Head of Operations - Special Operations Unit

Birmingham, Bristol, Normanton, Warrington, London *

• 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.
  
  

Please note that, as Stratford will be your contractual place of work, any subsequent move from a temporary location will not entitle you to payments for travel time or costs under the Relocation and Excess Travel Policy.

Job Summary

This is an exciting opportunity to lead a diverse number of teams undertaking specialist roles across a several locations involved in tackling and supporting the proactive investigation of serious organised crime, across a range of threat areas. As part of the Investigations Command Leadership Team, you will report directly to a Deputy Director and will be responsible for a number of key portfolios for the Investigations Command, as well as the wider Agency.

The role involves working closely with key partners and stakeholders, both internal and external to the agency. You will be responsible for acting as a role model, committed to leading, developing and nurturing a high-performing and talented workforce, being a positive advocate for inclusion, diversity and equality, and improving culture.

Job Description

As the G1 Head of the Special Operations Unit (SOU) you will lead a number of specialist teams, including the Anti-Kidnap and Extortion unit (AKEU), the Armed Operations Unit (AOU), the Dedicated Unarmed Surveillance Teams (DUSTs), the SOU support unit (Op SU) comprising NCA dogs and specialist search capability, along with the London Organised Crime Partnership (OCP) between the NCA and the Metropolitan Police Service.

Roles and Responsibilities

Operational leadership - Visible leadership of the Unit's specialist capabilities: armed and unarmed surveillance, firearms, kidnap & extortion and specialist dogs & search capabilities. Oversight and responsibility for safe, legal and ethical operational deployments, complying with legislation, policy and procedures.

Operational delivery - Being accountable for operational performance across 4Ps (Pursue, Protect, Prevent, Prepare) – ensuring the business area is contributing to wider Agency performance ambitions (Including P1-P2 high impact disruptions) and all performance related data is recorded and reported in line with Agency requirements. Ensure that all operational activity is prioritised, being conducted diligently and expeditiously in line with the tasked outcomes, delivered through corporate case management systems and is compliant with relevant legislation, codes of practice, policy and procedure and best practice.

Operational accountability - Ensure operations are reviewed and best prac

tice identified and implemented – ensuring a high-performing culture delivering criminal justice excellence. Ensure that the business area is compliant with requirements under the Victims’ Code and Home Office Counting Rules for Recorded Crime (Crime Recording).

Cultural leadership - Lead and drive a positive inclusive culture ensuring all officers understand and are held accountable for making a positive contribution towards inclusion, diversity, and equality (IDE). Own, develop and implement a business area action plan that responds to/addresses feedback from the People Survey.

Organisational change & improvement - Lead and implement organisational change activity, effectively planning and communicating proposed changes with staff and stakeholders.

Professional development - Create an environment that supports and encourages the development of staff, including ensuring officers’ continual professional development (CPD) is prioritised, implementing the Command’s talent management programme and tackling poor performance and behaviours.

Risk management - Ensure that operational risk is managed effectively within the business area and wider organisation. Lead, promote and implement health and safety measures and ensure risk assessments are conducted effectively in line with Agency policy and safety legislation.

Strategic leadership - As part of the Senior Management Team, lead on strategic areas of work as directed by the Deputy Director a

nd Investigations Command Team.

Budget management - Manage resources effectively with financial control of departmental budgets.

As the G1 Head of the Special Operations Unit (SOU) you will lead a number of specialist teams, including the Anti-Kidnap and Extortion unit (AKEU), the Armed Operations Unit (AOU), the Dedicated Unarmed Surveillance Teams (DUSTs), the SOU support unit (Op SU) comprising NCA dogs and specialist search capability, along with the London Organised Crime Partnership (OCP) between the NCA and the Metropolitan Police Service.

Roles and Responsibilities

Operational leadership - Visible leadership of the Unit's specialist capabilities: armed and unarmed surveillance, firearms, kidnap & extortion and specialist dogs & search capabilities. Oversight and responsibility for safe, legal and ethical operational deployments, complying with legislation, policy and procedures.

Operational delivery - Being accountable for operational performance across 4Ps (Pursue, Protect, Prevent, Prepare) – ensuring the business area is contributing to wider Agency performance ambitions (Including P1-P2 high impact disruptions) and all performance related data is recorded and reported in line with Agency requirements. Ensure that all operational activity is prioritised, being conducted diligently and expeditiously in line with the tasked outcomes, delivered through corporate case management systems and is compliant with relevant legislati

on, codes of practice, policy and procedure and best practice.

Operational accountability - Ensure operations are reviewed and best practice identified and implemented – ensuring a high-performing culture delivering criminal justice excellence. Ensure that the business area is compliant with requirements under the Victims’ Code and Home Office Counting Rules for Recorded Crime (Crime Recording).

