Senior Digital Forensic Specialist - Infrastructure

This is an exciting opportunity to join the Metropolitan Police Service Forensic Directorate as a Senior Digital Forensic Specialist - Infrastructure. We are seeking a motivated, adaptable and knowledgeable individual who can bridge the gap between rapidly evolving technology and the complex operational environment of policing London.

This role will be to lead the operational delivery, maintenance, and optimisation of Digital Forensics infrastructure. The role holder will ensure that forensic staff, investigators and support staff have secure, reliable and FSR code compliant systems to enable the efficient examination, processing, storage, retention and destruction of data.

Key Activities (to include but not limited to)

• Manage and maintain the infrastructure that supports digital forensic workflows, including case management platforms, forensic processing environments, forensic support infrastructure and high-capacity secure storage.
• Manage the day-to-day operation of servers, storage systems, specialist forensic hardware and secure networks involved in evidence processing alongside DDaT and suppliers.
• Ensure 24/7 availability and resilience of mission-critical systems with robust back-up and disaster recovery strategies
• Ensuring cybersecurity measures are in place to safeguard sensitive case data.
• Monitor and maintain server infrastructure, ensuring regular updates, backups, and security patches
• Update and configure OPNsense firewall and network security settings to safeguard system security
• Act as the SME for data governance within Digital Forensics, ensuring appropriate management, movement, access, retention, and disposal of digital forensic data across all platforms.
• To identify opportunities, technical capability gaps, provide problem solving capability and solution delivery to meet this challenge.
• Responsible for delivering Digital Forensic technology plans with the strategic direction of the organisation
• Work with key stakeholders including DDaT and Commercial to manage finances, including preparing budgets and forecasts and exercising financial control of allocated funds, producing estimates of projected spend and financial reports.
• Responsible for critical systems business continuity plans (document, influence and respond when necessary i.e. system shutdowns).
• Be prepared to be on-call and work outside of normal office hours as investigations or critical activities require.
• Line management responsibilities., * provide a DNA sample and fingerprints for inclusion on the staff elimination databases
• agree to abide by the MPS Standards of Conduct
• understand and accept the core principles set out in the H&S Policy in relation to your role, duties and responsibilities and implement those principles and requirements in day-to-day activities
• work within the Forensic Service Quality Management System and actively contribute to the continuous improvement of the system by participating in quality assurance activities, engaging in internal and external audits, competence and proficiency tests, reporting non-conformances and proposing changes to improve the system
• (if applicable) to pass initial/further training elements within probationary period
• (If applicable) may be required to have the appropriate inoculations
• comply with the requirements of the Metropolitan Police Service policies on Drug and Alcohol testing (substance misuse)
• comply with security policies
• understand and accept the personal responsibility to protect and maintain the confidentiality of all Met information and any intellectual property.
• comply with mandatory training requirements
• comply with and promote Metropolitan Police Service policies on diversity and inclusion both in the delivery of services and the treatment of others
• demonstrate effective visible safety leadership, understand H&S policy and lead compliance within area of responsibility. Implement the principles and requirements of H&S policy in your day-to-day activities and within the teams you work/manage. Encourage open dialogue and feedback on safety issues
• Understand and accept the core principles set out in the H&S Policy in relation to your role, duties and responsibilities and implement those principles and requirements in day-to-day activities

Please note:

In the next 12-18 months Digital Forensics may be introducing a 24/7 operating model as part of an investment and transformation plan to ensure the best service to support operational policing. These teams will work on a rotational shift pattern compromising early, late and night shifts, inclusive of weekends. Approximately 20% of the overall staff in DF will be required to support it. These posts attract an additional 20% shift allowance plus weekend premium payments on top of the salary advertised above.

All new staff are eligible to be placed on a shift rota subject to the relevant notice given; however, in the first instance placements on these teams will be allocated to those who volunteer. Any remaining places will be allocated by management and will also be subject to certain skills required to support out-of-hours services.

Although this role is not expected to be directly affected by this requirement, by applying you acknowledge that you may be assigned to one of the 24/7 shift teams and could be rotated according to business needs, The Met is committed to being an equitable (fair and impartial) and inclusive employer for disabled people, striving to have a diverse and representative workforce at all levels. We encourage applications from people from the widest possible range of backgrounds, cultures and experiences. We particularly welcome applications from people with disabilities and long-term conditions, ethnic minority groups and women.

As a Disability Confident Leader, the Met has committed to making disability equality part of our everyday practice. We ensure that people with disabilities and those with long term conditions have the opportunities to fulfil their potential and realise their aspirations.

The Met is committed to making reasonable adjustments to the recruitment process to ensure disabled applicants can perform at their best. If you need any reasonable adjustments or changes to the application and recruitment process, we ask that you include this information within your application form. All matters will be treated in strict confidence.

Please note, if you are applying for a police officer role or to become a police community support officer (PCSO) or designated detention officer (DDO), there is a minimum requirement that you must pass a job-related fitness test (JRFT) at point of entry. This does not apply to police staff roles. Find out more about police fitness standards.

Detail a time where you have identified a problem and explain the actions you took to resolve this. (Min 200 words, max 500 words)

• We collaborate (CVF Level 2) Detail a time where you have worked with others to achieve a task or goal. (Min 200 words, max 500 words)

• We are innovative and open-minded (CVF Level 2) Detail a time where you have implemented or contributed to a project. (Min 200 words, max 500 words), * Significant relevant experience within digital forensics, computer science, or information security; or a minimum of a Bachelor's degree in a technology-focused discipline such as digital forensics, computer science, information security, software development, electronics, or engineering

• Strong background in digital forensics environments, with hands-on experience managing specialist forensic infrastructure.

• Excellent communication and interpersonal skills

• Ability to communicate complex technical issues appropriately to a variety of audiences

• Very strong team leadership and management skills

• An understanding of digital forensics software and review tools

• Ability to manage resources in an area of high and increasing demand, while working within organisational and departmental budgets.

Desirable Experience/Skills

• Strong relationship skills
• Agile in approach to meeting operational demands
• Strong technical knowledge and the ability to apply core principles to emerging challenges.
• Ability to manage demanding workloads.
• Knowledge of legislation, quality standards in digital forensics
• Understanding of the rules regarding evidence gathering and its presentation at court
• Working knowledge of relevant legal issues (CPIA, PACE, ICO and Human Rights Act etc)
• Knowledge and/or experience of working in a quality management system such as ISO 17025 or ISO 9001

Required Languages English Reports To