Senior Technical Officer - Drone in Gillingham

RRA - Recruitment and Retention Allowance (Per Annum)

£ 2000

Special Duty Bonus Payment (SDBP) up to per annum

£ 1400

G4

Contract type Permanent

Command Intelligence

Business Area Collection

Type of role Engineering, Health and Safety, Information Technology, Intelligence, Operational Delivery, Operational Research, Planning, Policing, Senior Leadership

Working pattern Full time

Number of roles available 1

Senior Technical Officer - Drone

Location(s)

Gillingham

About the Role

Information about the Command

The role of Intelligence is to develop the right operations, which target and disrupt - by the most effective means - the offenders who seek to cause the highest harm to the UK.
A diverse directorate with a wide variety of unique functions and specialist skillsets in our ranks, some of which we deliver as the national provider for the wider Serious Organised Crime (SOC) system. From our niche technical capabilities, to our overseas network of International Liaison Officers (ILO) and our Tasking teams, there are many component parts which contribute to the efforts of the directorate and the National Crime Agency (NCA).

Information about the Business Area

Intelligence Collection coordinates NCA collection capabilities against the NCA’s highest priorities. Intelligence Collection includes forensics, open source, covert human intelligence sources, undercover officers and technical collection capabilities. This includes responding to threats and exploiting opportunities relating to the use of electronic communications by Subjects of Interest using the various powers conferred within the Investigatory Powers Act 2016 (IPA). This is a dynamic and diverse arena with constant and rapid change, suiting those officers who thrive on near constant challenge.

Role Summary

To be the lead Drone Pilot for the NCA’s Technical Operations unmanned vehicle programme. The role involves flight planning and clearances, piloting a varied range of vehicles, briefing management and staff and developing capabilities.

Role Description

As the lead Drone Officer you will be responsible for flying and managing unmanned aircraft System (UAS) and unmanned surface vessels (USV) within Technical Operations. You will lead on developing innovative, lawfully audacious unmanned technical capabilities to enable the delivery of technical surveillance activity against authorised tactical and strategic objectives.

You will support technical and technological research activity, in consultation with fellow law enforcement Drone Officers, UK and International partners and the commercial sector. You will proactively maintain a high degree of awareness around unmanned technological innovations, ensuring the Agency maintains cutting edge lead on technical surveillance capabilities.

Duties and Responsibilities

Lead on Technical Operations unmanned vehicle programme. You will be the lead Flying Officer for Technical Operations drone cadre. You will lead for Technical Operations on engagement with the Civil Aviation Authority and Maritime Agency. You will be responsible for developing the unmanned vehicle capability. Responsible for training and developing the Technical Operations drone cadre. Be the Technical Operations Subject Matter Expert in un-manned vehicles. Lead on engagement with suppliers and devlopers. Responsible for writing and developing associated policy and unit standards.

Person Specification

Skills, Knowledge and Experience Description Skilled Drone Pilot Lead drone pilot. Need to demonstrate excellent flying skills. Skilled at 1st line servicing and adapting Drone air frames. Ability to service and develop Drone airframes and platforms Knowledgeable about Drone command and control Knowledgeable on RF and other command and control principles. Experience of flying different types and size of drones Have experience of specialist Unmanned Aircraft System (UAS) First Person View (FPV) /Beyond Visual Line of Sight (BVLOS) skills and associated equipment. Communication Skills Confident in communicating with groups of people. Experience of instructing others in the use of Drones Able to bring on the capabilities of the Drone cadre.

On-call working There is the possibility on On-Call working to be discussed once in post.

You must meet the essential criteria and evidence this within your application to be considered for the role.

Qualifications, Membership and Licences General Visual Line of Sight (GVC) Certificate.

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

Desirable criteria are only used for assessment in the event of a tie break.

Powerboat 3 commercial qualification.
Knowledge of Civil Aviation Authority regulations.

A pay flexibility case seeking to modernise NCA pay frameworks was approved by the Government in July 2026. The NCA recognises and engages in collective bargaining with three trade unions: The National Crime Officers Association (NCOA), Public and Commercial Services Union (PCS) and FDA. Therefore, our terms and conditions are currently undergoing a formal review, in consultation with these recognised trade unions. The outcome is expected to be known by early 2027.

Allowances are reviewed annually and may be increased, decreased or removed.

All salary offers will be made in line with Remuneration Policy.

• Roles based in London will receive an additional London Weighting (Per Annum) of £4379
• This position attracts a Recruitment and Retention Allowance (RRA) of £ 2000 (Per Annum) available as an addition to the advertised salary.
• This role attracts a Special Duties Bonus Payment (SDBP) up to £1400 (Per Annum)

All NCA employees are members of the UK Civil Service and eligible for the Civil Service pension scheme, alongside your salary the NCA contributes £13630. 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
• 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)

This vacancy is using the Success Profiles framework and will assess using the following criteria: Behaviours, Experience

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 for more information on appropriate and inappropriate use.

How we will assess you

Your application will be assessed against the following:

Experience Criteria - will be assessed by 250word examples on:

• Knowledge and Experience of advanced Drone flying on multiple Drone airframes.
• Experience of developing, modifying repairing a Drone airframe.
• Experience in developing the flying capabilities of others.

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

In the event of a high number of applications, we may operate a longlist. Applicants will need to meet the minimum pass mark for the lead criteria.

- Knowledge and Experience of advanced Drone flying on multiple Drone airframes..

Candidates who do not meet the minimum pass mark for the lead criteria will not progress to having their other criteria assessed. Applications must meet the minimum criteria to be progressed to the assessment stage.

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.

The format of this assessment will be Drone Flying Assessment which will be tested on via the details listed below.

Candidates successful at shortlisting will be invited to complete a drone flying assessment against set parameters in person. Further guidelines will be provided on the day.

Candidates are required to pass every stage of the assessment in order to be invited to interview.

If you are successful you will be invited to the second assessment.

Assessment 2

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

• Knowledge and Experience of advanced Drone flying on multiple Drone airframes.
• Experience of developing, modifying repairing a Drone airframe.
• Experience in developing the flying capabilities of others.

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.

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.

Eligibility, Pre-Employment Check and Vetting

If you are an internal candidate who has passed

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