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 Command provides 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.
For roles based in London, your contractual place of work will be Stratford. While the Stratford site is expected to become operational from November 2025 – March 2026, you will be required to carry out your contractual duties from Vauxhall or another reasonable location on a temporary basis during the interim period.
Please note that, as Stratford will be your contractual place of work, any subsequent move from a temporary location will not entitle you to payments for travel time or costs under the Relocation and Excess Travel Policy.
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 Command provides 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 incorporates our response to organised immigration crime (OIC), the Command’s London-based multi-threat and borders teams, and the Special Operations Unit (SOU).
This is an exciting opportunity to lead a diverse number of teams undertaking specialist roles across a several locations involved in tackling and supporting the proactive investigation of serious organised crime, across a range of threat areas. As part of the Investigations Command Leadership Team, you will report directly to a Deputy Director and will be responsible for a number of key portfolios for the Investigations Command, as well as the wider Agency.
The role involves working closely with key partners and stakeholders, both internal and external to the agency. You will be responsible for acting as a role model, committed to leading, developing and nurturing a high-performing and talented workforce, being a positive advocate for inclusion, diversity and equality, and improving culture.
Operational leadership – Visible leadership of the Unit’s specialist capabilities: armed and unarmed surveillance, firearms, kidnap & extortion and specialist dogs & search capabilities. Oversight and responsibility for safe, legal and ethical operational deployments, complying with legislation, policy and procedures.
Operational delivery – Being accountable for operational performance across 4Ps (Pursue, Protect, Prevent, Prepare) – ensuring the business area is contributing to wider Agency performance ambitions (Including P1-P2 high impact disruptions) and all performance related data is recorded and reported in line with Agency requirements. Ensure that all operational activity is prioritised, being conducted diligently and expeditiously in line with the tasked outcomes, delivered through corporate case management systems and is compliant with relevant legislation, codes of practice, policy and procedure and best practice.
Operational accountability – Ensure operations are reviewed and best practice identified and implemented – ensuring a high-performing culture delivering criminal justice excellence. Ensure that the business area is compliant with requirements under the Victims’ Code and Home Office Counting Rules for Recorded Crime (Crime Recording).
Cultural leadership – Lead and drive a positive inclusive culture ensuring all officers understand and are held accountable for making a positive contribution towards inclusion, diversity, and equality (IDE). Own, develop and implement a business area action plan that responds to/addresses feedback from the People Survey.
Organisational change & improvement – Lead and implement organisational change activity, effectively planning and communicating proposed changes with staff and stakeholders.
Professional development – Create an environment that supports and encourages the development of staff, including ensuring officers’ continual professional development (CPD) is prioritised, implementing the Command’s talent management programme and tackling poor performance and behaviours.
Risk management – Ensure that operational risk is managed effectively within the business area and wider organisation. Lead, promote and implement health and safety measures and ensure risk assessments are conducted effectively in line with Agency policy and safety legislation.
Strategic leadership – As part of the Senior Management Team, lead on strategic areas of work as directed by the Deputy Director and Investigations Command Team.
Budget management – Manage resources effectively with financial control of departmental budgets.
Skills, Knowledge and Experience
Ability to lead a diverse number of teams across the country. Understanding of various specialist roles and capabilities – Can demonstrate management of teams tackling serious organised crime in several locations across a range of threat areas.
Ability to act as a role model. Knowledge of leading, developing and nurturing a high-performing and talented workforce – Can demonstrate being a positive advocate for inclusion, diversity and equality, and improving culture.
Ability to oversee and direct operations and projects. Understanding of prioritising operational activity – Can demonstrate knowledge of how an operation is being prioritised and being conducted diligently and expeditiously in line with the tasked outcomes.
Ability to be responsible for a number of key portfolios for the Investigations Command, as well as the wider Agency – Can demonstrate being part of the Senior Management Team, lead on strategic areas of work as directed by the Deputy Director and Investigations Command Team.
Ability to manage resources effectively. Understanding financial control of departmental budgets – Can demonstrate experience of leading SOC investigations focused on resource and budget management.
Ability to lead the agency response and support to UK police forces on kidnaps. Understanding of kidnap, extortion and related offences – Can demonstrate experience as SIO in kidnap investigations and/or wider management of kidnap scenarios.
