Senior Officer – Data Acquisition/Data Lifecycle

Job summary

The National Data Exploitation Capability (NDEC) is a multidisciplinary department comprising data engineers, data scientists, intelligence officers, analysts, data professionals and a strong business support function. Its component teams - including the Data Acquisition & Management Office (DAMO), Systems Management Desk (SMD), Biometrics and the Data Lab - work together to ensure high‑quality data underpins operational and strategic outcomes across the Agency.

The mission of DAMO is to secure access to more, and better quality, data within a stable, well‑managed environment. This involves navigating complex acquisition, governance and review policies; negotiating the acquisition of bulk datasets; receiving and preparing data for exploitation; and ensuring all data holdings are managed securely and in compliance with legislation, policy and data governance standards.

Job description

As a Senior Officer within DAMO, you will play a key role in identifying, acquiring and managing datasets that support the National Crime Agency’s operational and analytical priorities. You will work as part of a small, collaborative team responsible for developing acquisition proposals, assessing datasets to understand their relevance and value, and managing relationships with data owners across government, law enforcement and the private sector.

A technical background is not essential to succeed in DAMO. The team welcomes individuals who are curious, adaptable and willing to learn in a fast‑evolving technological environment. Our roles are well suited to those who enjoy supporting colleagues, shaping policies and processes, and applying sound judgement to data governance and acquisition challenges.

DAMO brings together a diverse mix of skills and experience, from intelligence and analysis to business support and corporate roles. Regardless of background, team members are united by strong relationship‑building skills, a proactive approach to problem solving, and the ability to work both autonomously and collaboratively as tasks demand. The work is varied and dynamic, combining rapid delivery with longer‑term projects, many of which contribute directly to high‑profile Agency activity.

Duties and Responsibilities

Project Management - Manage a portfolio of data‑related projects on a day‑to‑day basis, ensuring objectives are clearly defined, progress is effectively monitored, and delivery is achieved within agreed time, cost and quality parameters. Drive momentum, resolve issues proactively and maintain clear communication with stakeholders throughout.

Stakeholder Relationship Management - Build and maintain effective relationships with customers, data owners and data controllers. Provide informed support and guidance, identify opportunities for enhanced cross‑agency collaboration, and ensure partners remain engaged and supportive of data acquisition and management activities.

Proposal Development & Review - Lead the development and coordination of data acquisition proposals, working across NDEC and the wider NCA to gather business sponsorship, articulate benefits and ensure proposals align with strategic and operational requirements.

Governance & Compliance - Oversee the preparation and quality assurance of governance products such as Data Protection Impact Assessments (DPIAs), Bulk Personal Data Assessments (BPDs) and Memoranda of Understanding (MOUs). Ensure these documents support robust, compliant and transparent data acquisition and management practices.

Data Access & Audit Management - Oversee DAMO’s auditing processes, ensuring data usage and storage comply with relevant legislation, policy and agreements with data owners. Monitor access controls, authorise access requests appropriately and ensure dataset requirements are consistently upheld across NDEC customers.

Data Source Assessment - Lead the initial assessment of potential data sources to determine their relevance, value and suitability. Liaise with internal analysts, technical teams and external partners to scope requirements, gather additional insight and conduct or coordinate further analysis where needed.

Subject Matter Expertise - Develop and maintain expertise in a specific area within the Data Acquisition, Data Lifecycle or Projects team. Take ownership of this specialism, managing it independently while drawing on support from managers as required, and acting as a point of advice for colleagues.

Quality Assurance - Conduct effective quality assurance of existing data holdings, ensuring accuracy, completeness and ongoing fitness for purpose. Support the development and improvement of datasets and contribute to the implementation of standards and processes for high‑quality data management.

Person specification

Data Management - Experience working with a range of complex data sources, including an understanding of legislation, governance requirements and the considerations involved in handling bulk, sensitive or complex datasets. Knowledge of data management principles and the ability to ensure data is used, stored and shared in line with policy and legal obligations.

Time Management - Demonstrable experience working to tight deadlines, managing competing priorities and handling a high volume of incoming tasks effectively. Ability to plan and organise workloads to maintain pace without compromising accuracy or compliance.

Planning & Project Delivery - Experience planning, coordinating and delivering projects, ensuring objectives are defined, progress is monitored and outcomes are achieved to the required standard. Ability to manage short‑term tasks alongside longer‑term programmes of work.

Relationship Management - Proven ability to build and maintain positive working relationships with internal and external stakeholders at all levels. Able to understand stakeholder needs, influence effectively and support collaborative work across multiple teams and organisations.

Teamwork & Collaboration - Ability to work effectively with colleagues from a range of professional backgrounds to achieve shared goals. Demonstrates flexibility, supports others proactively and contributes to a positive, inclusive team environment.

Behaviours

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

• Managing a Quality Service
• Making Effective Decisions

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.

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 Experience.Your application will be assessed against the following:Experience - This will be assessed:Experience Criteria - will be assessed by 250 word examples on:

• Experience of working with a range of complex data sources, with an understanding of relevant legislation and the principles required to manage bulk, sensitive or high‑volume data effectively and compliantly.

• Experience of working to tight deadlines, effectively prioritising tasks and managing competing demands in a fast‑paced environment.

• Experience of building and maintaining effective relationships with internal and external partners at all levels.

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.

- Experience of working with a range of complex data sources, with an understanding of relevant legislation and the principles required to manage bulk, sensitive or high‑volume data effectively and compliantly. .

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

• Managing a Quality Service

• Making Effective Decisions

Experience

• Experience of working with a range of complex data sources, with an understanding of relevant legislation and the principles required to manage bulk, sensitive or high‑volume data effectively and compliantly.

• Experience of working to tight deadlines, effectively prioritising tasks and managing competing demands in a fast‑paced environment.

• Experience of building and maintaining effective relationships with internal and external partners at all levels.

Assessment OutcomeOutcomes 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.Please Note - Prior to commencing the role, you will need to successfully complete SC Enhanced clearance and then achieve DV Enhanced clearance within the first 12 months in post.

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

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 : central.recruitment@nca.gov.uk
• 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.