Senior Officer - Innovation, Science and Technology
Posted 2 days 14 hours ago by National Crime Agency
Permanent
Full Time
Other
Northern Ireland, United Kingdom
Job Description
Please note that the Length of Employment does not include those hired on Permanent contracts.
Command Digital, Data and Technology (DDaT)
Business Area Tracer
Type of role Business Management and Improvement, Knowledge and Information Management, Planning, Science
Working pattern Full time, Part time, Flexible Working, Job share
Number of roles available 1
Senior Officer - Innovation, Science and Technology Location(s) Belfast, Birmingham, Bristol, Leicester, London, Normanton (Calder), Warrington
About the Role Information about the Command Digital, Data & Technology (DDaT), supports NCA operational commands with how we exploit data and to ensure the NCA uses the best technology platforms with the right tools and applications to further enable the NCA to protecting the public from serious and organised crime. We are responsible for defining and delivering our data and technology strategy, policy and architecture, and building and sustaining resilient services which are critical to our mission success.
The pace of change within the digital and tech world means we need to be agile and innovative in how we respond to threats while exploiting the opportunities this presents.
Information about the Business Area TRACER (Threat and Risk Assessment, Capability Exploration and Research) is an NCA led, multi-agency and multi-disciplinary team which examines technological developments in their wider contact, and the implications for serious and organised crime. TRACER researches and develops propositions to exploit opportunities and mitigate threats. The aim of TRACER is to represent the voice of a broad and diverse community to ensure that investment decisions in digital investigative capabilities are operationally relevant, fit for purpose and support the attainment of operational outcomes.
Role Summary TRACER sits at the forefront of innovation within the NCA, helping law enforcement respond to emerging digital threats through science, technology and experimentation. Working with operational teams, industry, academia and government partners, the role explores new technologies, designs and tests solutions, and provides evidence-based recommendations that shape future capability and investment decisions.
Role Description
The Threat & Risk Assessment, Capability Exploration and Research (TRACER) team plays a critical role in supporting the National Crime Agency's mission to protect the public from serious and organised crime. As part of the Innovation, Science and Technology (IS&T) function, TRACER leads science, technology and innovation activity across the Agency, ensuring operational capabilities remain effective, relevant and responsive to an increasingly complex and rapidly evolving digital landscape. Working in close collaboration with law enforcement, national security partners, industry, academia and government organisations, the team identifies how emerging technologies may be exploited by adversaries and explores how science and technology can be used to counter those threats and enhance operational effectiveness.
Using innovative, user-centred and design-thinking approaches, TRACER works with stakeholders to understand complex challenges and opportunities, define user needs, develop requirements and conduct discovery activity. The role involves researching emerging technologies and trends, engaging with operational teams to understand their challenges, commissioning and evaluating research, and designing and delivering experiments, proofs of concept, technical demonstrations and testing activity. Findings are translated into evidence-based recommendations, business cases and clear stakeholder communications that support decision-making and future capability development.
A key enabler of this work is the Enabling Innovation and Experimentation Environment (EIEE), a cloud-based platform developed by TRACER to test, evaluate and demonstrate innovative solutions to digital threats and opportunities. Through experimentation, prototyping and assessment activities, the team generates the evidence needed to inform strategic investment decisions and support the responsible adoption of emerging technologies, including artificial intelligence. The role also includes presenting options and recommendations to senior leaders and governance boards, helping to shape future capability investments and ensure law enforcement remains agile, adaptive and effective.
TRACER is a collaborative, creative and forward-thinking team that values curiosity, diversity of thought and innovation. The breadth of its work requires individuals who can engage with a wide range of stakeholders, navigate complex and often ambiguous problems, and communicate technical concepts in a clear and accessible way. Through its science, technology and innovation activities, the team plays a pivotal role in enabling the Agency and its partners to anticipate emerging threats, exploit new opportunities and develop the capabilities needed to meet the challenges of the future.
This role sits within the Government science and engineering: career framework - GOV.UK
Entry Requirements Qualification in a STEM subject
OR
Relevant professional experience in a science, technology, engineering, data, digital, innovation or analytical field that demonstrates knowledge and skills comparable to a STEM qualification.
OR
Experience of working in a law enforcement environment with demonstrable interest in Innovation, Science & Technology.
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.
1. Experience or understanding of Developer Operations and Security Operations (Dev Ops & Sec Ops) activity.
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.
New entrants to the NCA receive 26 days annual leave, rising to 31 on completion of 5 years continuous service, plus 8 bank holidays.
. click apply for full job details
Command Digital, Data and Technology (DDaT)
Business Area Tracer
Type of role Business Management and Improvement, Knowledge and Information Management, Planning, Science
Working pattern Full time, Part time, Flexible Working, Job share
Number of roles available 1
Senior Officer - Innovation, Science and Technology Location(s) Belfast, Birmingham, Bristol, Leicester, London, Normanton (Calder), Warrington
About the Role Information about the Command Digital, Data & Technology (DDaT), supports NCA operational commands with how we exploit data and to ensure the NCA uses the best technology platforms with the right tools and applications to further enable the NCA to protecting the public from serious and organised crime. We are responsible for defining and delivering our data and technology strategy, policy and architecture, and building and sustaining resilient services which are critical to our mission success.