Cultural leadership - Lead and drive a positive inclusive culture ensuring all officers understand and are held accountable for making a positive contribution towards inclusion, diversity, and equality (IDE). Own, develop and implement a business area action plan that responds to/addresses feedback from the People Survey.

Organisational change & improvement - Lead and implement organisational change activity, effectively planning and communicating proposed changes with staff and stakeholders.

Professional development - Create an environment that supports and encourages the development of staff, including ensuring officers’ continual professional development (CPD) is prioritised, implementing the Command’s talent management programme and tackling poor performance and behaviours.

Risk management - Ensure that operational risk is managed effectively within the business area and wider organisation. Lead, promote and implement health and safety measures and ensure risk assessments are conducted effectively in line with Agency policy and safety legislation.

Strategic leadership - As part of the Senior Management Team, lead on strategic areas of work as directed by the Deputy Director and Investigations Command Team.

Budget management - Manage resources effectively with financial control of departmental budgets.

Person specification

Skills, Knowledge And Experience

Ability to lead a diverse number of teams across the country. Understanding of various specialist roles and capabilities - Can demonstrate management of teams tackling serious organised crime in several locations across a range of threat areas.

Ability to act as a role model. Knowledge of leading, developing and nurturing a high-performing and talented workforce - Can demonstrate being a positive advocate for inclusion, diversity and equality, and improving culture.

Ability to oversee and direct operations and projects. Understanding of prioritising operational activity - Can demonstrate knowledge of how an operation is being prioritised and being conducted diligently and expeditiously in line with the tasked outcomes.

Ability to be responsible for a number of key portfolios for the Investigations Command, as well as the wider Agency - Can demonstrate being part of the Senior Management Team, lead on strategic areas of work as directed by the Deputy Director and Investigations Command Team.

Ability to manage resources effectively. Understanding financial control of departmental budgets - Can demonstrate experience of leading SOC investigations focussed on resource and budget management.

Ability to lead the agency response and support to UK police forces on kidnaps. Understanding of kidnap, extortion and related offences - Can demonstrate experience as SIO in kidnap investigations and/or wider management of kidnap scenarios.

Experience

as SIO in kidnap investigations and/or wider management of kidnap scenarios, including red, green and blue oversight - Will lead the agency response and support to UK police forces in relation to kidnap, extortion and related offences, as well as support to the Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office (FCDO) in respect of the kidnapping for criminal purposes of UK citizens overseas.

Experience of leading SOC investigations focussed on operational planning and assurance, resource and budget management, and risk/issue management - Will need to manage resources effectively with financial control of departmental budgets. Will need to manage issues relating to the performance and conduct of officers working with Integrated Protective Security (IPS) as required.

Understanding of covert armed surveillance, Mobile Armed Support to Surveillance (MAStS) and other firearms related roles - Will be leading the agency armed surveillance support to NCA High Priority grid operations and threats to life.

Understanding of the investigation of Organised Crime of an international and upstream nature - Will lead the agency contribution to the Organised Crime Partnership and collaboration between the Metropolitan Police Service and the NCA, to tackle Class A drugs, firearms use and supply and related money laundering, impacting on the Metropolis.

Previous or current experience of the management of international crime operations - Will lead the agency Special Ops su

pport to NCA High Priority grid operations and threats to life which often originate overseas.

Previous or current experience of working international partners - Need to support the FCDO in respect of the kidnapping for criminal purposes of UK citizens overseas.

Previous or current experience of surveillance, including management of surveillance deployments - Will lead the agency armed and unarmed surveillance support to NCA High Priority grid operations and threats to life and therefore experience of surveillance, including management of surveillance deployments, is essential.

Previous or current experience of operational or strategic firearms related operations and willingness to be a Strategic Firearms Commander.

Qualifications

PIP3 - Your PIP3 accreditation must be current or active within the last 3 years, and your accreditation must be currently shown as active on the College of Policing register.

Any applications from candidates not meeting this eligibility criteria will not progress.

Behaviours

We'll assess you against these behaviours during the selection process:

• Leadership
• Seeing the Big Picture
  
  

Technical skills

We'll assess you against these technical skills during the selection process:

• Experience of leading SOC investigations focussed on the elements of operational planning and assurance, resource and budget management, and risk/issue management.
• Experience as Senior Investigation Officer in kidnap investigations and/or experience of kidnap investigation overseas in support of UK interests.
  
  

Alongside your salary of £85,021, National Crime Agency contributes £24,630 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 £24,630. 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.

Artificial intelligence

Artificial intelligence can be a useful tool to support your application, however, all examples and statements provided must be truthful, factually accurate and taken directly from your own experience. Where plagiarism has been identified (presenting the ideas and experiences of others, or generated by artificial intelligence, as your own) applications may be withdrawn and internal candidates may be subject to disciplinary action. Please see our candidate guidance (opens in a new window) for more information on appropriate and inappropriate use.

