HMRCs Fraud Investigation Service (FIS) is responsible for the departments civil and criminal investigations. FIS ensures that HMRC has an effective approach to tackling the most serious tax evasion and fraud. FIS is home to a wide range of people with a variety of skills and professional backgrounds including accountants, cybercrime specialists, criminal justice professionals, tax professionals and operational delivery teams to name a few. We use a range of powers and approaches to protect funding for UK public services, investigating the most harmful tax cheats and ensuring none are beyond our reach. We target a variety of threats, including complex offshore evasion, international smuggling of illicit excise goods, exports of controlled weapons and technology, labour market abuses, money laundering, VAT and Self-Assessment repayment frauds and a host of other fraudulent attacks. Within FIS, we have the Covert Operations, Digital Exploitation (CODE) team. They work across Law Enforcement and government providing investigative tools and covert techniques to front-line investigations. CODE works with key partners to develop and provide access to new technology and systems, enabling investigators to respond to serious and complex tax evasion and crime. The successful candidate will largely be working with, and alongside, SLT to collaborate and lead the team across all sites. This post sits within the CODE Deputy Directorate of Fraud Investigation Service (FIS) reporting to the Head of Forensic Services. There is an expectation that the post-holder will play an important role in developing and upskilling talent within FIS and help educate case teams. They will also be expected to handle complaints and provide reporting to Senior Civil Service colleagues across FIS and RIS. The successful candidates will be expected to help contribute towards building and inspiring further capability in C&FS, supporting the delivery of new approaches aligned with the Forensic Science Regulator (FSR) Code of Practice (CoP) and ISO17025. With a track record of deep forensic analysis and experience of using the full array of digital forensic tools on the HMRC estate, the successful candidates will also work closely with operational colleagues across HMRC to hone existing services and develop new services. Candidates will be responsible for the line management of some senior members of the team and the quality assurance of their forensics activity, primarily in the Stratford Regional Centre. Key Responsibilities Act as a Lead Forensic case advisor to all staff within C&FS, making decisions on how to proceed with the case handling, and handling new types of high impact cases, including support to FIS Civil teams where appropriate and undertaking the large and complex criminal investigation cases. Play an active role in shaping the future direction of C&FS, working closely with Law Enforcement partners and introducing new approaches and techniques alongside other members of the C&FS SLT. Ensure compliance of digital forensic casework and case handling in line with our documented policies and procedures and helping safeguard against error. Have a technical overview of how digital forensics is done and you will work with the Operational Lead and the Research & Technical Management Lead of C&FS by contributing to improving overall working practices across all sites. Mentor & coach colleagues, looking at practitioners skillsets and casework to identify where there is a requirement for further development and where trends in knowledge gaps exist. Have responsibility for identifying training needs and assist in the enabling of forensic competency across the team in line with the FSR CoP. Maintain an advanced forensics skillset in both mobile and computer-based technologies, whilst working alongside other members of Senior Leadership Team to continue to create, inspire and nurture a culture of innovation and 'fail safe' environments. Act as an ambassador for HMRC digital forensics in the forensic community, along with other members of Senior Leadership Team engaging with Digital Forensics at conferences and forums on a regular basis and looking at how others are performing the same work. On occasion, and as deemed necessary, acting as part of operational command when the team are supporting large case teams on large scale search operations across the country. Work closely with the teams People Lead and The People Team you will be required to police staff locations, ensuring there is a fair balance of home and office working. Ensuring the office attendance remains within the HMRC limitations along with further assistance with HRS matters. Support the head of forensics in provision of digital forensics input to senior HMRC stakeholders. Liaise with an eDiscovery digital evidence review Lead to ensure the flow of data from the digital forensics to the eDiscovery platforms happens properly and seamlessly. Essential Criteria: Proven experience in handling and leading in large and complex digital forensic cases. Strong leadership, communication, and stakeholder management skills. Direct and recent experience of digital forensics as a practitioner, with working knowledge of prominent tooling (e.g. FTK, NUIX or X-Ways Forensics) in a law enforcement environment supported by certifications. Understanding of UK legal system the successful candidate will not only have experience of testifying and/or providing witness statements in support of digital forensic cases but they will have actively overseen the quality assurance of digital forensics activity in support of investigations. Proven track record of managing forensic services in the context of Legal Professional Privilege (LPP). Demonstrate experience and knowledge of working to the FSR CoP and ISO 17025. Desirable Criteria: 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 / legal environment. Experience working in or with public sector organisations or regulated environments. Line Management experience.