Chief Data Office Officer

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., 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 protect 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

The Chief Data Office (CDO) is the accountable lead for the NCA’s relationship with the Information Commissioner’s Office. The business area provides specialist advice and guidance on all areas of data and information management. The CDO is responsible for corporate Information Management (IM), managing the NCA’s corporate record, setting the IM Policy for the NCA, and supporting the Chief Data Officer in the management of the NCA’s corporate IM risks., As an Officer in the CDO you will be responsible for responding to demand from the wider business and delivering data and information management-based tasks. Successful candidates will support their teams to deliver Key Performance Indicators, in line with legislative obligations, including the Data Protection Act, Crime and Courts Act, Public Records Act, Police Information and Records Management Code of Practice, and other applicable legislation. This supports the mitigation of information and specific data protection related risks across the NCA. The CDO is an integral part of the wider Digital, Data & Technology (DDaT) directorate. Together we play a fundamental part in helping to shape the future of the NCA.

As a member of the CDO you will play an integral role in the maintenance of the NCA’s Information Management and Data Protection compliance. Your role will support the delivery of a range of key functions, which may include:

• Providing advice and support on Data Protection Governance documents, Personal Data Breaches (PDBs), Data Subject Access Requests, National System Audits, Information Risks. Developing and implementing processes that enhance Knowledge and Information Management capabilities.
• The provision of support to the NCA’s most innovative projects to enable cutting-edge ways of processing and managing its data.

All of our roles align with the Government Knowledge & Information Management Profession framework.

This is a really exciting time to join our team as the NCA expands into new technologies to enhance its data exploitation capabilities and enables a more data driven approach to protecting the public from serious and organised crime. Successful candidates will help to ensure that these techniques stand up to scrutiny and comply with legislative standards.

Our roles co-ordinate and deliver efficient information and data tasks that are required to take place across the agency to ensure information management compliance. Successful candidates will support our teams, helping us to manage the NCA corporate record and information holdings, whilst ensuring the agency can confidently identify, discharge and comply with its legal information management responsibilities.

Our roles are a great opportunity for people with a passion for information management, its governance, risks and compliance; and who are wanting a future career in developing those professional skills and knowledge further.

Successful candidates should be willing to flex within the team to support business objectives where needed., * Ensure compliance with information management and records governance: Support the implementation of information management and records strategies to maintain compliance with governance and risk requirements. Ensure processes align with organisational standards and best practice.

• Ensure compliance with data protection requirements: Support compliance with data protection requirements and the work of the Data Protection Officer in the delivery of their obligations. This work involves delivering technical and case related advice to officers which complies with best practice and guidance.
• Maintain accurate and up-to-date records: Assist in keeping the agency’s information management systems current and effective, ensuring they meet government standards and industry best practice.
• Provide guidance on information management and risk: Offer advice to officers on information management and records-related matters. Help them identify and evaluate risks and support managers in maintaining accurate risk registers.
• Support governance meetings and decision-making: Assist with discussions and escalations at the Data Risk Working Group and Data Governance Board, ensuring accurate information is available to inform decisions.
• Assist in preparing reports for stakeholders: Contribute to drafting reports for internal groups, Boards, Committees, and other stakeholders, ensuring clarity and accuracy in all documentation.
• Present data and insights effectively: Help visualise and present information management and records issues using graphs, statistics, and narrative. Support senior stakeholders by providing clear and concise written and verbal updates.
• Build and maintain collaborative relationships: Work with internal teams and external partners, including government departments and the National Police Chiefs’ Council, to foster positive and productive relationships
• Enhance engagement across CDO teams: Support engagement activities with Information Asset Owners and allied security functions to ensure effective collaboration and alignment across teams., 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. This vacancy is part of the Great Place to Work for Veterans initiative.

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 : Central.Recruitment@nca.gov.uk Feedback will only be provided if you attend an interview or assessment.

Security

Successful candidates must undergo a criminal record check. Successful candidates must meet the security requirements before they can be appointed. The level of security needed is security check .

See our vetting charter . People working with government assets must complete baseline personnel security standard (opens in new window) checks., * UK nationals

• 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

Do you have experience in Presentation skills?, * Understanding of information management legislation, and relevant data protection privacy principles. Has a basic understanding of information management regulations, data protection laws and privacy principles. Applies this knowledge to ensure compliance, mitigate risks, and provide informed advice on governance and best practice.

• Good verbal and written communication skills: Able to communicate clearly and accurately in both written and verbal formats. Ensures information is presented in a way that is easy to understand, supporting effective collaboration and reporting.
• Ability to engage with stakeholders at all levels: Builds positive working relationships and communicates in a professional and approachable manner. Adapts communication style to suit different audiences across the Agency to achieve shared objectives.
• Experience of working in a fast-paced environment and meeting tight deadlines: Demonstrates ability to manage competing priorities and deliver tasks within agreed timeframes. Shows resilience and flexibility when responding to changing demands in a dynamic work setting.

To find out more about the role and the application process we will be holding virtual opening evenings via MS Teams on Wednesday 11th February 2026 at 6pm (Duration 1hr)., Experience Criteria - will be assessed by 250 word examples on:

• Good verbal and written communication skills

• The ability to engage with varying levels of internal stakeholder from across the organisation

• Experience of working in a fast-paced environment and working to tight deadlines, * Good verbal and written communication skills

• The ability to engage with varying levels of internal stakeholder from across the organisation

• Experience of working in a fast-paced environment and working to tight deadline, 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.

£36,057 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 £4,218 A Civil Service Pension with an employer contribution of 28.97% GBP, Alongside your salary of £36,057, National Crime Agency contributes £10,445 towards you being a member of the Civil Service Defined Benefit Pension scheme. Find out what benefits a Civil Service Pension provides.

• All NCA employees are members of the UK Civil Service and eligible for the Civil Service pension scheme, alongside your salary the NCA contributes £10,445. 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
• Housing schemes - Key Worker status
• 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) Further information is available on the NCA Website., 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)