Tactical Collection Support Officer

National Crime Agency; West of England; On-site; GBP 35,000 - 48,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Flexible working

Learning and development

Staff discounts

Job summary

The National Crime Agency is seeking a Tactical Collection Support Officer to join the Digital Forensic team. You will provide technical support for national kiosks, ensure quality and compliance, and work with investigators across Bristol, Tamworth, Tolworth and Warrington.

You will bring IT fluency, data analysis skills and customer-service focus to help advance digital investigations in a fast-paced environment.

Qualifications

• A Computing Degree/HND/HNC (or equivalent STEM) or equivalent technical qualification is required.
• Experience with Microsoft 365 applications is essential.
• Strong data interpretation and reporting skills are expected.

Responsibilities

• Provide Technical Support for national Tactical Collection mobile device examination kiosks.
• Respond to email/phone queries with guidance and escalation as needed.
• Coordinate training and competency assessments for kiosk staff.
• Contribute to ISO17025 quality standards and regulatory compliance.
• Engage with Forensic and Investigations teams to promote Tactical Collection capabilities.
• Build and maintain relationships with internal and external stakeholders.
• Support ISO17025 policy development for tactical collection capabilities.
• Assist in delivery of high-quality digital forensic examinations.

Skills

IT Skills

Data Analysis

Customer Service

Managing Priorities

Problem Solving

Communication

Time Management

Education

Computing Degree/HND/HNC

Job description

Digital, Information Technology, Operational Delivery

Working pattern Full time, Part time, Flexible Working, Job share

Number of roles available 1

Tactical Collection Support Officer

Location(s)

Bristol, Tamworth, Tolworth, Warrington

About the Role

Information about the Command

Investigations Command is the core crime fighting capability of the NCA. We take an intelligence-led approach and concentrate on tackling the criminals and risks to the public which are beyond the capability or capacity of other law enforcement bodies. Our work is largely focused on investigating Organised Immigration Crime, Human Trafficking, Child Sexual Exploitation and Abuse, Economic Crime, Firearms, Drugs, Kidnap and Extortion and Money Laundering. The Investigations Commandprovides a flexible, shared operational capability, designed to maximise the impact of the UK's collective resources against serious and organised crime. Our teams respond to a broad range of threats, many of which also remain a responsibility for police forces and other agencies as well as private industry.

Information about the Business Area

This DD area comprises the Command’s national multi-threat teams (in the north, central & Wales, and the south), as well as the Command’s Forensic capability.

Role Summary You will deliver an effective, efficient and high-quality digital service through the continuous development and support of NCA's Digital Forensic Tactical Collection capability. You will be a part of a flexible, professional and highly-motivated team, contributing to the successful delivery of cutting-edge digital forensic capabilities to help accelerate NCA digital investigations.

Role Description You will be a key member of the Forensic Services' Digital Innovation team, providing technical administration, support and quality assurance of our national Tactical Collection mobile device examination 'Kiosks'. To be successful in this role, you will need a basic understanding of digital forensic processes and procedures within digital investigations, what the Forensic Science Regulator’s (FSR) Code of Practice is and how it impacts the work we do. You will be responsible for ensuring all Tactical Collection activities are aligned to operating procedures to enable ISO accreditation and FSR Code compliance. The role is customer service focused, including providing guidance and advice to colleagues and investigators in support of conducting basic digital forensic examinations.

Duties and Responsibilities

• Provide Technical Support - Provide technical support for our national Tactical Collection mobile device examination 'Kiosks', as tasked.
• Respond to Queries - Monitor email / telephone queries received, and respond appropriately providing advice and escalation, if required.
• Quality Assurance - Co-ordination of training and competency assessments for Kiosk-trained staff, including helping them maintain competence by conducting routine quality assurance checks.
• Accreditation and Compliance - Contribute to the development, implementation and maintenance of quality standards (ISO 17025), ensuring compliance across the Tactical Collection capabilities.
• Communication and Stakeholder Engagement - Regular engagement with Forensic and Investigations teams to promote and support the use of Tactical Collection capabilities.
• Building working relationships - Establishing and maintaining positive relationships with both internal and external stakeholders.
• Teamwork - Support the development and maintenance of ISO17025 policy and procedures for tactical collection capabilities.
• Forensic Service Delivery - Support the development and maintenance of ISO17025 policy and procedures for tactical collection capabilities.

