Crime Scene Investigation Unit Technical Manager

Salary: Band 9, £41,133 – £47,712
Location: Agile across Police Locations, predominantly based at Middle Engine Lane.
Hours/Contract: Permanent 37 hours per week (Mon – Fri)

Working for #TeamNP

The role

Here at Northumbria Police, we think our region is amazing! It takes a great deal of people from different backgrounds, with diverse skills and experience to serve our force area effectively, think you have what it takes to help us make a difference? This could be the perfect time for you to join us in our Forensic Services Department as CSIU (Crime Scene Investigation Unit) Technical Manager.

The Forensic Services Department within Northumbria Police provides essential forensic support to all investigations and relies on skill and teamwork of all our experienced and professional practitioners.

An opportunity has arisen for a Technical Manager position within our accredited Crime Scene Investigation Unit (CSIU). We are looking for an experienced Crime Scene Investigator with a good working knowledge of the technical aspects of the accreditation process or a technically competent Technical Manager.

This vacancy comes at an exciting time for Forensic Science Regulator Code compliance and ISO 17020 accreditation across all crime types and is due to an internal promotion.

This role will have the responsibility of developing and maintaining the Crime Scene Investigation Unit’s quality standards accreditation, ensuring that specialist forensic advice and services are delivered which comply with national guidance, legislative requirements and quality standards as defined by the Forensic Science Regulator. The role also includes line management of two critical positions within the CSIU, and assisting with accreditation in other areas of business.

What you’ll do

Act as the technical lead for ISO 17020 forensic accreditation within the Crime Scene Investigation Unit (CSIU), supporting current standards and preparing for future accreditation across the Force.
Provide expert forensic support and advice at crime scenes, ensuring effective evidence recovery using specialist techniques.
Develop, maintain, and ensure compliance with the Force’s Quality Management System, including technical procedures aligned with ISO 17020, ILAC G19, and regulatory/legal requirements.
Support internal audits, manage corrective actions, and lead improvement initiatives by analysing root causes and implementing risk mitigation strategies.
Liaise with service users to offer guidance on forensic evidence handling and ensure all CSIU outputs meet legal and procedural standards for court use.
Promote professional development, assess staff competence, and lead validation activities to uphold forensic standards and drive continuous improvement.

What you’ll bring

Suitable candidates will need to be able to demonstrate a passion for forensics, and determination to deliver a high performing service.
Undergraduate degree or equivalent level academic qualification in a relevant discipline (e.g. crime scene investigation) or equivalent vocational qualifications.
Previous experience as an operational crime scene investigator.
Understanding and experience of the Forensic Science Regulator Code of Practice and International Office of Standardisation forensic quality standards.
Further desirable criteria include;
Previous experience of technical management within an accredited quality management system.

Just so you know

The recruitment process will consist of the initial application form followed by a face to face interview and presentation. Just so you know, you can save your application and come back to it any time prior to the closing date on the advert.

If you tell us that you have a disability, we can make adjustments to support you through the recruitment process (for example we can arrange extra time for tests or provide a sign language interpreter) You can get in touch with us via careers@northumbria.police.uk for any support regarding the application process. Please provide us with plenty of notice so we can ensure your visit goes smoothly.

If your application is successful, we’ll ask you to complete a Recruitment Vetting (RV) form, therefore you must be a resident of the UK for a minimum period of 3 years to ensure vetting checks can be successfully performed. A job offer will be dependent upon vetting clearance, medical information, and references.

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