Investigator jobs

NOTE - Candidates based in our Gillingham office qualify for the London Weighting Allowance of £4,379 per annum. This is in addition to the advertised salary.

Candidates are welcome to apply for this campaign even if they have already applied for similar roles with the NCA. Applications will not be transferred, and this campaign will be managed independently of others.

An exciting opportunity has arisen for Investigators within the National Crime Agency’s (NCA) Investigations Directorate, working in the Organised Immigration Crime (OIC) Team based at Gillingham, Kent.

Investigations is the NCA’s core crime-fighting capability, delivering an intelligence-led approach to tackling the most serious and complex criminal threats that are beyond the capability or capacity of other UK law enforcement agencies. As part of a world-class investigations function, our highly skilled and motivated officers work flexibly to pursue Agency priorities and protect the public from the highest-risk criminality.

Organised Immigration Crime remains one of the NCA’s highest priorities. In this role, you will be responsible for investigating and disrupting Organised Immigration Crime Groups (OICGs) involved in facilitating illegal immigration and exploiting vulnerable individuals. Working as part of a multi-disciplinary team, you will conduct proactive and reactive investigations, develop intelligence opportunities, gather and assess evidence, and support operational activity aimed at identifying, dismantling and prosecuting serious organised crime networks.

The successful candidates will play a key role in delivering complex investigations, working closely with partners across UK law enforcement, government departments and international agencies to protect the UK’s borders, safeguard vulnerable people and bring offenders to justice. This role offers an excellent opportunity for a motivated investigator to contribute directly to one of the NCA’s most challenging and high-profile operational priorities.

As an Investigator within the NCA’s OIC Team, you will play a key role in tackling one of the Agency’s highest-priority threats. You will be responsible for investigating OICGs involved in facilitating illegal entry into the UK through dangerous and often life-threatening methods, including small boats, lorries and other forms of concealment. Working within the NCA’s intelligence-led investigations environment, you will contribute to the disruption and prosecution of serious organised criminals who present significant risks to the UK and to vulnerable people they exploit.

The role requires the ability to manage and assess a wide range of sensitive intelligence in a fast-paced and dynamic operational environment. You will conduct complex investigations ethically, lawfully and in accordance with NCA policy, making effective use of Agency systems and investigative powers to identify opportunities, develop intelligence and gather evidence. You will be expected to exercise sound judgement, make informed decisions and adapt quickly to changing operational priorities while maintaining high professional standards.

You will work closely with a wide range of partners across the UK and internationally, building and maintaining effective relationships to support operational activity. This will include extensive engagement with law enforcement agencies across Europe and beyond, where you will contribute to the creation and management of Joint Investigation Teams (JITs) and collaborative taskforces. You will utilise a broad range of legislative tools and international cooperation mechanisms, including International Letters of Request and the Trade and Cooperation Agreement, to progress investigations and secure evidence from overseas jurisdictions. As part of these activities, there may be a requirement to travel within Europe and internationally.

The role also involves supporting and, where appropriate, leading investigative activity associated with critical incidents in the English Channel. You will work closely with partners including Small Boats Operational Command (SBOC), Immigration Enforcement, NPCC colleagues, the Crown Prosecution Service (CPS), French law enforcement agencies, the International Liaison Officer (ILO) network and EUROPOL to ensure intelligence is developed, investigative opportunities are maximised, and appropriate criminal justice outcomes are achieved.

As part of the NCA’s Investigations Directorate, you will contribute to a flexible and shared operational capability designed to maximise the impact of the UK’s collective resources against serious and organised crime. You will be expected to employ innovative investigative techniques and approaches to address evolving criminal methodologies, helping to disrupt, dismantle and bring to justice those responsible for the highest levels of harm.

Alongside delivering operational results, you will actively contribute to a healthy, inclusive and supportive team culture. You will uphold the highest standards of professionalism and integrity in line with the NCA Code, promoting respect, collaboration and wellbeing across the team. The OIC Team in Gillingham prides itself on its strong ethos of mutual support, shared accountability and collective success. This is an opportunity to join a committed and collaborative team where colleagues work together to achieve meaningful operational outcomes, support one another’s development and wellbeing, and make a significant contribution to protecting the UK from serious and organised immigration crime.

Experience of working within an OIC environment is not required. We welcome applications from candidates with a strong investigative background and the transferable skills required to investigate serious and complex crime. We recognise that valuable experience can be gained across a wide range of law enforcement, regulatory, intelligence, compliance or investigative disciplines, and we are keen to attract individuals who can demonstrate strong analytical skills, sound decision-making, effective partnership working and the ability to manage complex information in a dynamic operational environment. Full training and support will be provided to develop the specialist knowledge required for OIC investigations. What is most important is your ability to apply your existing skills and experience to this challenging and rewarding area of work, alongside a commitment to learning, collaboration and delivering operational outcomes.

Postholders will be required to be part of an on-call 24/7 rota. This may be subject to change and the frequency will be directed by your line manager.

To find out more about the role and the application process we will be holding virtual opening evenings via MS Teams on Tuesday 4th August 2026 @ 6.00pm. This event is by invitation only. It will not be recorded. To register, please follow the link to apply direct at our website.

Pay: £43,887.00 per year

Benefits:

• Company pension

Work Location: In person