Cybercrime Operational Lead

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HMRC’s Fraud Investigation Service (FIS) is responsible for the department’s civil and criminal investigations.

Covert Operations, Digital Exploitation (CODE) sits within FIS. Working across Law Enforcement and government, CODE provides investigative tools and covert techniques to front-line investigations and works with key partners to develop and provide access to new technology and systems to enable investigators to respond to serious and complex tax evasion and crime.

The FIS CODE Cybercrime Team tackles evolving cyber threats to HMRC through intelligence, investigations, forensic analysis, and cyber expertise. We provide actionable insight to strengthen systems, improve resilience, and inform countermeasures protecting HMRC’s digital services. By gathering critical evidence, intelligence and data, we enable confident decision-making that secures systems used by millions of taxpayers and supports UK public services. Our work also involves disrupting major criminal networks and those who enable them.

The Team operates under 3 areas:

Strategy & Business Management: Sets and ensures delivery of the team’s strategic direction in line with HMRC’s wider objectives.

Technical Investigation: Uses specialist cyber investigators to carry out digital forensics, data analysis, and malware investigations to identify and develop cybercrime cases and strengthen HMRC’s defence.

Intelligence, Investigation & Operational Engagement: Deploys cybercrime criminal investigators to use covert and sensitive intelligence capabilities, progress investigations, UK and international partnerships to detect cybercrime threats and respond to online criminal actors targeting HMRC services, data, and customers., This role of Cybercrime Operational Lead will be an additional second post alongside an existing postholder. Together, the Cybercrime Operational Leads will provide joint responsibility to lead the growing Intelligence, Investigation & Operational Engagement area.

The role is responsible for HMRC’s cybercrime intelligence and investigation strategy, delivering against FIS tactical priorities and directly supporting wider departmental and cross government strategic outcomes.

As a Cybercrime Operational Lead, you will be involved in some of the most challenging yet rewarding work within law enforcement.

Cybercriminals can be inventive and ingenious with technology, just as you will need to be innovative when using HMRC’s wide-ranging legal powers and investigative techniques in response. You will use your investigative skills and cybercrime knowledge to help define, prioritise and delivery the tactical and operational strategies for cybercrime investigations.

Critical to your success are your people. Working together with the wider senior management team, you will be focused on maintaining a positive, inclusive, innovative and confident culture across the Cybercrime team. This is against a backdrop of significant and fast-paced change including continued team and capabilities expansion through Spending Review (SR) investment.

The FIS Cybercrime Team is located across HMRC’s regional centres at Stratford in London, Manchester, Leeds and Nottingham. You will occasionally be required to attend these locations in addition to your home office location and may have to stay overnight. Due to the operational activity conducted by the team, you will occasionally be required to work away from the office in the UK and overseas., * Lead intelligence assessment and operations: Ensuring progression of appropriate investigative and disruption opportunities, directing complex, multi-agency and cross-jurisdiction investigations through to completion, working closely with CPS Cyber leads. Deliver operational outcomes: Oversee safe and effective delivery of operations, in cognisance to strategies and FIS operational plans, pursuing criminal investigations or alternative disruption strategies as appropriate to achieve maximum impact and value from intelligence. Manage and lead teams: Provide leadership, direction, and operational assurance to cybercrime investigators across multiple locations.

• Build strategic partnerships: Develop and maintain effective relationships withing HMRC, UK and international law enforcement, intelligence, and industry partners to represent HMRC and support its cybercrime mission. Maximise intelligence capabilities: Leverage HMRC and key law enforcement sensitive intelligence capability to direct and access vital insights and intelligence on current and emerging online fraud and cybercrime threats. Collaborate across CODE Cybercrime functions: Work closely with Cybercrime Technical and Strategy Leads to fully utilise specialist expertise and maximise operational impact. *

• Capture and apply insight: Ensure knowledge of criminal techniques and HMRC system vulnerabilities is recorded and used to inform departmental risk management and mitigation strategies., During the panel interview, your behaviours will be assessed, in order to determine your suitability for the role.

