Digital Forensics Technical Manager

Discover what it’s like to work in a compliance role that makes an impact. Could you help us shape a stronger, fairer future? Your next career move starts here.

Cybercrime & Forensic Services (C&FS) provides critical support to FIS investigations as part of CODE nationally through the provision of important forensic services. C&FS are responsible for supporting warrant executions to preserve and analyse digital evidence through to investigation and presentation in court.

The Forensic Science Regulator (FSR) has provided clear instruction that all forensic service providers within the criminal justice system must be compliant with the FSR Codes of Practice as well as relevant ISO standards for the conduct of forensic activities. There are several areas across C&FS which needs to comply with the FSR Codes and require support.

This is a unique opportunity to be part of the team responsible for critical elements of our services provided to HMRC investigation teams. You will ensure that all aspects of digital forensics activity are carried out to the highest standard, adhering to forensic strategy and principles, and meeting FSR requirements., Digital Forensics Technical Managers report to the Senior Technical Managers, who in turn report to the Technical Lead, who sits on the C&FS Senior Leadership Team.

Working alongside operational forensic practitioners, the Digital Forensics Technical Managers are responsible for developing and delivering documented technical procedures, maintaining quality checks, the competency framework and validation of tools and procedures, as well as ensuring maintenance of obtained UKAS accreditation to the required standards.

Digital Forensics Technical Managers deal with a wide variety of digital evidence as well as handling, extracting, processing, analysing and presenting findings in a factual and forensically sound manner for further investigation and court. The Technical Management team also supports the wider digital forensic team with operational forensic tasks.

Digital Forensic Technical Managers are also responsible for conducting operationally led research and development to create novel solutions to challenges that arise with evidential items., The successful candidate for the Digital Forensics Technical Manager role will be undertaking the following duties:

• Implementing and maintaining records within the C&FS Quality Management System for Standard Operating Procedures, staff competency assessments, validation of both procedures and tools.
• Supporting the wider technical management team in conducting their duties to support the Quality Management System for forensic procedures
• Collaborate with the Quality Assurance team to ensure compliance with the FSR: Code of Practice and ISO17025 / ISO17020.
• Assess and manage Risks within FMEA frameworks.
• Coordinate Proficiency Test and Inter/Intra Laboratory comparison schemes.
• Represent HMRC C&FS at external assessments conducted by UKAS.
• Conducting some aspects of operationally driven research and development, conducting research into new technology and documenting findings.

The successful candidate will also be expected to:

• Capture, process and analyse digital devices for presentation to the Criminal Justice System.
• Attend search of premises with FIS investigation teams to preserve and triage digital data.
• Attend court as a professional witness.
• Carry out any duties commensurate to the role that is determined by senior leadership.
• To have a methodical approach to problem solving with technical skills being required., Exceptionally, candidates who are not successful at this grade may be considered for appointment to similar roles at a lower grade where the eligibility criteria are met. If this applies, we will contact you directly., If you have an HMRC online account already, sign straight in using your ID and password. If not, you can prove your identity by answering some questions or providing your photo ID.

You’ll then be able to access the app quickly and easily by signing in using a 6-digit PIN, your fingerprint, or facial recognition.

You can find guidance for technical issues on GOV.UK: Technical support with HMRC online services.

Reserve List

A reserve list may be held for up to 12 months from which further appointments may be made for the same or similar roles – if this applies to you, we’ll let you know via your Civil Service Jobs account.

Criminal Record Check

Applications received from candidates with a criminal record are considered fairly in accordance with the DBS Code of Practice and the Recruitment of ex-offenders Policy.

Merit List

After interview, a single merit list will be created, and you will only be considered for posts in locations you have expressed a preference for. Appointments will be made in strict merit order in line with the set number of roles in each location.

Hybrid working at HMRC

HMRC is an office-based organisation, and colleagues are expected to spend 60% of their working time in the office. Our offices provide opportunity for interaction, collaboration which aids learning and development and a sense of community. Where the role allows it, and where the home environment is suitable, colleagues can work from home for up to 2 days a week, averaged over a calendar month (or a proportionate amount of time for colleagues who work less than full time).

Reasonable Adjustments

We want to make sure no one is put at a disadvantage during our recruitment process. To assist you with this, we will reduce or remove any barriers where possible and provide additional support where appropriate., HMRC has a presence in every region of the UK. For more information on where you might be working, review this information on our locations.

