Vacancy Information
This role is within a unit where Surrey Police and Sussex Police work in collaboration, whilst continuing to be two separate legal entities/employers with different terms and conditions.
Both Surrey Police staff and Sussex Police staff are employed in this unit on their own force terms and conditions.
Successful candidates may be appointed on the terms and conditions of employment of either Surrey Police or Sussex Police, depending on organisational requirements. A discussion will be held with the successful candidate to confirm the details of location, salary, allowance and hours.
Division / Department - Specialist Crime
Status - Full Time
Contract Type - Permanent
Grade - Surrey Police Band 2 / Sussex Police M1
Salary Grade Range - Surrey Police £38,979 - £56,223 / Sussex Police £42,207 - £46,437
Politically Restricted -
Unsocial Hours Allowance -
Location - See Advert
The starting salary for this role will usually be at the bottom of the salary range and will be pro-rata if the working hours are less than full time.
The Role
Surrey and Sussex Police Forensic Investigations department are seeking two Professional Leads to spearhead the delivery of digital forensic services across Surrey and Sussex.
These senior management roles will lead the teams of technical specialists across Surrey and Sussex, and hold responsibility for delivering a high quality and customer focused service within agreed budgets. The roles require application of technical and professional management to lead on operational delivery, improve performance and produce timely results.
A key aspect is to lead and advise on technical matters, ensuring the joint digital forensic teams achieve and are compliant with mandated national accreditation requirements.
We are keen to hear from those with advanced technical skills, and those who have experience of leading on digital accreditation requirements that may be seeking new challenges.
These roles will be based one at Surrey Police HQ, Guildford and one at Haywards Heath Police Station. There will be a requirement to travel and work across both sites to support operational business. Working hours are Monday to Friday office hours/flexi-time.
Key Responsibilities
In this role, you will have responsibility for the delivery of digital forensic services across Surrey and Sussex. You will manage the teams of technical specialists in both forces taking responsibility for delivering a high quality & customer focused digital forensic service within agreed budgets.
You will be required to apply technical and professional management internally whilst also working with external service providers and stakeholders to share ideas, improve performance and deliver timely results, ensuring the best use of resources possible whilst maintaining the reputation of both forces in this specialist area.
You will undertake the role of business lead in operational digital forensic services supporting the development and delivery of activities required to achieve ISO17025 accreditation, in line with the agreed timeline. You will ensure legislation is adhered to whilst maximising forensic opportunities and working within budgets.
You will lead on threat, risk, harm and reputational management for all digital forensic matters within both forces, and be responsible for ensuring the joint digital forensic teams are compliant with mandated national accreditation requirements.
You will act as lead technical advisor in the field of digital forensic services ensuring practices are in accordance with policy and national guidelines.
You will be required to maintain knowledge of latest forensic technology developments and make recommendations about the most up to date equipment and techniques to improve service delivery.
As a member of the Forensic Investigations Senior Management Team, you will be required to contribute to and influence the development of Forensic Investigation strategies and service delivery plans ensuring that the joint digital forensic teams are fully represented across the department.
Skills & Experience
Educated to degree level, hold other relevant work-based professional qualifications in a technical or digital forensic based subject or have substantial recent evidence of competent performance in a directly relevant equivalent role. Recognised management qualifications are desirable.
To possess the competence and confidence to lead, negotiate, influence and shape positive behaviours across the digital forensic teams, with the ability to drive performance across both organisations and influence key stakeholders and senior management.
Previous experience of delivering digital forensic services within an investigative environment.
Proven leadership skills and qualities.
Excellent problem-solving skills with the ability to analyse, interpret and clearly articulate all digital forensic matters and provide strategic specialist advice and solutions at Senior / Chief Officer level to both forces.
Self-motivated and proven experience of working methodically and patiently, often dealing with conflicting priorities, with minimal supervision.
Ability to work independently with absolute integrity to tight timelines.
Ability to deliver and articulate concise, relevant reports and papers including financial records up to executive level.
Excellent verbal and written communications and skills with confidence and gravitas to challenge where necessary.
Experience of delivering projects relating to process change for the purpose of operational performance improvement.
Experience of leading teams during organisational change and demonstrating resilience during that change.
Experience of successfully managing the performance of teams and individuals and identifying change in relation to both performance management and performance indicators.
Knowledge and experience of working to ISO standards, an understanding of the requirements of ISO 17025 quality standards and experience of applying standard operating procedures to ensure the highest-level service delivery.
Able to demonstrate excellent interpersonal skills and time management, together with the ability to communicate effectively at all levels and to be a team player within a close working environment.
Further Information
All staff who work within the Digital Forensics team environment will need to have a psychological wellbeing check before they begin the role. This forms a baseline for further checks but also ensures applicants are fit to undertake the role at the outset.
The post holder must attend and participate in a debrief with occupational health every six months.
This role requires the applicant to undergo security vetting to the appropriate level.
A full UK driving licence or the ability to travel across both forces is required. The post holder must be willing to undertake a driving assessment in order to be able to drive unmarked police fleet vehicles.
For further information regarding this role please contact:
Natalie Belamon - Head of Operational Forensic Services
natalie.belamon@sussex.pnn.police.uk
or
Ian Kirkwood - Head of Strategic Forensic Services
ian.kirkwood@sussex.pnn.police.uk
One of these vacancies will be based at Headquarters, Guildford. Please note that in 2024 Surrey Police Headquarters is due to move to Leatherhead.
Additional Information
Following submission of your application you will receive a confirmation email with a copy of your application attached. Occasionally emails from this address can fall into spam/junk folders so please ensure this is checked regularly. You may wish to consider adding noreply@surreysussexpolice.as.recruitmail.com to your address/contact list to ensure you receive all communications.
Surrey Police and Sussex Police work together in collaboration for this role, however they remain two different employers, with differing pay scales, allowances and terms and conditions including hours of employment.
If you are an internal candidate and are conditionally offered the role your attendance record and any reasonable adjustments already in place will be discussed with yourself and your current line manager. If you are successful in your application, you may be required to resign and transfer your employment, taking on the Terms & Conditions and pay scales of the Lead Force (if this is not your existing Home Force).
This post is being advertised in parallel with Force redeployment processes. Any redeployees who are identified will be given preference. This may result in the post being withdrawn at any point during the recruitment process.
Surrey Police and Sussex Police Special Constables, Volunteers and Agency Staff (excluding self employed workers) covered under the Agency Worker Regulations (AWR) are eligible to apply for internal advertised posts.
Diversity Statement
We are only as good as our people. It's really important that our officers and staff can be themselves in the workplace and we know that as an organisation we'll grow from the variety of thinking, approach and skills that diversity brings; all of which help us deliver a better policing service. We strive to ensure how we deliver our services, provide information and how we recruit is open and accessible to all.
We have multiple staff support groups who help to improve our understanding of minority issues and ensure they are reflected in our work. We are proud members of the Stonewall Workplace Equality Index and Disability Confident, a signatory of the Race at Work Charter and aligned with the Armed Forces Covenant and the HeForShe movement.
We value the differences that people bring from all backgrounds and communities. Regardless of age, sex, ethnicity, sexual orientation, gender identity or gender expression, disability, social status or religious beliefs, we would love to hear from you.
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