Threat Manager

Job summary

Key Responsibilities
Leadership & Management

Lead and develop high-performing teams, fostering a culture of integrity, professionalism, and continuous improvement.
Provide inclusive leadership, promoting diversity, wellbeing, and ethical practice.
Allocate resources effectively and manage workforce planning to meet operational demands.

Threat Leadership & Strategy

Shape and deliver threat strategies aligned to national priorities (e.g. organised crime, cybercrime, exploitation).
Coordinate intelligence and operational activity across NCA commands and with external partners.
Ensure the translation of intelligence into actionable outputs that inform operational decision-making.

Operational Delivery

Oversee the delivery of complex, high-risk operational activity or programmes.
Maintain accountability for outcomes, ensuring activity is lawful, proportionate, and effective.
Manage risks and ensure appropriate governance frameworks are in place.

Partnership & Stakeholder Engagement

Build and maintain strong relationships with UK law enforcement, intelligence agencies, government departments, and international partners.
Represent the NCA at senior meetings, boards, and multi-agency forums.
Influence and negotiate to achieve strategic operational outcomes.

Performance & Governance

Monitor and report on performance against strategic objectives and key deliverables.
Ensure compliance with legal, ethical, and policy frameworks.
Drive continuous improvement through evaluation and lessons learned.

Please note:

By applying for these roles you are confirming that you are willing to work on Child Sexual Abuse and MSHT matters. The NCA will provide access to Occupational Health Services and individuals placed into CSA roles will be required to complete a psychological assessment prior to joining and throughout your employment.

Some roles will be required to obtain SC on entry and achieve DV within 12 months of being in post.

Job description

The Threat Manager role within Threat Leadership Command is responsible for leading and delivering operational, intelligence, or threat-management capabilities in support of the NCA’s mission to protect the public from serious and organised crime.
The role provides leadership across multi-disciplinary teams, driving the development and delivery of threat strategies, coordinating national responses, and ensuring alignment with government priorities and NCA strategic objectives.

These roles will be deployed across all threat areas, which includes:

NCCU - The National Cyber Crime Unit (NCCU) is the UK lead for tackling the threat from cyber crime - a single Unit with the responsibility and capability to deliver operations, lead the overall UK response, coordinate activity across a range of partners, and provide specialist cyber support and expertise across law enforcement.

CSA/MSHT - The growing scale and severity of online child sexual abuse (CSA) is a concern for Governments around the world. Our goal is to use every appropriate lever to stop online CSA offending, protecting every child and young person’s right to a childhood experience free from victimisation by offenders. Modern Slavery and Human Trafficking (MSHT) relates to the exploitation of children and adults in slavery, servitude and forced or compulsory labour. Human trafficking is the recruitment, movement, harbouring, or receiving of children and adults through force, coercion, or deception for the purposes of exploitation. MSHT is a priority threat for the UK, and the NCA continue to play a key role in delivering the Government response to Modern Slavery and Human Trafficking.

OIC - Organised Immigration Crime - The NCA leads the law enforcement response to the organised criminality involved in the smuggling of people impacting on the UK. We focus on investigating the top tier, highest harm criminal networks. We also work with partners including Immigration Enforcement, policing and overseas law enforcement, to support their investigations with our unique tactics.

DFaB - Drugs, Firearms & Borders - The Drugs Threat Leadership Team drive the national strategic response to the drugs threat. We collaborate with partners to identify and understand the threat, deliver innovative responses through a wide range of projects, and establish emerging trends and future risks. We operate across the complete drug supply chain; from source countries, to transit and border crossings, and also monitor at street level.

The Firearms Threat Leadership Team are responsible for leading the NCA response to the criminal threat of firearms. We direct and encourage collaborative partnerships to fully understand and deliver innovative responses to supress the threat, allowing identification of emerging risks relating to the commodity, nexus points in source, transit and supply territories.

Borders Threat Leadership are a team of NCA officers with diverse skillsets, well-versed in operational planning and experienced in the delivery of multi-agency law enforcement activity at the border, as well as strategic engagement with partners.