Person Specification

• IT Skills – Ability to confidently work with M365, as well as learn other applications and programmes as required.
• Data Analysis – Ability to extract and interpret data/information and produce statistical reports.
• Customer Service – Provide technical advice and guidance to the Forensic Services Department and trained operators within the area of responsibility.
• Managing Priorities Effectively – Strong ability to plan ahead, manage competing demands, remain organised and adapt to change.
• Problem Solving – Assist the Digital Forensics capability development, such as through the capture of new forensic requirements, delivery of automation and adoption of cloud technologies.
• Communication – Conveys information clearly and effectively through written and verbal communication.
• Time Management – Effectively manages time and workload and escalates issues, ensuring tasks are completed to agreed standards and timescales.

You must meet the essential criteria and evidence this within your application to be considered for the role.

Qualifications, Membership and Licences Computing Degree/HND/HNC or equivalent Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics (STEM) subject, or equivalent technical qualification, ie BTEC Higher Nationals (HNC (Level 4) or HND (Level 5) and Degree Apprenticeships (Level 6 & level 7).

Any applications from candidates not meeting this eligibility criteria will not progress.

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

Foundation level certification in Digital Forensics, or equivalent experience.

A pay flexibility case seeking to modernise NCA pay frameworks was approved by the Government in July 2026. The NCA recognises and engages in collective bargaining with three trade unions: The National Crime Officers Association (NCOA), Public and Commercial Services Union (PCS) and FDA. Therefore, our terms and conditions are currently undergoing a formal review, in consultation with these recognised trade unions. The outcome is expected to be known by early 2027.

Allowances are reviewed annually and may be increased, decreased or removed.

All salary offers will be made in line with Remuneration Policy.

• Roles based in London will receive an additional London Weighting (Per Annum) of £4,379

All NCA employees are members of the UK Civil Service and eligible for the Civil Service pension scheme, alongside your salary the NCA contributes £10,842. Further information on the benefits of the scheme is available on the Civil Service Pension Website.

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
• 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)

Roles based in Tolworth will receive an additional London Weighting of £4,379.

Selection Process Details

This vacancy is using the Success Profiles framework and will assess using the following criteria: Behaviours, Experience, Technical Skills

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 for more information on appropriate and inappropriate use.

How we will assess you

Your application will be assessed against the following:

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

• Proven ability to respond and provide professional technical support to customers.
• Experience of planning and prioritising work to deliver to tight deadlines
• Strong verbal and communication skills with the ability to explain complex information or data

A panel will assess how well your application demonstrates the requirements outlined above.

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.

- Proven ability to respond and provide professional technical support to customers..

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.

The format of this assessment will be Interview which will be tested on the criteria listed in the Success Profiles at Assessment section.

• Commitment to improving culture within a team.
• Proven ability to respond and provide professional technical support to customers.
• Experience of planning and prioritising work to deliver to tight deadlines
• Strong verbal and communication skills with the ability to explain complex information or data

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.

Eligibility, Pre-Employment Check and Vetting

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

UK nationals or dual nationals, where one component is British

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)

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

You will be required to participate in digital right to work and address checks as part of the recruitment process.

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.

Prior to commencing the role, you will need to successfully complete SC Enhanced clearance.

The requirement for SC clearance is to have been present in the UK for at least 3 of the last 5 years.

Failure to meet the residency requirements will result in your security clearance application being rejected.

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 preferencesclearly. 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 [e-mail] 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.

In order to monitor the effectiveness of the National Crime Agency's Diversity & Inclusion strategy, we require certain personal details about you on submission of your application for statistical and monitoring purposes only. Please note that this will be treated in confidence and will not impact your application.

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.

If you believe your application has not been treated fairly, email: [e-mail] (quoting the vacancy reference). If unresolved, you may escalat your complaint to the Civil Service Commission .

Working for the NCA

The National Crime Agency is a 24/7 organisation, and working patterns must support business requirements. Some roles may require you to respond at short notice or outside of core hours.

If preferable, alternative contract types may be available. Please review the green bar of this advert to view all available contract types for this role. Where Loan or Secondment options are available, these would be for existing Civil Servants (Loan) and applicants from accredited Non-Departmental Public Bodies (NDPBs) or any other employer (Secondment). Prior agreement to be released on a loan basis must be obtained before commencing the application process. In the case of Civil Servants, the terms of the loan will be agreed between the home and host department and the Civil Servant. This includes grade on return.

If you have any specific queries about the role that are not covered by the advert, please contact:
Name : Central Recruitment Team
Email : [e-mail]