The pace of change within the digital and tech world means we need to be agile and innovative in how we respond to threats while exploiting the opportunities this presents.
Information about the Business Area TRACER (Threat and Risk Assessment, Capability Exploration and Research) is an NCA led, multi-agency and multi-disciplinary team which examines technological developments in their wider contact, and the implications for serious and organised crime. TRACER researches and develops propositions to exploit opportunities and mitigate threats. The aim of TRACER is to represent the voice of a broad and diverse community to ensure that investment decisions in digital investigative capabilities are operationally relevant, fit for purpose and support the attainment of operational outcomes.
Role Summary TRACER sits at the forefront of innovation within the NCA, helping law enforcement respond to emerging digital threats through science, technology and experimentation. Working with operational teams, industry, academia and government partners, the role explores new technologies, designs and tests solutions, and provides evidence-based recommendations that shape future capability and investment decisions.
Role Description
The Threat & Risk Assessment, Capability Exploration and Research (TRACER) team plays a critical role in supporting the National Crime Agency's mission to protect the public from serious and organised crime. As part of the Innovation, Science and Technology (IS&T) function, TRACER leads science, technology and innovation activity across the Agency, ensuring operational capabilities remain effective, relevant and responsive to an increasingly complex and rapidly evolving digital landscape. Working in close collaboration with law enforcement, national security partners, industry, academia and government organisations, the team identifies how emerging technologies may be exploited by adversaries and explores how science and technology can be used to counter those threats and enhance operational effectiveness.
Using innovative, user-centred and design-thinking approaches, TRACER works with stakeholders to understand complex challenges and opportunities, define user needs, develop requirements and conduct discovery activity. The role involves researching emerging technologies and trends, engaging with operational teams to understand their challenges, commissioning and evaluating research, and designing and delivering experiments, proofs of concept, technical demonstrations and testing activity. Findings are translated into evidence-based recommendations, business cases and clear stakeholder communications that support decision-making and future capability development.
A key enabler of this work is the Enabling Innovation and Experimentation Environment (EIEE), a cloud-based platform developed by TRACER to test, evaluate and demonstrate innovative solutions to digital threats and opportunities. Through experimentation, prototyping and assessment activities, the team generates the evidence needed to inform strategic investment decisions and support the responsible adoption of emerging technologies, including artificial intelligence. The role also includes presenting options and recommendations to senior leaders and governance boards, helping to shape future capability investments and ensure law enforcement remains agile, adaptive and effective.
TRACER is a collaborative, creative and forward-thinking team that values curiosity, diversity of thought and innovation. The breadth of its work requires individuals who can engage with a wide range of stakeholders, navigate complex and often ambiguous problems, and communicate technical concepts in a clear and accessible way. Through its science, technology and innovation activities, the team plays a pivotal role in enabling the Agency and its partners to anticipate emerging threats, exploit new opportunities and develop the capabilities needed to meet the challenges of the future.
This role sits within the Government science and engineering: career framework - GOV.UK
- Working with stakeholders to identify scope and plan innovation initiatives.
- Drafting and designing problem statements to meet stakeholder needs.
- Day to day management of various streams of work, ensuring all core functions are fulfilled to the required standard.
- Ensuring the portfolio meets the requirements imposed by external funding bodies (such as requirements around immigration crime or money laundering).
- Producing artefacts to support S&T leadership input to strategic governance boards.
- Working with NCA Commercial to identify and secure commercial arrangements to support delivery.
- Supporting the production of key artefacts required to develop a proposition, such as outline or strategic business cases.
- Managing innovation resources day to day, including subcontractors as required, ensuring appropriate tasking and development to deliver innovation initiatives.Reporting progress to S&T leadership, and ensuring external reporting requirements are fulfilled.
- Supporting the Innovation, Science & Technology Managers as required.
- Line management of G5 Innovation Officers where appropriate.
- Proven experience working within multi-disciplinary teams, setting clear direction and applying project management principles to drive forwards innovation activity.
- Ability to work effectively across diverse specialisms, confidently discussing complex concepts with technical and non technical stakeholders and coordinating delivery through structured planning and governance.
- Strong prioritisation and stakeholder management skills, with experience securing buy in from senior stakeholders and product sponsors, resolving conflicts, and balancing competing demands.
- Excellent communication and influencing skills, with the ability to build consensus, negotiate compromise, and bring stakeholders on board with decisions.
- Strong written and verbal communication capability, including experience of conveying complex or technical information clearly and persuasively to non technical audiences, ensuring messages are understood and acted upon.
- Demonstrable ability to identify, assess and integrate emerging science and technologies to drive innovation, operational effectiveness and efficiency.
- Experience designing and delivering scientific experiments or discovery activity, with a clear focus on outcomes, evidence generation and learning to address defined problems.
Entry Requirements Qualification in a STEM subject
OR
Relevant professional experience in a science, technology, engineering, data, digital, innovation or analytical field that demonstrates knowledge and skills comparable to a STEM qualification.
OR
Experience of working in a law enforcement environment with demonstrable interest in Innovation, Science & Technology.
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.
1. Experience or understanding of Developer Operations and Security Operations (Dev Ops & Sec Ops) activity.
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
New entrants to the NCA receive 26 days annual leave, rising to 31 on completion of 5 years continuous service, plus 8 bank holidays.
. click apply for full job details