Senior Investigator

Australian Criminal Intelligence Commission; Melbourne; On-site; AUD 120,000 - 160,000; Full time

Job summary

Australian Criminal Intelligence Commission is seeking a Senior Investigator to lead the design and execution of intelligence collection plans in response to priorities. You will apply advanced collection tradecraft within authorised frameworks and collaborate with analysts to identify gaps and inform operational planning.

The role requires risk management, autonomy in a high‑risk environment, and ability to engage with national partners.

Qualifications

• Demonstrated understanding of investigative and/or intelligence collection and analysis methodologies.
• Experience in implementing complex intelligence operations and/or investigations that generate unique insights into SOC or similarly complex networks.
• Ability to extract relevant information from intelligence operations and investigations to produce unique and impactful information and intelligence reports.
• Ability to understand how to operate within the context of relevant legislative, policy and legal frameworks domestically and offshore.
• Highly developed oral and written communication skills, including the ability to develop and maintain collaborative and productive internal and external working relationships.
• Proven capacity to operate as part of a multi‑disciplinary team in a dynamic, agile environment to drive intelligence outcomes.
• Experience in the cultivation, recruitment and management of human sources and the effective deployment of human sources again operational objectives.

Responsibilities

• Plan and lead collection activity targeting serious and organised crime using overt and covert capabilities.
• Ensure appropriate operational planning and security frameworks are applied to collection capabilities and activities.
• Contribute to communities of practice to share expertise and refine collection techniques.
• Apply collection best practice to improve the effectiveness and reliability of intelligence gathering.
• Collaborate with law enforcement, National Intelligence Community and offshore partners to influence and coordinate intelligence collection efforts.
• Build and maintain trusted relationships with external stakeholders to support long‑term collaboration.
• Consider and deploy a range of risk mitigation strategies.
• Actively manage and document compliance activities in line with prescribed obligations.

Skills

Investigative collection

Intelligence analysis

Operational reporting

Legal & policy understanding

Communication skills

Multi-disciplinary teamwork

Human sources management

Job description

As an ACIC Senior Investigator, you will lead the design and execution of intelligence collection plans in response to established intelligence priorities and requirements, and report the intelligence obtained through these activities.You will apply advanced collection tradecraft within authorised legislative frameworks.The role involves close collaboration with intelligence analysts at all stages of the intelligence cycle to understand intelligence gaps and requirements, inform operational planning, and to maximise the value of the intelligence obtained from collection.

Investigators are results orientated, adept at managing risk and comfortable with partial operational autonomy.Successful applicants may be required to travel domestically or internationally.They must be able to develop productive working relationships which enhance or leverage opportunities with Law Enforcement and National Intelligence Community partners, to ensure the ACIC is positioned to deliver intelligence insights and operational outcomes.

The ACIC is undergoing legislation change. Investigator roles may require a need to obtain special member status (exercising powers of a police constable) in the medium term; however, this should not prohibit interest in these roles at the current time, despite it being listed in the essential criteria.

The Opportunity

As an ACIC Senior Investigator, you will lead the design and execution of intelligence collection plans in response to established intelligence priorities and requirements, and report the intelligence obtained through these activities.You will apply advanced collection tradecraft within authorised legislative frameworks.The role involves close collaboration with intelligence analysts at all stages of the intelligence cycle to understand intelligence gaps and requirements, inform operational planning, and to maximise the value of the intelligence obtained from collection.

Investigators are results orientated, adept at managing risk and comfortable with partial operational autonomy.Successful applicants may be required to travel domestically or internationally.They must be able to develop productive working relationships which enhance or leverage opportunities with Law Enforcement and National Intelligence Community partners, to ensure the ACIC is positioned to deliver intelligence insights and operational outcomes.

The ACIC is undergoing legislation change. Investigator roles may require a need to obtain special member status (exercising powers of a police constable) in the medium term; however, this should not prohibit interest in these roles at the current time, despite it being listed in the essential criteria.

The key duties of the position include:

Role Responsibilities

As a Senior Investigator, you will undertake the following activities to a level reflecting the standards associated with the APS EL1 level:

• In accordance with legislative authority, plan and lead collection activity targeting serious and organised crime (SOC) threats using a range of overt and covert capabilities, including Human Source operations, coercive powers and controlled operations, to collect and report intelligence
• Ensure appropriate operational planning and security frameworks are applied to collection capabilities and activities
• Contribute to communities of practice to share expertise and refine collection techniques
• Apply collection best practice to improve the effectiveness and reliability of intelligence gathering
• Collaborate with law enforcement, National Intelligence Community and offshore partners to influence and coordinate intelligence collection efforts, including joint operations and intelligence sharing
• Build and maintain trusted relationships with external stakeholders to support long‑term collaboration and capability development
• Consider and deploy a range of risk mitigation strategies
• Actively manage and document compliance activities in line with prescribed obligations

Essential Criteria

• Successfully complete the ACIC’s human source operations training program on commencement
• As an employee in a designated high‑risk role, complete an annual psychological assessment.
• Must be eligible to obtain special member status and use of force with the AFP.The criteria for this requirement are having previously been a sworn police officer within the past 3 years or recent military training.

Your Skills and Capabilities

• Demonstrated understanding of investigative and/or intelligence collection and analysis methodologies
• Experience in implementing complex intelligence operations and/or investigations that generate unique insights into SOC or similarly complex networks
• Ability to extract relevant information from intelligence operations and investigations to produce unique and impactful information and intelligence reports
• Ability to understand how to operate within the context of relevant legislative, policy and legal frameworks domestically and offshore
• Highly developed oral and written communication skills, including the ability to develop and maintain collaborative and productive internal and external working relationships
• Proven capacity to operate as part of a multi‑disciplinary team in a dynamic, agile environment to drive intelligence outcomes
• Experience in the cultivation, recruitment and management of human sources and the effective deployment of human sources again operational objectives

Eligibility

• Citizenship – To be eligible for employment with the ACIC, applicants must be an Australian citizen.
• Security Clearance - The Australian community expects ACIC employees to maintain the highest levels of security and integrity. Successful applicants will be required to obtain and maintain a minimum Negative Vetting Level 1 security clearance.
• Pre-Employment Screening – All candidates must satisfy an Organisational Suitability Assessment (OSA) prior to being offered employment at the ACIC. Please refer to the ACIC’s Character Standards for further information.

Notes

The ACIC is committed to diversity and inclusion. We celebrate and champion diversity to ensure we reflect the community we serve, and pride ourselves on our vibrant culture. We welcome applications from Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples, women, people with disability, people from culturally and linguistically diverse backgrounds, those who identify as LGBTIQ+, neurodiverse, mature aged employees and carers.

Getting to know the Australian Criminal Intelligence Commission (ACIC)

The Australian Criminal Intelligence Commission (ACIC) is Australia’s national criminal intelligence agency. Our vision is an Australia hostile to criminal exploitation.We work with our national and international partners to conduct investigations and collectintelligence to combat serious and organised crime, cybercrime and national security threats.We develop and maintain national information and intelligence sharing services and systems for use by state, territory and Commonwealth law enforcement agencies. We also deliver nationwide background checking services to support employment or entitlement decisions to keep the Australian community safe.The ACIC Board provides strategic direction to the ACIC and represents Commonwealth, state and territory law enforcement and other regulatory agencies.Our purpose is to protect Australia from criminal threats through coordinating a strategic response and collecting, assessing and disseminating intelligence and policing information.