Communications Data Unit (CDU) Operations Manager
Description
- Job grade: Senior Executive Officer
- Contract type: Permanent
- Business area: NCA - Intelligence - Collections Team
- Type of role: Intelligence, Investigation, Operational Delivery
- Working pattern: Flexible working, Full-time, Job share, Part-time
- Number of jobs available: 2
Location
About the job
Job summary
NCA Intelligence Collection (IC) coordinate collection capabilities against the agencies’ highest priorities. Exploiting all collection in order to maximise operational effect, ensuring that when deployed the capabilities achieve greatest impact adding value to operations.
The Communications Data Unit (CDU) operate within the Integrated Communications Intelligence command of IC, supporting the NCA in delivering its mission to cut serious and organised crime and is responsible for the acquisition of Data under the Investigatory Powers Act 2016. You will be responsible for managing a team operating in a dynamic environment, with competing demands and ensuring the NCA's operational activity is supported. You will be responsible for ensuring resourcing and budgetary demands are met and the Departments reputation is maintained with internal and external partners.
***A psychological assessment will be required to undertake this role due to the exposure and access to Child Sexual Exploitation (CSE) material.***
***A minimum of 30 hours is required for part-time officers. Job share is subject to two successful officers requesting job share. ***
Job description
The Communications Data Units are located in Birmingham, London and Warrington. CDU Single point of Contacts (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.
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 its subsequent analysis underpins all the NCA’s operational activity, and as technology advances and digital opportunities grow, the demand for data acquisition is growing exponentially.
You will lead a team of officers who are accredited CD SPOCs; ensuring processes are carried out thoroughly, professionally and expeditiously in accordance with Agency policy and legislative requirements.
You will manage the security and accuracy of intelligence, maintaining confidentiality, sensitivity and duty of care. You will establish, develop and maintain strong working relationships with Intelligence collection partners, operational teams, NPCC and Home Office partners and represent the CDU at strategy meetings. You will support senior management in proactively identifying areas for improvement and driving forward change.
You will be managing resources and develop an agile and flexible workforce, ensuring officers are well-led and highly motivated with access to the tools required.
You will be accountable for CDU operational decisions and resourcing of the unit to support the Agency's demands.
You will support ICI Senior Leadership Team in ongoing work to integrate CD into the wider Integrated Collection programme to better exploit data held by the Agency.
***This vacancy is restricted to Birmingham and Warrington only***
Person specification
Experience in the acquisition and use of Communications Data and its impact on Operational Activity including a deep understanding relevant legislation: Understanding of the relevant legislation and processes underpinning the acquisition of CD within Law Enforcement.
Thorough knowledge of the criminal use of communications data and the law enforcement response: Experience/knowledge of working within criminal investigations and an understanding of the use of CD within these cases to enable you to support the Agency in progressing criminal investigations
Understanding of intelligence gathering capabilities and information management including experience of engagement with UKLE and operational decision-making: Knowledge of the capabilities available within the NCA and understanding the complimenting sources of intelligence available to the investigators to support operational objectives.
Experience of managing, leading or developing a team in support of business objectives and Agency requirements: Within this role you will be responsible for leading a fast paced team in a demanding business area. You will be responsible for developing your officers and leading a team of SPOCs in the delivery of CD support.
An awareness of changing legislation and/or emerging technology or capabilities, in particular those impacting the acquisition and interpretation of communications data to support the Agency's strategic priorities: The world of CD is ever evolving and legislation frequently amended to reflect this. As such, it is paramount that our SPOCs maintain a working knowledge of changing legislation and the capabilities available to the Agency with regards to CD acquisition.
Behaviours
We'll assess you against these behaviours during the selection process:
- Leadership
- Seeing the Big Picture
- Communicating and Influencing
Technical skills
We'll assess you against these technical skills during the selection process:
- An awareness of changing legislation and/or emerging technology or capabilities, in particular those impacting the acquisition and interpretation of communications data to support business objectives and/or business requirements.
- Experience in identifying and managing risk at an organisational level
- Experience of managing, leading or developing a team in support of business objectives
Benefits
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
Selection process details
Desirable Criteria
Home Office Single Point of Contact Accreditation is desirable.
- An awareness of changing legislation and/or emerging technology or capabilities, in particular those impacting the acquisition and interpretation of communications data to support business objectives and/or business requirements.
- Experience in identifying and managing risk at an organisational level.
- Experience of managing, leading or developing a team in support of business objectives.
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 business objectives and/or business 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.
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
- Leadership
- Seeing the Big Picture
- Communicating and Influencing
- An awareness of changing legislation and/or emerging technology or capabilities, in particular those impacting the acquisition and interpretation of communications data to support business objectives and/or business requirements.
- Experience in identifying and managing risk at an organisational level
- Experience of managing, leading or developing a team in support of business objectives
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
Nationality Requirements
Security and Vetting
Vetting requirements - SC Enhanced
Occupational Health
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
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
See our vetting charter (opens in a new window).
Nationality requirements
Working for the Civil Service
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).
Diversity and Inclusion
Apply and further information
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 unresolved, you may escalate your complaint to the Civil Service Commission.
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