mentored a team member to achieve a technical objective. Describe how you assessed their development needs, supported their learning and ensured successful delivery of the objective.
Benefits
Alongside your salary of £55,575, National Crime Agency contributes £16,100 towards you being a member of the Civil Service Defined Benefit Pension scheme. Find out what benefits a Civil Service Pension provides.Salary and Benefits
- This position attracts a Recruitment and Retention Allowance (RRA) of £2000 (Per Annum) available as an addition to the advertised salary.
All NCA employees are members of the UK Civil Service and eligible for the Civil Service pension scheme, alongside your salarythe NCA contributes £16100. Further information on the benefits of the scheme is available on the Civil Service Pensions website.
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 every day 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.If you wish to apply for this vacancy, you must submit your application by 12/06/2026, 23:55.How we will assess you
Your application will be assessed against the following:Technical - this will be assessed by 250 word examples on:- Provide an example of when you have led an intrusive surveillance operation, including how you planned and coordinated activity and managed different levels of risk and achieved outcomes
- Provide an example of how you introduced a new capability to a team, including how you implemented it and the results achieved.
- Please provide an example of when you have mentored a team member to achieve a technical objective. Describe how you assessed their development needs, supported their learning and ensured successful delivery of the objective.
- Proven experience in deploying and managing intrusive surveillance operations
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.
- Provide an example of when you have led an intrusive surveillance operation, including how you planned and coordinated activity and managed different levels of risk and achieved outcomes .
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- Leadership
- Delivering at Pace
- Provide an example of when you have led an intrusive surveillance operation, including how you planned and coordinated activity and managed different levels of risk and achieved outcomes
- Provide an example of how you introduced a new capability to a team, including how you implemented it and the results achieved.
- Please provide an example of when you have mentored a team member to achieve a technical objective. Describe how you assessed their development needs, supported their learning and ensured successful delivery of the objective.
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
Eligibility, Pre-Employment Check and Vetting
Please see the NCA T&Cs and Privacy Policy (pdf) for details on how your data is handled. If you are an internal candidate who has passed interview but is undergoing an internal investigation or have a written warning in place preventing a post move you may not be able to be posted until this investigation is concluded or restriction lifted.Nationality Requirements
This role is broadly open to the following groups:• UK nationals or dual nationals, where one component is BritishFurther information on nationality requirementsYou will be required to participate in digital right to work and address checks as part of the recruitment process.Vetting requirements - SC Enhanced
Prior to commencing the role, you will need to successfully complete SC Enhanced clearance and then achieve both DV Enhanced and DV STRAP clearance within the first 12 months in post. The requirement for SC clearance is to have been present in the UK for at least 3 of the last 5 years.The requirement for DV Enhanced clearance is to have been present in the UK for at least 7 of the last 10 years.To obtain DV STRAP you must be willing to undergo STRAP induction and must hold full UK nationality or dual nationality, where one component is British. Applications will be considered on a case by case basis.Failure to meet the residency requirements will result in your security clearance application being rejected.If the increased clearance cannot be obtained you will be moved to a role appropriate to your clearance level achieved on entry. 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
Operational Roles
The National Crime Agency 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 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 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.
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.
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
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@nca.gov.uk
- Email : central.recruitment@nca.gov.uk
Recruitment team
- Email : central.recruitment@nca.gov.uk
Further information
If you feel your application has not been treated in accordance with the Recruitment Principles and you wish to make a complaint in relation to any stage of the recruitment and selection process please email central.recruitment@nca.gov.uk. please ensure that you refer to the campaign reference number. If you remain dissatisfied following the outcome of your complaint you have the right to contact the Civil Service Commission to pursue it further.If you are not satisfied with the response you receive from the Department, you can contact the Civil Service Commission.
Salary range
- £55,775 per year