Quality Officer

Job summary

We are currently looking to recruit a Quality Officer to join our Forensic Quality Management team (QMT).

Forensic regulation is a high priority for the NCA. A forensics QMT is an essential part of the Quality Management System (QMS) established in order to achieve and maintain the standards of regulation and accreditation as mandated by the UK Forensic Science Regulator (FSR).

This is an exciting opportunity to join an expanding area of Forensics that provides assurance to the Criminal Justice System in respect of the forensic processes employed by the NCA.

We are seeking candidates who are: Familiar in the administration and management of Quality Management Systems, ideally in ISO 17025 and/or ISO 17020. It is desirable if you have experience of these standards in relation to Forensic disciplines across a multi-site/ multi-discipline environment.

Quality Officer providing administration of the Forensic Services Quality Management System in order to comply with Forensic Science Regulator Code of Practice, ISO 17025 and ISO 17020.

Job description

The Quality Officer plays an important role in supporting the delivery of high‑quality forensic services that help the NCA tackle serious and organised crime. As part of the Forensic Services Quality Management Team, you will help maintain compliance with the Forensic Science Regulator’s Code of Practice and the ISO 17025 and ISO 17020 accreditation standards that underpin all forensic activity.

The Quality Management Team operates nationally and is based across multiple locations. In this role, you will work closely with the forensic units at your site to strengthen local quality practices while staying connected to colleagues across the wider team. This provides the opportunity to build strong working relationships with operational staff and contribute to a consistent Quality Management System across the organisation.

Your day‑to‑day responsibilities will focus on managing quality documentation and responding to queries from forensic teams. This includes updating procedures and forms, reviewing submitted changes, maintaining accurate records, and helping colleagues understand and apply quality requirements. You will track and progress open actions, support routine administrative tasks, and carry out the data‑management activities that ensure the Quality Management System remains current and compliant.

Alongside this core work, you will contribute to other quality activities as they arise—such as supporting audits or assisting quality portfolio leads with tasks relating to the onboarding of new capability areas. Working within a rota means you will gain exposure to a broad mix of quality tasks while maintaining a consistent and structured workload.

This role offers the chance to develop a solid understanding of quality standards within a forensic environment, gain experience across a breadth of accredited disciplines, and contribute to a team that plays a vital part in maintaining trusted forensic outcomes. It is a varied and purposeful position suited to individuals who enjoy applying strong organisational skills, working collaboratively, and taking responsibility for consistent, high‑quality work.

Duties and Responsibilities

• Provide support for the implementation and maintenance of Forensic quality standards across the NCA to ensure compliance with the Forensic Science Regulators (FSR) Codes of Practice and Conduct (CoP).
• Develop and maintain ISO 17020/17025 policy and procedures ensuring they are fit for purpose.
• Carry out administration of the Quality Management System in accordance with the rota.
• Carry out audits against working practices within the Forensics Services Quality Management System.
• Record and monitor corrective actions of non-compliance identified; supporting any investigations and actions where necessary.
• Support the version control and central archiving of policies and procedures.
• Issue new and updated procedures across the Forensic disciplines.
• Report quality issues to management meetings where improvements will be discussed and agreed.
• Maintaining a good level of knowledge and understanding of quality standards, training and competency.
• Work closely with managers, supervisors and peers within the Forensic Services Department and other NCA Commands.

If you want to get more information from a Quality Officer please refer to the "Day in the Life" attachment

Person specification

Skills, Knowledge and Experience

Administration of business management functions/systems, ideally across multiple sites - Input and management of data to operate the Quality Management System. This includes data entry, clarification of data, data review and data retention.

Knowledge of Quality Standards, ISO 17025 or ISO 17020 - Comprehensive understanding of the requirements to attain and maintain an accredited status for Forensics processes (ISO 17020/17025, ILAC G-19 and associated international standards. Alternatively, knowledge of a comparable quality system e.g. ISO 9001.

Understanding of the Forensic Science Regulator's Code of Practice - Conversant in the requirements of the FSR Code of Practice and the application to all Forensic activities.

Decision Making and Communication Skills - Able to make decisions on when to seek advice and communicate effectively by a variety of methods adjusting to the intended recipient.

Proven experience in Microsoft Office in creation of reports and presentation of data - Experienced in use of Microsoft Office primarily for creation of documents, both written and visual, e.g. Word, PowerPoint, Visio and Power BI.

This role will require occasional travel to different locations and will include overnight stays

The minimum hours that must be worked are 22.5 hours if you are applying for part-time

Desirable Criteria

Desirable criteria are only used for assessment in the event of a tie break.

-Internal Auditor certificate in either ISO 17025, ISO 17020 or ISO 9001
-Membership of Chartered Quality Institute
-Full UK Driving Licence

Behaviours

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

• Making Effective Decisions
• Delivering at Pace

Technical skills

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

• Knowledge of administration of business management functions/systems, ideally across multiple sites.
• Knowledge of Forensic Science Regulation or Quality Standards (ISO 9001, ISO 17025, ISO 17020)
• Proven experience in Microsoft software in creation of reports and presentation of data.
• Experience of creating a more positive or inclusive team environment

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.

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 and Technical skills.

Your application will be assessed against the following:

Technical - this will be assessed by 250 word examples on:

• Knowledge of administration of business management functions/systems, ideally across multiple sites.

• Knowledge of Forensic Science Regulation or Quality Standards (ISO 9001, ISO 17025, ISO 17020)

• Proven experience in Microsoft software in creation of reports and presentation of data.

• Experience of creating a more positive or inclusive team environment

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.

- Knowledge of administration of business management functions/systems, ideally across multiple sites. .

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

• Making Effective Decisions

• Delivering at Pace

Technical

• Knowledge of administration of business management functions/systems, ideally across multiple sites.

• Knowledge of Forensic Science Regulation or Quality Standards (ISO 9001, ISO 17025, ISO 17020)

• Proven experience in Microsoft software in creation of reports and presentation of data.

• Experience of creating a more positive or inclusive team environment

Assessment Outcome

Outcomes 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.

Full advert details for this vacancy can found on the advert on the NCA Recruitment Portal. Please follow the link to apply at advertisers' site.

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 : The Recruitment Team
• Email : central.recruitment@nca.gov.uk
• Telephone : 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.

Attachments

A Day in the Life - Quality Officer Opens in new window (docx, 44kB)