Operations Manager - Integrated Communications Intelligence (ICI) Operations

The Operations Manager leads and delivers operational activity within Integrated Communications Intelligence (ICI) Operations, a key function of the NCAs Intelligence Directorate. The role supports the UKs response to Serious and Organised Crime (SOC) through the lawful collection, analysis, and dissemination of communications intelligence.

Operating in a dynamic, sensitive, and fast-paced environment, you will ensure intelligence capabilities are effectively deployed to provide timely, accurate, and actionable insight to operational partners. This includes close collaboration with NCA Investigations, intelligence colleagues, the UK Intelligence Community (UKIC), and wider law enforcement partners.

You will lead and manage a team of Intelligence Officers, delivering operational activity across a complex portfolio. The role involves enabling the lawful collection, assessment, and dissemination of time-critical intelligence, ensuring NCA collection resources are directed at the most serious criminal threats in the UK and overseas. This work directly contributes to the disruption of criminal activity, including drugs and firearms trafficking, money laundering, organised immigration crime (OIC) and child sexual abuse.

Working within a covert and sensitive environment, you will manage operational risk, including threats to life, firearms-related activity, and crimes in action, while ensuring adherence to legal and compliance frameworks. You will also represent ICI in internal and external forums, manage tasked caseloads, and build strong working relationships across teams and partner organisations.

This is an excellent opportunity for a motivated individual with strong leadership skills to operate in a high-impact, operational role.

Please note: Due to the nature of the work and systems involved, this role is fully office-based and does not support hybrid working. Candidates based in our London office will require DV (Enhanced) on entry.

Duties and Responsibilities

Strategic Tasking & Prioritisation - Lead and direct intelligence collection and assessment activities, ensuring they are prioritised and aligned to organisational and strategic objectives. Ensure intelligence requirements are appropriately tasked and coordinated across ICI Operations to maximise operational impact.

Risk & Threat Management - Identify, assess, and manage responses to current, emerging, and evolving threats to the public, government, national security, and law & order. Ensure risks are proactively mitigated and managed in accordance with agency policies, legal frameworks and operational priorities.

Operational Delivery & Compliance - Deliver operational outcomes within a fast-paced and complex environment, ensuring adherence to Agency policy, standard operating procedures and relevant legislation. Maintain oversight of operational activity to ensure lawful, ethical and secure execution at all times.

Intelligence Leadership & Oversight - Provide leadership and specialist guidance in relation to Intercept intelligence, ensuring effective coordination of activity. Promote and embed best practice in intelligence collection, exploitation and dissemination.

Performance & Quality Management - Allocate work across ICI Operations and monitor delivery to ensure outputs meet required standards for quality, accuracy and timeliness. Ensure all operations, outputs and projects align with strategic objectives and the NCA Control Strategy.

People Management & Capability Development - Ensure staff have the appropriate knowledge, skills, tools, and training to perform effectively. Manage performance, support professional development and build capability within the team.

Leadership & Culture - Lead by example to embed NCA values, culture, and professional standards within ICI Operations. Foster a collaborative, inclusive and high-performing team environment focused on operational excellence.

Experience of Handling Sensitive Intelligence - Significant experience working with sensitive intelligence material, applying appropriate handling, security and governance standards. Ability to lead and manage Intelligence Officers. and safeguard intelligence integrity.

Knowledge of Relevant UK Legislation - Sound working knowledge of UK legislation relevant to intelligence and law enforcement activity (e.g. Investigatory Powers Act 2016) to ensure legal compliance and maintain the Agencys licence to operate.

Risk Management & Decision-Making - Demonstrates strong ability to prioritise competing demands, assess risk and make effective decisions in a fast-paced operational environment. Regularly reviews and adapts priorities in response to changing threats and pressures.

Communication - Communicates clearly, confidently, and professionally both verbally and in writing. Adapts communication style to influence and inform a wide range of stakeholders across all levels.

Relationship Management - Builds and maintains effective working relationships with internal and external stakeholders, influencing outcomes to support operational and organisational objectives.

Organisation & Planning - Effectively plans and manages workload, working to direction where required and ensuring delivery against deadlines and operational priorities.

IT Skills - Competent in the use of core IT systems, including Microsoft Office (Word and Excel), with the ability to manage and present information accurately.