Selection process details

This vacancy is using Success Profiles (opens in a new window), and will assess your Behaviours, Strengths, Experience and Technical skills.

Experience - This Will Be Assessed

CV

Please include your full career history, training, qualifications, key responsibilities, and achievements. Explain any employment gaps in the last two years. Ensure all accreditation dates are accurate.

Details of what is expected within you CV are as follows: Please include experience/evidence of the essential/entry criteria and Person Specification required for this role.

Statement of Suitability

Please provide a 750 word personal statement demonstrating how you meet the criteria below:

Please ensure that the 750-word statement covers the following two topics:

• your motivation for applying for the role.
• how you would be an effective and inspiring NCA leader, given current strategic and cultural challenges facing the wider law enforcement community.
  
  

A panel will assess how well your application demonstrates the requirements outlined above.

You will receive an acknowledgement once your application is submitted.

We aim to have sift completed and scores released within 10 working days of the closing date of the advert. For high volume campaigns this timeframe may be extended.

Scores will be provided but further feedback will not be available at this stage.

For guidance on the application process, visit: NCA Applying and Onboarding

Assessment 1

The format of this assessment will be Interview which will be tested on the criteria listed in the Success Profiles at Assessment section.

Success Profiles at Assessment

Behaviours

• Leadership
• Seeing the Big Picture
  
  

Technical

• Experience of leading SOC investigations focussed on the elements of operational planning and assurance, resource and budget management, and risk/issue management.
• Experience as Senior Investigation Officer in kidnap investigations and/or experience of kidnap investigation overseas in support of UK interests.
  
  

Strengths

Strengths are tested at interview stage - the strengths tested are not shared before the interview.

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.

Role

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)
• If still tied, application sift scores will be used
  
  

Feedback is provided only to those who attend an assessment.

You will be subject to vetting and pre-employment checks before appointment.

Once the vacancy closes, the advert will no longer be accessible. Please save a copy for your records.

We encourage all candidates to visit the NCA Careers Page for more information.

Full advert details for this vacancy can found on the advert on the NCA Recruitment Portal. Please follow the link to apply at advertisers' site.

Feedback will only be provided if you attend an interview or assessment.

This vacancy is using Success Profiles (opens in a new window), and will assess your Behaviours, Strengths, Experience and Technical skills.

Security

Successful candidates must meet the security requirements before they can be appointed. The level of security needed is developed vetting (opens in a new window).See our vetting charter (opens in a new window).

People working with government assets must complete baseline personnel security standard (opens in new window) checks.

Successful candidates must meet the security requirements before they can be appointed. The level of security needed is developed vetting (opens in a new window).See our vetting charter (opens in a new window).

People working with government assets must complete baseline personnel security standard (opens in new window) checks.

Nationality requirements

This Job Is Broadly Open To The Following Groups

• 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) (opens in a new window)
• 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
  
  

Further information on nationality requirements (opens in a new window)

Working for the Civil Service

The Civil Service Code (opens in a new window) sets out the standards of behaviour expected of civil servants.

We recruit by merit on the basis of fair and open competition, as outlined in the Civil Service Commission's recruitment principles (opens in a new window).

The Civil Service embraces diversity and promotes equal opportunities. As such, we run a Disability Confident Scheme (DCS) for candidates with disabilities who meet the minimum selection criteria.

The Civil Service also offers a Redeployment Interview Scheme to civil servants who are at risk of redundancy, and who meet the minimum requirements for the advertised vacancy.

The Civil Service Code (opens in a new window) sets out the standards of behaviour expected of civil servants.

We recruit by merit on the basis of fair and open competition, as outlined in the Civil Service Commission's recruitment principles (opens in a new window).

The Civil Service embraces diversity and promotes equal opportunities. As such, we run a Disability Confident Scheme (DCS) for candidates with disabilities who meet the minimum selection criteria.

The Civil Service also offers a Redeployment Interview Scheme to civil servants who are at risk of redundancy, and who meet the minimum requirements for the advertised vacancy.

Diversity and Inclusion

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 (opens in a new window) and the Civil Service Diversity and Inclusion Strategy (opens in a new window).

This vacancy is part of the Great Place to Work for Veterans (opens in a new window) initiative.

Once this job has closed, the job advert will no longer be available. You may want to save a copy for your records.

Contact point for applicants

Job Contact

• Name : The Recruitment Team
• Email : central.recruitment@nca.gov.uk
• Telephone : central.recruitment@nca.gov.uk
  
  

Recruitment team

• Email : central.recruitment@nca.gov.uk
  
  

Further information

If you believe your application has not been treated fairly, email: Central.Recruitment@nca.gov.uk (quoting the vacancy reference).

If unresolved, you may escalate your complaint to the Civil Service Commission.