Senior Internet Intelligence & Investigations Officer

Job summary

Are you an experienced intelligence professional with the skills to uncover critical insights in an increasingly complex digital world? The Competition and Markets Authority (CMA) is seeking a Senior Internet Intelligence & Investigations (III) Officer to join our specialist Internet Investigations Laboratory, the CMA's Centre of Excellence for Internet Intelligence & Investigations.

In this influential role, you will lead the delivery of high-quality intelligence products derived from both open and closed online sources, supporting some of the CMA's most impactful work across competition enforcement, consumer protection, digital markets and market studies. Combining advanced digital tradecraft, innovative investigative tools and strategic insight, you'll help drive evidence-based decision making and deliver meaningful outcomes for consumers and businesses across the UK.

As a senior member of the team, you will play a key role in shaping the CMA's internet intelligence capabilities, advancing the use of Open Source Intelligence (OSINT), and exploring the opportunities presented by emerging technologies and AI. Working closely with colleagues across the organisation, you will contribute to the development of cutting-edge investigative approaches and strengthen the UK's wider intelligence capability.

This is a unique opportunity to apply your expertise in a role that combines strategic leadership, technical innovation and operational impact. Your work will support the CMA's mission to promote competition, protect consumers and foster economic growth, while helping ensure the organisation's priorities are delivered with efficiency, clarity, balance and transparency.

About the CMA

The Competition and Markets Authority (CMA) is the UK’s principal competition and consumer protection authority. We promote competition and protect consumers with a clear end goal in mind: to drive economic growth and improve household prosperity. The CMA has a range of powers, which it uses to undertake a wide variety of cutting-edge, high profile and complex work, spanning merger and market inquiries, competition and consumer law enforcement, our role in the digital markets competition regime, subsidy advice, and internal market advice.

You can read more about working at the CMA including our office locations in our candidate pack

Job description

As a Senior Internet Intelligence & Investigations (III) Officer, you will act as the lead intelligence specialist on high-profile cases and strategic projects, delivering sophisticated online investigations and intelligence products that support the CMA's work across competition enforcement, consumer protection, digital markets and market studies. Working closely with case teams and senior stakeholders, you'll ensure intelligence insights are delivered at critical points in the investigative lifecycle, helping to inform operational decisions and deliver successful outcomes.

As a recognised subject matter expert, you will evaluate emerging technologies, develop new investigative methodologies, and champion the use of advanced OSINT and digital investigation techniques. You'll collaborate with colleagues across the CMA, UK Government, law enforcement and international partners, sharing expertise and representing the CMA's Internet Intelligence capability through briefings, training and specialist advice. Your work will help shape the future direction of III and contribute to wider government thinking on digital investigations and intelligence.

Beyond delivering intelligence, you will play a key role in building organisational capability by providing technical leadership, coaching and oversight to junior colleagues. You'll help maintain specialist software, hardware and virtual environments, support the development of policies and best practice, and ensure intelligence activity is accurately recorded and managed. The role involves acquiring and analysing information from a diverse range of digital environments, including websites, restricted-access platforms, mobile devices, computers, gaming consoles and emerging technologies, ensuring the CMA remains at the forefront of modern digital investigations.

Person specification

It is essential that you can provide evidence and examples for each of the following selection criteria in your application. For tips on how to make the most your application, please have a look at our guidance document.

Essential Criteria

• Extensive experience with the application of OSINT specific toolsets, platforms, scripts and web extensions used in III work. Technical knowledge of the structure of the Internet and websites, including knowledge of emerging technologies used in the OSINT sphere with the ability to generate and modify scripts - particularly Python (Lead Criteria).
• Extensive practice in conducting and leading in OSINT or internet-based investigations within a specialist intelligence/investigation environment with proven ability to make logical and timely decisions, cutting through complexity and seeing the big picture to achieve outcomes (Lead Criteria).
• Strong relationship management skills to build and maintain effective working relationships within the team and other business units.
• Extensive experience of conducting and overseeing complex OSINT tasking, including identifying and managing associated operational risks and assessing the relevance, reliability and value of information obtained from online sources – including data from web scraped information.
• Strong analytical skills and ability to produce clear, actionable intelligence reports.
• Excellent verbal and written communication skills, including the ability to produce documents that can be tailored to a wide variety of audiences and brief stakeholders across all levels of seniority.
• Ability to effectively prioritise competing demands, work independently and collaboratively in a fast-paced environment and deliver high-quality outcomes in a fast-paced and constantly changing environment.
• Understanding of relevant related legislation parameters, for example, Human Rights Act 1998 (HRA 1998),Regulation of Investigatory Powers Act 2000 (RIPA 2000),General Data Protection Regulation 2016 (GDPR),UK Data Protection Act 2018 (DPA) andGuidance on Internet Intelligence & Investigations (NPCC).

