Targeted Intercept Officer - Intelligence (Readvertised)
Job summary
Operating within the Investigatory Powers Act 2016 officers target and intercept criminal communications.
Officers apply their specialist skills to analyse the content of communications, identifying tactical and strategic intelligence which drives the Agency’s response to serious organised crime.
Please note: This is a full-time role. We are not able to offer part-time for this position. Due to the nature of the role, this role is office-based only. No hybrid working is available for this position.
Please note: Candidates appointed to positions in Warrington must hold, or be eligible to obtain, SC Enhanced Security Clearance on entry and DV Enhanced Clearance within 12 months of appointment. Candidates appointed to positions in London must obtain DV Enhanced Clearance on entry and DV STRAP Clearance within 12 months of appointment. Any candidates who do not achieve the relevant clearance will be at risk of termination.Job description
Officers are responsible for the covert collection and analysis of criminal communications. The unique and critical insight provided by intercept means that Officers are at the forefront of tackling the threat from Serious and Organised Crime, providing the intelligence obtained from intercepted communications to operational teams to effect arrests, the seizure of money, drugs and firearms and prevent loss of life.
Duties and Responsibilities
Intelligence Development - To contribute to the acquisition and development of tactical and strategic intelligence relating to serious and organised crime affecting the UK within a dynamic environment.
To conduct intelligence development, research and analysis in support of the National Crime Agency’s Annual Plan, National Control Strategy and other identified priorities in the fight to cut serious and organised crime.
To work collaboratively with the NCA operations teams and partners to deliver a unified crime fighting response to serious and organised crime.
Shift work - To work shifts to provide a service which delivers dynamic support to NCA and partner operations.
Operational Support - To provide fast paced operational support to the Agency by gathering, analysing and disseminating intercept intelligence in accordance with legislation and policy.
To draft and submit Warranty and Communications Data applications, as required, for the purpose of intelligence gathering.
Risk Management - To identify, prioritise and manage risk in accordance with legislation and policy.
Sensitive Intelligence - To ensure the quality, secure handling and dissemination of intelligence, maintaining confidentiality, sensitivity and a duty of care in line with Agency policy.
Stakeholder engagement - To build good working relationships with both internal and external partners including police forces and other government agencies.
Please Note: For successful candidates, your appointment as an Intercept Operations Officer of the National Crime Agency and continued employment is dependent on successful completion of the 10-week Intercept Training Programme, which is a pass or fail course. Another role will be sought for candidates who fail the course, however, if no role is found, the candidate may risk termination.
Person specification
Skills, Knowledge and Experience
Communication - Effective communication to a wide range of stakeholders
Analysis - Ability to analyse information from a number of sources
Problem Solving - Application of understanding to solve problems
Decision Making - Risk based decision making within Operational environment.
Changing and Improving - Initiatives to improve efficiencies
On-call working
Alternate weeks (Monday-Friday) of Earlies 06:00-14:30, Lates 13:30-22:00. Weekend attendance is 1 in 4 which will be a combination of earlies, lates and midday (10:00-18:00). On-call no more than 1 week in 6.Behaviours
We'll assess you against these behaviours during the selection process:
- Changing and Improving
- Making Effective Decisions
Technical skills
We'll assess you against these technical skills during the selection process:
- Effective communication to a wide range of stakeholders
- Ability to analyse information from a number of sources
- Ability to solve complex problems in a dynamic work environment.
Benefits
Alongside your salary of £37,428, National Crime Agency contributes £10,842 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).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.How we will assess you
Your application will be assessed against the following:Technical - this will be assessed by 250 word examples on:- Effective communication to a wide range of stakeholders
- Ability to analyse information from a number of sources
- Ability to solve complex problems in a dynamic work environment.
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.
- Effective communication to a wide range of stakeholders .
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 Pre Training Assessment which will be tested on via the details listed below.
Candidates successful at shortlisting will be invited to attend a half day in-person Pre-Training Assessment (PTA). The PTA largely involves listening to and interpreting a series of audio clips and some internet based web history; the clips cover an illustrative scenario in which candidates will be required to produce an overall assessment of what is occurring. Further guidelines will be provided on the day.
Candidates are required to pass every stage of the PTA in order to be invited to interview.
If you are successful you will be invited to the second assessment.Assessment 2
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- Changing and Improving
- Making Effective Decisions
- Effective communication to a wide range of stakeholders
- Ability to analyse information from a number of sources
- Ability to solve complex problems in a dynamic work environment.
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.Security and Vetting
People working with government assets must complete baseline personnel security standard checks.Successful candidates must meet the security requirements before they can be appointed. The level of security needed is DV Enhanced. All security clearances will be managed by the NCA.For more information on security vetting please visit: UK Security Vetting guidance for applicants and Demystifying Vetting and see our vetting charter at: The Vetting Charter.Vetting requirements - DV Enhanced
Prior to commencing the role, you will need to successfully complete DV Enhanced clearance and then achieve DV STRAP clearance within the first 12 months in post. 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
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@nationalcrimeagency.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.
Inclusion
The Civil Service is committed to attract, retain and invest in talent wherever it is found. To learn more please see the Civil Service People Plan and the Civil Service Diversity and Inclusion Strategy
In order to monitor the effectiveness of the National Crime Agency's Diversity & Inclusion strategy, we require certain personal details about you on submission of your application for statistical and monitoring purposes only. Please note that this will be treated in confidence and will not impact your application.
This vacancy is part of the Great Place to Work for Veterans initiative.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 developed vetting (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
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
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
Recruitment team
- Email : central.recruitment@nca.gov.uk
Further information
If you believe your application has not been treated fairly, email: central.recruitment@nationalcrimeagency.gov.uk (quoting the vacancy reference).If unresolved, you may escalate your complaint to the Civil Service Commission.
Salary range
- £37,428 per year