Experience as SIO in kidnap investigations and/or wider management of kidnap scenarios, including red, green and blue oversight – Will lead the agency response and support to UK police forces in relation to kidnap, extortion and related offences, as well as support to the Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office (FCDO) in respect of the kidnapping for criminal purposes of UK citizens overseas.
Experience of leading SOC investigations focused on operational planning and assurance, resource and budget management, and risk/issue management – Will need to manage resources effectively with financial control of departmental budgets. Will need to manage issues relating to the performance and conduct of officers working with Integrated Protective Security (IPS) as required.
Understanding of covert armed surveillance, Mobile Armed Support to Surveillance (MAStS) and other firearms related roles – Will be leading the agency armed surveillance support to NCA High Priority grid operations and threats to life.
Understanding of the investigation of Organised Crime of an international and upstream nature – Will lead the agency contribution to the Organised Crime Partnership and collaboration between the Metropolitan Police Service and the NCA, to tackle Class A drugs, firearms use and supply and related money laundering, impacting on the Metropolis.
Previous or current experience of the management of international crime operations – Will lead the agency Special Ops support to NCA High Priority grid operations and threats to life which often originate overseas.
Previous or current experience of working international partners – Need to support the FCDO in respect of the kidnapping for criminal purposes of UK citizens overseas.
Previous or current experience of surveillance, including management of surveillance deployments – Will lead the agency armed and unarmed surveillance support to NCA High Priority grid operations and threats to life and therefore experience of surveillance, including management of surveillance deployments, is essential.
Previous or current experience of operational or strategic firearms related operations and willingness to be a Strategic Firearms Commander.
This role attracts a Spot Rate salary. Spot Rate offers a progressive increase in pay to reflect the skills and experience of the officer.
Successful applicants will start at Spot Rate 1 and will have the opportunity to move to Spot Rate 2 whilst in post
All NCA employees are members of the UK Civil Service and eligible for the Civil Service pension scheme, alongside your salary the NCA contributes £24,630. 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:
Further information is available on the NCA Website.
CV
Please include your full career history, training, qualifications, key responsibilities, and achievements. Explain any employment gaps in the last two years. Ensure all accreditation dates are accurate.
Details of what is expected within you CV are as follows: Please ensure your CV covers all elements outlined in the ‘Entry Requirements’ section.
Statement of Suitability
Please provide a 750 word personal statement demonstrating how you meet the criteria below:
1) your motivation for applying for the role.
2) how you would be an effective and inspiring NCA leader, given current strategic and cultural challenges facing the wider law enforcement community.
Within this statement of suitability, please ensure you cover elements outlined in the ‘Person Specification’ not already demonstrated in your CV.
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.
Strengths are tested at interview stage – the strengths tested are not shared before the interview.
In the event of a tie at the assessment stage, available roles will be offered in merit order using the following order:
The National Crime Agency is a law enforcement agency and as such we are part of the Criminal Justice System. Therefore if you are going into an operational role we need to be aware if any of our officers have, either before they join us or afterwards, any of the following:
Any criminal conviction (including Court Martial), or caution or fixed penalty notice for disorder or theft;
Any adverse judicial findings;
Any charges or summonses where the proceedings are not complete;
Any misconduct or gross misconduct findings or where proceedings are not complete.
You will be asked to complete a declaration covering the above if offered a role with the NCA.
Each case will be considered on its merits and a positive declaration does not automatically mean that your application will not be progressed. However, should you fail to disclose a relevant matter then your application or employment will be adversely affected. If in doubt, please declare it at this stage.
Where multiple locations are advertised, appointments will be made in merit order per location.
Indicate your preferences clearly; you may be posted to any preferred location. If you decline a post at a location you selected, another offer may not be made.
Only advertised locations are available, any notes added to the application will not be considered.
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.
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.
The Civil Service is committed to attract, retain and invest in talent wherever it is found. To learn more please see the Civil Service People Plan and the Civil Service Diversity and Inclusion Strategy
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 Code sets out the standards of behaviour expected of civil servants.
We recruit on merit through fair and open competition, in line with the Civil Service Commission’s Recruitment Principles.
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: Central.Recruitment@nca.gov.uk (quoting the vacancy reference).
If unresolved, you may escalate your complaint to the Civil Service Commission.
Name : Central Recruitment Team
Email : Central.Recruitment@nca.gov.uk