The Civil Service values honesty and integrity and expects all candidates to abide by these principles. The evidence you provide in your application must relate to your own experiences.

Any instances of plagiarism or other forms of cheating will be investigated and, if proven, the relevant application(s) will be withdrawn from the process.

Recording of interviews is prohibited unless explicit agreement is sought in line with the UK General Data Protection Regulations.

Questions relating to an individual application must be emailed as detailed later in this advert.

Applicants who are successful at interview will be, as part of pre-employment screening, subject to a check on the Internal Fraud Database (IFD). This check will provide information about employees who have been dismissed for fraud or dishonesty offences. This check also applies to employees who resign or otherwise leave before being dismissed for fraud or dishonesty had their employment continued. Any applicant’s details held on the IFD will be refused employment.

A candidate is not eligible to apply for a role within the Civil Service if the application is made within a 5 year period following a dismissal for carrying out internal fraud against government.

New entrants will join on the minimum of the pay band.

Please note that, if you are applying for roles on a part-time basis, the salary agreed will be pro-rata, reflective of the working hours agreed within your contract.

If you experience accessibility problems with any attachments on this advert, please contact the email address in the 'Contact point for applicants' section.

For more Information for people applying for, or thinking of applying for, roles at HM Revenue and Customs, please see link: Working for HMRC: information for applicants - 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, Appointment to the Civil Service is governed by the Civil Service Commission’s Recruitment Principles. You have the right to complain if you feel there has been a breach of the Recruitment Principles. In the first instance, you should raise the matter directly via ubsrecruitmentcomplaints@hmrc.gov.uk. Please note that we do not accept complaints or appeals regarding scoring of outcomes of campaigns, unless candidates can provide clear evidence that the campaign did not follow the Recruitment Principles. If you are not satisfied with the response, you may bring your complaint to the Commission. For further information on bringing a complaint to the Civil Service Commission please visit their website.

Do you have a valid Driving License license?, Do you have experience in Presentation skills?, * Demonstrable experience of supporting the writing of Standard Operating Procedures (SOPs), within a Forensic Science Regulator: Code of Practice compliant environment.

• Demonstrable experience in Digital Forensics conducting forensic examinations of digital devices, using industry standard forensic tools.
• Demonstrable experience of assessing and testing staff competency, or helping to identify any nonconformance within working practices.
• To have a methodical approach to problem solving with technical skills being required.

Full UK Driving Licence.

Desirable Criteria:

Operational search and seizure experience at scenes., This post requires the successful candidate to hold or be willing to hold Security check (SC) clearance, * Your technical skills will be assessed by way of a 30 minute technical test assessing your knowledge of digital forensics., During the panel interview, you will be assessed on Experience and Technical question. During the panel interview, your experience will be assessed by way of a 10 minute presentation and technical skills assessed by way of a 30 minute technical test. You will also be asked experience-based questions to explore in detail what you are capable of. The presentation topic will be provided to candidates prior to interview., Customer facing roles in HMRC require the ability to converse at ease with members of the public and provide advice in accurate spoken English and/or Welsh where required. Where this is an essential requirement, this will be tested as part of the selection process.

£37,682 - £46,077 National Minimum £37,682 National Maximum £40,705

London Minimum £42,631 London Maximum £46,077

External applicants will join on the pay band minimum.

This post attracts a Level 2 Flexibility Payment (FP) that is paid monthly with salary. This FP allows HMRC flexibility to change your work pattern, at short notice, to meet business needs. You will be expected to undertake periods of On Call. You will also be expected to work additional hours, at weekends and outside your normal working hours/days (including bank holidays)., Alongside your salary of £37,682, HM Revenue and Customs contributes £10,916 towards you being a member of the Civil Service Defined Benefit Pension scheme. Find out what benefits a Civil Service Pension provides.

HMRC operates both Flexible and Hybrid Working policies, allowing you to balance your work and personal commitments. We welcome applications from those who need to work a more flexible arrangement and will agree to requests where possible, considering our operational and customer service needs.

We offer a generous leave allowance, starting at 25 days and increasing by a day for every year of qualifying service up to a maximum of 30 days.

• Pension - We make contributions to our colleagues’ Alpha pension equal to at least 28.97% of their salary.
• Family friendly policies.
• Personal support.
• Coaching and development.