Senior Officer - CDU
Job summary
The Communications Data Unit (CDU) operates within the Intelligence command supporting the NCA in delivering its mission to cut serious and organised crime through the acquisition of Communications Data under the Investigatory Powers Act 2016. As an accredited experienced Single Point of Contact (SPOC) you will be responsible for handling applications, prioritising workflows and demand and managing colleagues in direct support of the NCA’s operational delivery.Job description
The Communications Data Units are located in Birmingham, London and Warrington. CDU SpoCs work with investigation teams to assist in achieving operational objectives using communications data. They manage and facilitate applications for data, within the legislative framework. Experienced Officers will also assist in the development and training of colleagues, as well as managing workflows and ensuring demand is met by allocation of resources, managing abstractions etc.
Communications Data (CD) underpins virtually every element of modern life. It is about who we communicate with, how those communications takes place, when they happened and where we were at the time.
The need for criminals to communicate means that the requirement for Comms Data and it’s subsequent analysis underpins all the NCA’s operational activity, and as technology advances and digital opportunities grow, the demand for data acqusition is growing exponentially. As the senior officer you will be responsible for managing CD acquisition for all NCA operational requirements.
You will manage/supervise a team of accredited CD SPOCs, ensuring processes are carried out thoroughly, professionally and expeditiously in accordance with Agency policy and legislative requirements. You will liaise with case officers and SIOs to ensure the CDU provide the necessary support to operations. You will manage the security and accuracy of intelligence, maintaining confidentiality, sensitivity and duty of care.
You will be responsible for the training and mentoring of new officers to the unit pre and post Home Office accreditation. You will establish, develop and maintain strong working relationships with Intelligence collection partners, operational teams and represent the CDU at strategy meetings.
You will be required to represent the NCA and its interests in respect of CD at National and Regional forums and working groups.
Person specification
- Experience of managing, leading or developing others in support of business objectives
- Evidence an in-depth knowledge of legislation pertaining to agency/UKLE activity, in particular the acquisition of communications data
- Interpretation of CD and knowledge of impact on operational requirements
- Act as a nationally accredited Single Point of Contact (SPoC) between the NCA and Telecommunications Operators.
- Facilitate the acquisition and dissemination of Communications Data intelligence and evidence in accordance with legislation and Code of Practice
- Act as a subject matter expert to provide guidance and advice to Senior Investigating Officers and case teams on the use of Communications Data
- Identify, prioritise and manage risk.
- Proactively identify and exploit communications data intelligence sources in collaboration with specialist teams.
- Protect the NCA’s reputation by upholding the highest standards of integrity and accuracy.
- Support colleagues with upskilling, mentoring and other relevant development.
- Manage resources to ensure demand is addressed within availability.
- Provide relevant Line Manager support to direct reports, and cover for colleagues
Essential Criteria
You must meet the essential criteria and evidence this within your application to be considered for the role:Currently hold or previously held Home Office Accredited Communications Data Investigator Single Point of Contact [SPoC]Any applications from candidates not meeting this eligibility criteria will not progress.Behaviours
We'll assess you against these behaviours during the selection process:
- Leadership
- Managing a Quality Service
- Working Together
Benefits
Alongside your salary of £45,326, National Crime Agency contributes £13,130 towards you being a member of the Civil Service Defined Benefit Pension scheme. Find out what benefits a Civil Service Pension provides.- Roles based in London will receive an additional London Weighting (Per Annum) of £4218
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.How we will assess you
Your application will be assessed against the following:Experience - This will be assessed:Experience Criteria - will be assessed by 500 word examples on:- An awareness of changing legislation and / or emerging technology or capabilities, in particular those impacting the acquisition and interpretation of communications data to support operational requirements.
- Experience of managing, leading or developing others in support of business objectives.
- Experience of managing and prioritising competing demands in line with department and agency requirements.
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.
- An awareness of changing legislation and / or emerging technology or capabilities, in particular those impacting the acquisition and interpretation of communications data to support operational requirements. .
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
- Working Together
- Managing a Quality Service
- An awareness of changing legislation and / or emerging technology or capabilities, in particular those impacting the acquisition and interpretation of communications data to support operational requirements.
- Experience of managing, leading or developing others in support of business objectives.
- Experience of managing and prioritising competing demands in line with department and agency requirements.
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
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 you fail to obtain the increased clearance within 12 months of starting, your contract of employment is at risk of termination.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.Working for the NCA
The National Crime Agency is a 24/7 organisation, and working patterns must support business requirements. Some roles may require you to respond at short notice or outside of core hours.If preferable, alternative contract types may be available. Please review the green bar of this advert to view all available contract types for this role. Where Loan or Secondment options are available, these would be for existing Civil Servants (Loan) and applicants from accredited Non-Departmental Public Bodies (NDPBs) or any other employer (Secondment). Prior agreement to be released on a loan basis must be obtained before commencing the application process. In the case of Civil Servants, the terms of the loan will be agreed between the home and host department and the Civil Servant. This includes grade on return.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
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 : The Central Recruitment Team
- 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
- £45,326 per year