Duties and Responsibilities Duties and ResponsibilitiesOverviewSet and Monitor PerformanceTo ensure that all projects align with strategic objectives and comply with relevant control strategies.Support Senior ManagementSupport senior management in the delivery of an effective and efficient departmental service deputising where appropriateManage Business Support Teams ActivityEnsuring projects, resources, programmes, planning activity or campaigns to ensure work is completed within agreed timescales/budgets and quality standards, in line with Agency policy.Work with cross-government departmentsWork with government departments and attend working groups, government committees/ meetings.Communicating ChangeManage change activity and communicate proposed changes with staff and stakeholdersManaging Business PerformanceTo ensure continuous improvement in service standardsLeading a TeamLeading people and managed resources to maximise service delivery.

Person specification

Skills, Knowledge and ExperienceDescriptionPlanning and OrganisingAbility to prioritise and organise workloads effectively and react quickly, take the lead on issues arising in a fast-moving and, at times pressurised environment, to tight deadlines.Relationship ManagementDevelops and maintains positive relationships with internal and/or external stakeholders in order to achieve stakeholder needs and business objectives.ITGood knowledge of Microsoft Office SuiteReport WritingAbility to write concise business reports for a variety of audiences including senior managementRisk ManagementBalances priorities across managing operations, finances, risks, experimentation and resources, whilst also identifying and evaluating the risks associated with a task, project or decision.AnalyticsUses analytical skills, varied sources of information and different methodologies to support decision-making.CommunicationConveys information clearly and effectively through written and verbal communication. ManagementEmpower, enable and manage the team to make ethical and inclusive decisions based on a diverse range of evidence and perspectives. Assessing the effectiveness and impact of decisions made, learning from our successes and failuresStrategic ThinkingAligns initiatives and practices with the overall strategic goals and objectives of an organisation. Anticipates future needs, identifies opportunities, and develops innovative and forward-thinking strategies that contribute to organisational success.System ThinkingUnderstands how things are interconnected and influence each other within the whole organisational system. They recognise that change or interventions in one area can have ripple effect, can identify the interrelationships and manage the impact on both the organisation and its people, addressing the system as a whole.Information ManagementUnderstands data classification and importance of protecting personal and confidential information. Knows protection laws and regulation compliance and how to minimise risks of data breaches or unauthorised access. Knows how to conduct regular security audits, and respond promptly to data breaches.LegislationA good understanding of legislation affecting Agency activity.Effective Decision-makingProven experience of making decisions at pace - meeting stakeholder needs through attention to detail and assessment of risk, based on available data.Monitoring Team PerformanceExperience of setting deadlines, KPIs & team SLAs and providing mechanisms to enable reporting of the data in a clear, concise way.

Behaviours

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

• Leadership

Technical skills

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

• Ability to critically assess whether business activity and programmes are delivering measurable impact on threat reduction, not just outputs

Benefits

Alongside your salary of £55,575, National Crime Agency contributes £16,100 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, Strengths, Experience and Technical skills.Your application will be assessed against the following:Technical - this will be assessed by 250 word examples on:

• Ability to critically assess whether business activity and programmes are delivering measurable impact on threat reduction, not just outputs

Experience - This will be assessed:Experience Criteria - will be assessed by 250 word examples on:

• Experience supporting threat-led operations, translating national priorities (e.g. Serious organised crime, cyber, exploitation) into business deliverables

• Experience working within or alongside intelligence cycles to ensure outputs support operational impact

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 supporting threat-led operations, translating national priorities (e.g. Serious organised crime, cyber, exploitation) into business deliverables .

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

Technical

• Ability to critically assess whether business activity and programmes are delivering measurable impact on threat reduction, not just outputs

Experience

• Experience supporting threat-led operations, translating national priorities (e.g. Serious organised crime, cyber, exploitation) into business deliverables

• Experience working within or alongside intelligence cycles to ensure outputs support operational impact

Strengths

Strengths are tested at interview stage - the strengths tested are not shared before the interview.

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.

Vetting requirements - SC Enhanced

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. 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.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.

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@nca.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.

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

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 Team
• 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@nca.gov.uk (quoting the vacancy reference).
If unresolved, you may escalate your complaint to the Civil Service Commission.