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Job description

The post holders will be the Unit/Branch Enforcement Team leads. In this role they will be responsible for the daily management of criminal investigations within the Branch. Please see employer website for full job details & person specification.

Responsibilities

• Formulation of and contribution to strategies, business plans, policies and organisational returns for the Unit/Branch;
• Contribution to Machinery of Government responses as well as information requests received by the Unit/Branch;
• Production and review of investigative strategies, policies and procedures to ensure that DAERA and the Unit uses its regulatory and enforcement powers consistently and effectively;
• Manage and lead a team of criminal investigators (the number of investigators may vary depending on operational need);
• Complete the DAERA and Unit led induction programmes with new team members as required;
• Ensure that staff development needs are identified then assist and support investigative training and development within the Unit;
• Develop a robust continuous professional improvement programme, reviewing policy and processes in order to establish and maintain best practice in investigations and optimise resources and staff skills;
• Ensure you and your team fully comply with, all NICS and DAERA policies and procedures including Records Management policies, procedures, guidance and best practice, ensuring that key documentation is filed in Content Manager and that information...
• ... is handled and managed in a secure manner in line with DAERA Information Security Standards;
• Ensure that staff perform their duties in accordance with applicable procedures (especially health and safety, personal security and enforcement policies);
• Attend and participate in management and review meetings as required;
• Produce reports for senior management, auditors and others as required detailing performance statistics for criminal investigations;
• Ensure the Agency/Group is represented in a professional manner at all times;
• Developing and triaging information and intelligence received and allocating resources according to investigative opportunity, business priorities and operational capacity;
• Prioritising, allocating and processing the work of a team, through consultation, the application of case prioritisation and systematic review, ensuring incident handling and investigative completion targets are met;
• Provide investigative support, advice and guidance to your team and the wider unit, where required, to ensure compliance with relevant legislative requirements and the Police and Criminal Evidence (NI) Order (PACE) 1989 and CPIA 1996;
• Complete case reviews and quality assurance checks to ensure investigations carried out by the team are proportionate, accountable, consistent, transparent and effective and therefore in line with the DAERA Enforcement policy...
• ... and wider NICS values and conduct internal peer and complaint reviews where required;
• Attending court to give professional evidence (including Crown court jury trials as well as restraint and confiscation proceedings) as required;
• Liaise with the Public Prosecution Service in respect of matters pertaining to criminal investigations, requests for further information and disclosure;
• Development of operational links with other law enforcement agencies (e.g. PSNI, HMRC, Organised Crime Task Force, Maritime and Coastguard Agency, Sea-Fisheries Protection Authority) in order to maximise the effectiveness of DAERA/NIEA...
• ... enforcement functions and carry out joint operations;
• Liaising with Public Prosecution Service and other key stakeholders in Northern Ireland, Great Britain and the Republic of Ireland with regard to the advancement of criminal investigative work;
• Assistance in the production and exchange of Memoranda of Understanding, Service Level Agreements and other agreements as necessary in support of the Unit/Branch function;
• To identify more efficient and effective ways of working, proposing alternative methods and support management in making necessary business improvements;
• Undertake the management of a special area of interest within the Unit such as Exhibit Handling or Open Source Research;
• To undertake any other appropriate duties as determined by the Department.

Skills and Qualifications

Essential Skills

• Hold a nationally recognised investigative qualification.
• A minimum of 4 years’ experience of carrying out and managing criminal investigations, for a recognised law enforcement agency, in accordance with legislation including Criminal Procedures Investigations Act (CPIA) 1996,
• Police and Criminal Evidence Order (PACE) NI 1989 and in accordance with applied professional practice.
• A minimum of 2 years’ experience of effective leadership, setting strategic direction and managing resources to successfully deliver business objectives in a complex and changing environment.
• A minimum of 2 years’ experience of building constructive, positive and collaborative partnerships with a diverse range of stakeholders, including senior management, to effectively deliver significant organisational objectives.
• Have a full valid driving licence which permits the licence holder to drive in Northern Ireland and have access to a form of transport that allows the officer to fulfil their duties in full.

Further Information

NICS Application form only, Vacancy closing date 3rd April 2026 at 12 noon. Shortlisting: In addition, applicants should be aware that after an eligibility sift, should it be necessary to shortlist candidates to go forward to interview, an objective evaluation will be carried out of the breadth and depth of information provided by candidates in response to eligibility criterion 2. This will be completed on a scored basis and the highest scoring applicants will proceed to interview. Applications from Protestants, young people (people under the age of 35), people with a disability and people from minority ethnic communities are particularly welcome for this post. The Northern Ireland Civil Service is an Equal Opportunities Employer. All applications for employment are considered strictly on the basis of merit. The initial posts will be based at the following locations: Environmental Crime Unit 17 Antrim Road Lisburn BT28 3AL Welfare Enforcement Branch Crown Buildings Thomas Street Dungannon BT70 1HR Sea Fisheries Marine Enforcement Unit Clare House 303 Airport Road West Sydenham Intake Belfast BT3 9ED Should further vacancies occur within the lifetime of this competition, they may be based throughout Northern Ireland.