You will be asked to deliver an experience-based 15 min presentation. The presentation subject will be notified to the candidates after the sift.

Interviews will take place via video link. Sift and interview dates to be confirmed.

Eligibility

Please take extra care to tick the correct boxes in the eligibility sections of your application form. Mistakes sometimes happen but if you contact us later than two working days (Monday-Friday) before the vacancy closes, we may not be able to reopen your application for you. If you do make a mistake with your eligibility form, or have withdrawn yourself in error and need your application reinstated whilst the campaign is still live, please contact us via: unitybusinessservicesrecruitmentresults@hmrc.gov.uk – Use the subject line to insert appropriate wording for example – ‘Please re-open my application – [insert vacancy ref] & vacancy closing date [insert date]’.

To check that you are eligible to apply for this role, please review the eligibility information before submitting your application.

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.

Sponsorship

We have assessed this role against both Home Office and HMRC criteria and we are unable to offer sponsorship for a Skilled Worker Visa. This means the vacancy is not open to applicants who require visa sponsorship, 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.

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.

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.

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., 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.

Proven success in engaging stakeholders in order to build relationships across government and law enforcement within the UK and internationally. *

• Proven success in implementing strategy through tactical objectives and delivering measurable outcomes Strong collaborative skills, with the ability to work dynamically and under pressure with colleagues across investigative and intelligence disciplines to achieve successful outcomes
• Clear and confident communication skills, with ability to explain findings, develop investigative rationale and engage effectively with both internal stakeholders and external partners at all levels

Successful candidates will need to effectively develop and apply subject matter expertise. This includes

• Knowledge of UK cybercrime threats, online criminal marketplaces and enabling cybercrime services, especially activity linked to cashing-out.

• Understanding of end-user devices, networks and internet services in the context of cybercrime investigations, Proven experience of leading operational teams within a law enforcement context. This will be either directing cybercrime or organised crime intelligence or investigation operations, including developing and delivering a range of strategies outcomes. Expertise in the use of sensitive intelligence powers, assuring and developing knowledge and expertise across others. *

• Sound knowledge of the legislation that underpins the work of FIS in the criminal justice environment, in particular Regulation of Investigatory Powers Act 2000 (RIPA), Investigatory Powers Act (IPA) 2016, the Police Act 1997, Criminal Procedures and Investigations Act (CPIA) and the Police and Criminal Evidence Act (PACE), Proceeds of Crime Act 2002 (POCA).
• Sound understanding of the use of digital evidence and digital intelligence in the context of a criminal investigation

Desirable Criteria: Familiarity with online fraud detection systems in government, financial or the retail sector.

• Familiarity with Cyber Threat Intel Analysis, including open-source techniques in relation to cybercrime and attribution., A name-blind CV including your job history and previous experiences. Your CV should detail up to your last 5 roles, detailing your responsibilities and key achievements (max 100 words per role).
• A 1000-word Personal Statement. Your Personal Statement should clearly demonstrate how your skills and experience meet the essential criteria and person specification, whilst making reference to your experience within law enforcement.

Please evidence any Desirable Criteria where applicable (up to 250 words max). This is not essential for the role but may be considered by the vacancy holder where candidates have the same score at 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.

Pulled from the full job description

• Company pension
• Work from home, Alongside your salary of £58,541, HM Revenue and Customs contributes £16,959 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.

To find out more about HMRC benefits and find out what it’s really like to work for HMRC hear from our insiders or visit Thinking of joining the Civil Service

This post attracts a Level 1b Flexibility Payment (FP) that is paid monthly with salary. This FP requires you to undertake periods of On Call. You will be expected to work On Call 1 week in 4.

In applying for a position and accepting the FP you agree that you can and will meet those attendance requirements.

FP levels are reviewed annually – on a business need and personal basis – and may be subject to change.

Details of the Flexibility Payment can be found in the attached document.