Technical Operations Equipment Officer

Job summary

Technical Operations delivers intrusive surveillance capabilities to the NCA, frequently operating in high-risk and complex environments. The Technical Operations Equipment Officer plays a critical support role to frontline deployment teams by ensuring the effective management, accountability, and maintenance of specialist technical equipment.

The Equipment Officer is responsible for maintaining accurate stock control records throughout the full equipment lifecycle. This includes ensuring all new equipment is recorded within the stock control system upon receipt, and that all assets are managed, tracked, and audited in accordance with departmental Standard Operating Procedures (SOPs) and relevant legal requirements. They ensure that equipment is correctly issued, logged, and stored at all times.

In addition, the role involves supporting the maintenance and standardisation of technical equipment. This is achieved by developing an understanding of how individual components integrate to form operational systems, carrying out software and firmware updates to ensure consistency across equipment models, and building effective working relationships with deployment officers.

Ultimately, the Equipment Officer is responsible for safeguarding the integrity, readiness, and auditability of the equipment used by Technical Operations, ensuring it is fit for purpose and fully compliant with operational and legal standards.

Job description

The Equipment Officer is responsible for the management, maintenance, and audit of technical equipment deployed by Technical Officers on operational tasks. This role centres on ensuring the accurate recording, tracking, and accountability of all equipment throughout its use.

The Equipment Officer supports operations by issuing equipment to Technical Officers for specific tasks and recording all transactions within the department’s equipment management system (Obelisk). Upon completion of each task, they are responsible for ensuring a clear and auditable chain of custody, confirming that all equipment has been removed from deployment, returned, and correctly logged back into secure storage in accordance with system procedures.

Although primarily based at a single location, the Equipment Officer may be required to travel within their region to conduct physical stock checks across multiple storage sites, ensuring records remain accurate and compliant.

Additional responsibilities include maintaining technical equipment standards by ensuring firmware is kept up to date and consistent across similar devices, monitoring consumable stock levels within workshops, and ordering replacements as required to maintain operational readiness.

The role also involves producing auditable reports for senior managers, including regular equipment usage reports and ad hoc reports detailing the location and status of operational equipment.

Duties and Responsibilities

Maintain accurate, auditable equipment records - Use the department’s equipment management system to accurately record all equipment holdings and deployments. Issue equipment to Technical Officers against specific operations, ensuring all transactions are correctly logged. At the conclusion of operations, verify that equipment is returned in a serviceable condition and complete a full audit of its return to storage. Ensure all newly received equipment is promptly recorded within the stock control system.

Develop knowledge of operational equipment - Build and maintain a working understanding of the equipment used by Technical Officers and how it is deployed. Demonstrate a willingness to continuously learn about evolving technologies and operational techniques.

Build effective working relationships - Proactively engage with Technical Officers to develop strong working relationships. Promote awareness and adherence to equipment management processes during both in-hours and out-of-hours operations.

Monitor and maintain software and firmware standards - Develop familiarity with commonly used equipment and perform basic functionality checks where appropriate. Ensure software and firmware versions are regularly reviewed and maintained at consistent and up-to-date standards across devices.

Engage with manufacturers and suppliers - Establish and maintain effective relationships with equipment manufacturers and suppliers. Stay informed of updates to hardware, software, and firmware, and apply this knowledge to maintain equipment standards.

Manage consumable stock levels - Monitor stock levels of consumable items (e.g. batteries, cables, accessories). Work with Technical Officers to understand usage patterns and forecast requirements. Order replacement items in a timely manner to ensure continuity of operational capability.

Produce audit and management reports - Generate accurate and auditable reports on equipment usage, status, and location as required by management. Use the stock control system to support reporting and ensure data integrity.

Person specification

Communication Skills - Demonstrates strong verbal and written communication skills, with the ability to engage effectively with a wide range of stakeholders, including senior officers. Able to clearly communicate expectations and ensure adherence to equipment usage Standard Operating Procedures (SOPs). Confident in identifying, articulating, and escalating potential procedural risks before they develop into issues. Provides regular, clear updates on activities, priorities, and progress.

Technical Awareness - Has an interest in technical equipment and a willingness to develop knowledge of systems used by Technical Officers. Proactively seeks guidance and support to build understanding of equipment under their responsibility.

Planning and Organisation - Demonstrates the ability to effectively manage time, prioritise workloads, and meet deadlines. Ensures tasks are completed to the required standard and within agreed timelines, escalating issues where necessary.

Digital and Systems Proficiency - Proficient in Microsoft Office applications. Able to learn and effectively use internal systems (e.g. Obelisk) to manage equipment records and processes. Capable of producing accurate, auditable reports on equipment usage, movement, and loan activity between operational teams.

Teamwork and Collaboration - Works collaboratively with colleagues to achieve shared objectives. Builds positive working relationships and contributes to a team-focused environment, prioritising collective outcomes over individual goals.

Licences

Full UK or International Driving Licence - Candidates must hold a valid driving licence permitting them to drive a car in the UK. This may include a full UK driving licence or an appropriate international driving licence recognised for use in the UK, as the role requires regular travel to other NCA sites across the country.

Behaviours

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

• Communicating and Influencing
• Managing a Quality Service

Technical skills

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

• Demonstrated proficiency in Microsoft Office applications and other web-based systems.
• Demonstrated ability to work collaboratively with colleagues and stakeholders, building effective working relationships, sharing information and best practice, and contributing positively to the achievement of shared objectives.
• Demonstrated ability to identify, diagnose and resolve technical faults in equipment or systems in a logical and methodical manner, ensuring issues are addressed efficiently to maintain operational effectiveness.

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 (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, Experience and Technical skills.Your application will be assessed against the following:Technical - this will be assessed by 250 word examples on:

• Demonstrated proficiency in Microsoft Office applications and other web-based systems.

• Demonstrates the ability to work collaboratively with colleagues and stakeholders, building effective working relationships, sharing information and best practice, and contributing positively to the achievement of shared objectives.

• Demonstrates the ability to identify, diagnose and resolve technical faults in equipment or systems in a logical and methodical manner, ensuring issues are addressed efficiently to maintain operational effectiveness.

Experience - This will be assessed:

CV

Please include your full career history, training, qualifications, key responsibilities, and achievements. Explain any employment gaps in the last two years. Ensure all accreditation dates are accurate.

Details of what is expected within your CV are as follows: Please provide a concise, up-to-date CV demonstrating how you meet the Person Specification outlined in this advert. Your CV should include your full employment history, with explanations for any gaps within the last five years. Please also include details of all relevant qualifications, certifications and professional training.

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.

- Demonstrated proficiency in Microsoft Office applications and other web-based systems. .

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

• Communicating and Influencing

• Managing a Quality Service

Technical

• Demonstrated proficiency in Microsoft Office applications and other web-based systems.

• Demonstrates the ability to work collaboratively with colleagues and stakeholders, building effective working relationships, sharing information and best practice, and contributing positively to the achievement of shared objectives.

• Demonstrates the ability to identify, diagnose and resolve technical faults in equipment or systems in a logical and methodical manner, ensuring issues are addressed efficiently to maintain operational effectiveness.

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.

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.

Attachments

Offer T&Cs Opens in new window (docx, 135kB)