Trainee Investigator

Officer Development Programme (ODP) – Trainee Investigator, Intelligence Officer and Intelligence Analyst

National Crime Agency (NCA)

Salary: £32,107 per year
Additional allowances:

• London, Crawley, Gatwick Airport, Heathrow Airport, Slough, Tolworth and Gillingham: £4,379 London Weighting
• Chelmsford and Stevenage: £3,504 South East allowance Contract: Permanent
  Grade: Administrative Officer
  Hours: Full-time, flexible working
  Vacancies: 25
  Reference: 485033
  Closing date: Thursday 15 October 2026 at 11:55 pm

Visa sponsorship: The advert does not state that Skilled Worker visa sponsorship is available. Applicants must meet the stated Civil Service nationality and right-to-work requirements.

About the Officer Development Programme

The National Crime Agency is recruiting trainees for its Officer Development Programme (ODP), offering routes into:

• NCA Investigator
• Intelligence Officer
• Intelligence Analyst

Successful candidates will undertake a structured two-year training programme designed to develop the skills, knowledge and experience required for accreditation in their chosen pathway.

No previous law enforcement experience is required.

The programme provides an opportunity to work at the heart of the UK’s response to serious and organised crime, supporting efforts to identify threats, develop intelligence, disrupt criminal activity and protect the public.

Locations

Roles are available across:

Birmingham, Bridgend, Bristol, Chelmsford, Crawley, Dover, Exeter, Gatwick Airport, Gillingham, Heathrow Airport, Leicester, Liverpool, London, Normanton (Calder), Nottingham, Slough, Solent, Stevenage, Sunderland, Tolworth and Warrington.

Intelligence Officer and Intelligence Analyst pathways are currently available only in London, Warrington, Birmingham and Bristol. Candidates applying to other locations will be considered for the Investigations pathway.

Trainee Investigator Pathway

NCA Investigators work directly on serious and organised crime investigations, gathering and developing evidence and using both overt and covert investigative techniques.

Training can include:

• Arrest and conflict management
• Systematic searches
• Witness, victim and suspect interviews
• Case file preparation and disclosure
• Court presentation
• Surveillance and other investigative techniques
• Working with intelligence and forensic teams
• Working with UK and overseas law enforcement partners

The role can be physically demanding and may involve long or anti-social hours, changing work patterns and short-notice operational requirements.

Investigators must also be trained in the use of force and personal protective equipment, including PAVA spray, batons and handcuffs.

Some investigations may involve sensitive material relating to child sexual abuse or exploitation. Psychological assessments will form part of the role.

Driving licence requirement: A full, valid UK/EU driving licence is essential for candidates applying to the Investigations pathway.

Intelligence Analyst Pathway

Intelligence Analysts conduct complex analysis to support the NCA’s mission against serious and organised crime.

The training will develop skills in:

• Intelligence analysis
• Exploitation of information
• Developing intelligence products
• Making recommendations based on analysis
• Supporting tactical and strategic objectives
• Working with a wide range of intelligence sources and datasets

Analysts may contribute to national assessments, intelligence requirements and strategies addressing serious and organised crime threats.

Intelligence Officer Pathway

Intelligence Officers work on projects and operations in the UK and overseas, collecting, evaluating, developing and exploiting intelligence from different sources.

The role involves working with NCA teams and external partners, including government, law enforcement, the UK Intelligence Community and public, private and third-sector organisations.

Intelligence Officers may support operational activity, develop threat understanding and work closely with Intelligence Analysts to build intelligence from multiple datasets.

Depending on the role, there may be opportunities to travel within the UK and internationally.

Training and Progression

The ODP can take up to two years to complete.

Following successful completion of NCA Phase One, trainees will move onto the NCA Spot Rate pay structure and receive G5 Spot Rate 1 – Developing, while retaining G6 Trainee status.

Working hours will increase to 40 hours per week following Phase One.

Progression to Phase Two requires successful completion of the NCA Foundation Exams 1 and 2.

After successfully completing the programme and achieving the required accreditation, candidates will be appointed as a:

• G5 Officer – Investigations
• G5 Officer – Intelligence
• G5 Officer – Intelligence Analyst

Successful completion of the required examinations is mandatory. Where a trainee does not pass the required examinations after authorised retake opportunities, employment may be terminated, although the NCA may consider offering a suitable Grade 6 role.

Entry Requirements

Candidates must:

• Be able to travel to various UK locations for training
• Commit to 37 hours per week during the initial training period
• Be able to work 40 hours per week following successful completion of the pathway
• Be flexible and able to work variable shift patterns
• Be prepared for potential on-call requirements after completing the pathway
• Meet the required security and vetting standards
• Have GCSE English and Mathematics at Grade 5/C or equivalent

Some roles require candidates to obtain DV or DV STRAP security clearance within 12 months of joining.

Hybrid working is not available for all roles and will not normally be accommodated until completion of the full two-year training programme.

Benefits

The NCA offers a Civil Service Defined Benefit Pension scheme, with an employer contribution of 28.97%.

Other benefits include:

• 26 days’ annual leave, increasing to 31 days after five years’ continuous service
• 8 bank holidays
• Flexible working, including flexi-time, compressed hours and job sharing where business requirements allow
• Family-friendly policies
• Learning and development opportunities
• Interest-free loans and advances
• Key Worker housing schemes
• Employee discounts and savings
• Staff support groups and networks
• Sports and social activities

Selection Process

The vacancy uses the Civil Service Success Profiles recruitment framework.

Candidates will be assessed against:

• Making Effective Decisions
• Working Together
• Communicating and Influencing
• Delivering at Pace

The application also requires 250-word examples covering experience of:

• Taking initiative to resolve a problem or improve a situation
• Gathering and interpreting information from different sources to make an informed decision
• Working as part of a team to achieve a common goal

Candidates who pass the initial sift may be invited to a virtual interview.

Successful candidates will then attend an in-person assessment centre, which includes:

• Two written assessments
• A role-play assessment

Candidates must achieve a pass mark in at least one of the three aptitude assessments to progress.

A substance test will also form part of the recruitment process.

Candidates are responsible for their own travel, accommodation and other expenses associated with attending the assessment centre.

Virtual Open Evening

The NCA will hold a virtual information event for prospective applicants on:

Tuesday 13 October 2026, 6:00 pm – 7:00 pm

The event will take place via Microsoft Teams and is by invitation only.

Registration closes at 3:00 pm on 12 October 2026.

Security and Nationality Requirements

Successful applicants must satisfy the required security and pre-employment checks.

The vacancy is broadly open to eligible:

• UK nationals
• Republic of Ireland nationals
• Commonwealth nationals with the right to work in the UK
• Eligible EU, Swiss, Norwegian, Icelandic and Liechtenstein nationals under the relevant EU Settlement Scheme provisions
• Individuals with qualifying limited or indefinite leave to remain
• Certain Turkish nationals and eligible family members

Applicants should check the full nationality and eligibility requirements before applying.

Application and Selection

The vacancy closes at 11:55 pm on Thursday 15 October 2026.

Candidates who are successful at assessment may be placed on a reserve list for up to 12 months if an immediate role is unavailable.

Pathway preferences will be considered, but a preferred pathway or location cannot be guaranteed. Final allocation will depend on aptitude assessment performance, organisational requirements, business priorities and operational needs.

Source: Civil Service Jobs / National Crime Agency
Reference: 485033