Communications Data Unit (CDU) Operations Manager

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. ***

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***

Open to UK nationals only.

This vacancy is using Success Profiles (opens in a new window), and will assess your Behaviours and Technical skills.

Desirable Criteria

Desirable criteria are only used for assessment in the event of a tie break.

National CD SPOC Accreditation - Whilst not essential, the National CD SPOC accreditation will assist with the understanding of the business area and the legislation and processes that govern the work of the CDU

Home Office Single Point of Contact Accreditation is desirable.

How we will assess you

Your application will be assessed against the following:

Technical - this will be assessed by 250 word examples on:

• 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.

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.

• 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.

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
• Seeing the Big Picture
• Communicating and Influencing

Technical

• 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

Assessment Outcome

Outcomes 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:

• Lead criteria (behaviours/technical/experience)
• If still tied, desirable criteria will be assessed (if advertised)
• 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.

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 British

Further information on nationality requirements

You 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 SC 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 - SC Enhanced

Prior to commencing the role, you will need to successfully complete SC Enhanced clearance and then achieve both DV Enhanced and DV STRAP 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.

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 the increased clearance cannot be obtained you will be moved to a role appropriate to your clearance level achieved on entry.

For further information on National Security Vetting checks please visit the following page Demystifying Vetting

Individuals 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.