Senior Digital Forensic Practitioner

Join to apply for the Senior Digital Forensic Practitioner role at HM Revenue & Customs. This range is provided by HM Revenue & Customs. Your actual pay will be based on your skills and experience. Base pay range: Salary is £44,110 + 28.97% contributing pension annually of circa £12,778 (STC). 25 days holiday + Upskilling + CS benefits and more.

About HMRC: HMRC is the UK's tax, payments and customs authority and we have a vital purpose: we collect the money that pays for the UK's public services and help families and individuals with targeted financial support. Covert Operations, Digital Exploitation (CODE) sits within HMRC's wider Fraud Investigation Service (FIS) responsible for the department's civil and criminal investigation work. FIS ensures that HMRC has an effective approach to taking on the most serious tax evasion and fraud.

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. Cybercrime & Forensic Services (C&FS) provides critical support to FIS investigations nationally through the provision of important forensic services.

This is a unique opportunity to be responsible for critical elements of our Digital Forensic Service provided to HMRC's investigation teams. You will ensure that all aspects of Digital Forensic work are carried out to a high standard, adhering to a solid forensic strategy, and meeting all requirements of the Forensic Science Regulator. This will involve leading and developing junior colleagues who will benefit from your expertise and experience during lab-based acquisition work, forensic analysis, and presentation of evidence.

As an effective communicator you will collaborate closely with Senior Investigation Officers (SIOs) running operations and their senior management structures, providing consultant level services on Forensic Strategy and technical problem solving. On-site operations, such as search warrants, are an important part in HMRC's enforcement work, where the investigation teams will benefit from your experience dealing with frontline challenges and assisting with the forensic aspects of fast-paced operational work.

The responsibilities of this role will include (but not limited to):

• Ability to work effectively as a team leader demonstrating excellent leadership skills and support the team's goals above individual goals.
• Assist and manage other staff during the seizure and retention of digital devices within a laboratory environment and during warrant executions for subsequent forensic examination.
• Manage forensic exhibits to ensure continuity, confidentiality and security is maintained at all times.
• Understand, follow, and actively promote Digital Forensic good practice methodologies (ISO17025:2017 standard and FSR Codes of Practice) to examine computers, mobile phones, and other digital devices.
• Provide fact and procedural-based evidence at Court as and when required.
• Good communicator who can perform in a client/customer facing role.
• Ability to work in a fast-paced environment, managing multiple tasks through to completion.
• Be at the forefront of technical developments within Digital Forensics.
• To carry out any duties proportionate with the purpose of the post that may change from time to time according to business needs.
• Mentor laboratory Digital Forensic Practitioners, Higher Digital Forensic Practitioners and educate senior investigation colleagues about the field of digital forensics.
• Attending operational duties (including search warrant executions away from normal place of work with overnight stays).
• Travelling across the country, including occasional international travel.
• Proven demonstrable experience of leading a team working within a Digital Forensic environment.
• Proficiency with one or more of the current mainstream digital forensic software tools (for either mobile devices or computers).
• Experience in examining computer and/or mobile devices (ideally both).
• Demonstrable experience of onsite acquisition of digital devices.
• Experience and knowledge in performing Digital Forensic examinations; be able to demonstrate case experience within either the law enforcement or civil work environment.
• Be knowledgeable of the ISO 17025:2017 standard and Forensic Science Regulators Codes of Practice.
• Be able to regularly work with material that may be of an obscene, offensive, or distressing nature. Treat such material in the appropriate manner ensuring it is secured and handled according to defined policy.
• To be willing to undertake the building of a portfolio of evidence to become a full member of ICDIP/CIISec.
• Hold a full UK Driving Licence & be willing to drive on official business.
• Knowledge of Legal Professional Privilege (LPP) material and how to deal with it.
• Knowledge and understanding of criminal justice procedures including the Investigatory Powers Act 2016 (IPA) and the Police Act 1997.
• Previous experience working in a Law Enforcement environment / legal environment.
• Experience of giving evidence in court.

Training Requirements: Depending on existing experience, you will be expected to undertake Digital Forensics training, ranging from in-house training to external courses. Applicants will be required to be cleared by an occupational health assessment to be able to attend a public and personal safety training (PPST) course. Successful completion of the PPST is required to undertake duties away from the office for this role. Failure to pass and maintain the PPST certificate may affect receipt of the flexibility payment.

Behaviours: We'll assess you against these behaviours during the selection process: Making Effective Decisions, Delivering at Pace, Managing a Quality Service.

Alongside your salary of £44,110, HM Revenue and Customs contributes £12,778 towards you being a member of the Civil Service Defined Benefit Pension scheme. 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.