Behaviours

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

• Making Effective Decisions
• Communicating and Influencing
• Working Together
• Changing and Improving
• Developing Self and Others

Technical skills

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

• Data collection
• Python Scripting (within Internet Investigations)

Benefits

Alongside your salary of £49,400, Competition & Markets Authority contributes £14,311 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).

You’ll also get:

• 25 days leave (increasing to 30 days over five years), plus 8 public holidays and an additional day off for the King’s birthday. In addition, you’ll be able to access a wide range of other types of leave as and when you need it, including generous maternity, paternity, shared parental leave and adoption options, as well as paid special leave for volunteering.
• Access to our benefits platform which includes retail discounts, cycle to work scheme and payroll giving. Employees can also sign up for season ticket loans.
• Access to the Civil Service Sports & Leisure, giving discounted gym membership, high street discounts, free access to UK wide attractions and a free Tastecard.
• A range of wellbeing benefits, including an employee assistance programme, flu vaccinations and eye tests. We also have flexible working options and family friendly policies.

You can read more about our benefits in our candidate pack.

Our Values

We are Ambitious and Evidence-based, and always strive for Excellence.​ We treat everyone with Respect and are Collaborative and Inclusive.​

Everything we do is underpinned by the Civil Service values: Honesty, Integrity, Impartiality and Objectivity.

You can read more about life at the CMA in our candidate pack.

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.

Application and sift stage

• As part of the application process you will be asked to complete a CV, personal statement and an online application form. Further details about application requirements are listed on the application form.
• In addition, candidates will also need to provide answers to the following 3 questions. Responses must not exceed 500 words.

1. Provide an example of how you have applied technical knowledge, internet investigations tradecraft using OSINT specific toolsets (including the use of scripting) to solve a complex investigative problem.

2. Describe a time when you took the lead an internet intelligence (OSINT) investigation in support of an operational, regulatory, enforcement or intelligence objective.

3. Describe a time when you were responsible for delivering internet intelligence support throughout the lifecycle of a case, project or investigation involving multiple stakeholders.

• At the sift stage, your application (CV, personal statement and above questions) will be reviewed and assessed against the essential criteria listed under the Person Specification of the role profile.
• Please note that it is essential that your personal statement is aligned to provide evidence that you have the knowledge and experience for each of the essential criteria (as included on the role profile attached and listed above under 'Person Specification') in your application. Your personal statement should be no more than 1250 words.
• Candidates will initially be sifted on the first two essential criteria points (Lead Criteria). If your application progresses to a full sift, all elements of the essential criteria listed under Person Specification will then be considered.
• We may raise the score required at sift stage to progress to interview if we receive a high number of applications and take through the highest performing candidates to the interview stage.
• Successful candidates at sift will be invited to an interview which will be conducted in-person at the CMA's London office in Canary Wharf.

Interview stage

• At the CMA we apply a blended interview technique, allowing us to find out more about you and we use the Success Profiles framework assessing the Behaviours, Experience and Technical skills outlined in the advert and attached role profile.
• The first part of the interview will comprise of a technical exercise, details of which will be sent with your interview invitation.
• Following this, the panel will then conduct a 45-60 minute interview held in-person at the CMA's London office in Canary Wharf.
• During the interview, candidates will be asked questions based on the Behaviours, Experience and Technical skills outlined in the role profile.
• A reserve list may be held for up to 12 months from which further appointments may be made for the same or similar roles.

Timeline (the dates outlined below are indicative and may be subject to change)

• The advert closing date is 9th November 2026 (23:55). We are not able to accept late applications.
• The sift is scheduled to take place between 10th-13th November 2026.
• Interviews will be held from the week commencing 23rd November 2026.

Reasonable adjustments

We want to make sure no one is at a disadvantage during our recruitment process because of a disability, condition or impairment. To assist you with this, we will reduce or remove any barriers where possible and provide additional support where appropriate.

If you need a change to be made so that you can make your application, you should complete the “Assistance required” section in the “Additional requirements” page of your application form to tell us what changes or help you might need during the recruitment process. You can also email recruitment@cma.gov.uk.

For example, you may need wheelchair access at interview, or if you are deaf, a Language Service Professional. You might also require additional time to complete a timed assessment or a sign language interpreter to support with the relaying of information.

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 : Tom Skidmore
• Email : recruitment@cma.gov.uk

Recruitment team

• Email : recruitment@cma.gov.uk

Further information

If your application has not been treated in accordance with the Recruitment Principles and you wish to make a complaint, you should contact Recruitment@cma.gov.uk in the first instance. If you are not satisfied with the response you receive you can contact the Civil Service Commission http://civilservicecommission.independent.gov.uk.

Attachments

Role Profile - Senior Internet Intelligence and Investigations Officer Opens in new window (pdf, 154kB)