Geolocation and Cell Site Technical Manager
Geolocation and Cell Site Technical Manager
Salary: Band 9, £42,861- £49,716
Location: Agile, North Shields (This role is expected to move to Cobalt Spring 2027)
Hours/Contract: 37, Permanent
Working for #TeamNP
Our purpose at Team NP is simple: to keep people safe and to fight crime. But it takes more than officers alone to do the job – and that’s where our 2,000-strong team of police staff and 200 volunteers come in.
As one of the largest police forces in England we have a huge variety of departments and specialisms offering you endless opportunities. From mentoring and coaching schemes and online soft skills courses to leadership development programmes; we’ll give you the support, training and time to carve out the career you always wanted.
As one of the top 50 UK inclusive employers and a disability confident employer, we promote a culture of respect in the workplace so everyone can feel seen, heard and valued.
Whether you’re a member of staff or a volunteer, you can also expect first-rate support to manage your health and wellbeing. With year-round events, a 24/7 welfare support hotline and a leading approach to neurodiversity, our initiatives enable you to be at your best.
Above all else, here at Team NP, we can offer you a career that is so much more than just a job, it’s a chance to be part of something that really matters.
Learn about our full benefits package
The role
Here at Northumbria Police, we think our region is amazing! It takes a great deal of people from different backgrounds, with diverse skills and experience to serve our force area effectively, think you have what it takes to help us make a difference?
Are you ready to lead innovation in forensic science? Northumbria Police is offering an exciting opportunity for a highly motivated and technically skilled individual to join us as our Geolocation and Cell Site Technical Manager. This pivotal role will place you at the forefront of supporting Northumbria Police in meeting ISO 17025 and Forensic Science Regulator (FSR) accreditation for all Cell Site, Geolocation, and Radio Frequency Propagation Survey (RFPS) work across the force.
As a key figure in a newly regulated forensic discipline, you’ll be instrumental in ensuring our practices meet the highest standards of technical compliance under the FSR codes of practice. You’ll work collaboratively with the force’s wider forensic network including analysts and quality managers to develop SOPs and work towards ISO accreditation. At the conclusion of accreditation you will be expected to demonstrate a portfolio of ongoing maintenance and management.
What you’ll do
- Quality manage RF surveys and reports where needed.
- Develop and maintain the geolocation and cell site policy and procedures for accreditation and compliance, that will fulfil the robust scrutiny by UKAS (United Kingdom Accreditation Service) and the Forensic Science Regulator (FSR).
- As part of the accreditation process, you will plan and prepare for UKAS inspection and ensure delivery of accreditation.
- You will work closely with RFPS technicians and analysts to ensure that accredited processes are evidentially sound, and will stand up to intense levels of scrutiny, and are deliverable, workable and not unduly burdensome.
- Ensure that all methods falling under ISO 17025 have been validated and verified as fit for purpose.
- Ensure that work undertaken consistently meets the standards required for both quality and timeliness. Ensure regular quality checks are carried out on work produced to further provide assurance of professional integrity and credibility.
- Support the Quality Manager to ensure audits are carried out when required.
Sound interesting? For further information, and to support your application, please view the job description
What you’ll bring
- Accredited and practising RFPS cell site expert with a knowledge and understanding of cell site analysis and geolocation and its value to investigations.
- Understanding and experience of the Forensic Science Regulator Code of Practice and ISO Quality standards.
- A wider understanding of criminal investigation, digital forensics, communications data and analysis is recommended for this role.
- Able to plan effectively; to allocate tasks and work appropriately to identify and mitigate risks to delivery and to meet customer requirements.
- Applicants must be able to demonstrate the highest levels of integrity and accountability, as well as a willingness to work flexibly and travel throughout the country as appropriate and attend regular Continuous Professional Development (CPD) to maintain their accreditation.
- The ability to work effectively within a small team and with and stakeholders in line with force values and professional standards of behaviour.
- Demonstrable experience in writing detailed reports to describe technical matters to a non-technical audience.
- You must possess a full, current driving license or have access to a means of mobility support.
We know it's important for you to feel that you're not only part of a great team, but part of a community. We welcome applications from suitably qualified people from all sections of the community, regardless of age, disability, gender reassignment, marriage and civil partnership, pregnancy and maternity, race, religion or belief, sex, and sexual orientation.
Harnessing these differences creates a productive environment in which everyone feels valued, and their talents are fully utilised. Appointments are based on merit alone.
Interested to learn more? For further information about the role please contact Matthew Murray 7779 Matthew.Murray@northumbria.police.uk
What we offer
- 26 days’ leave (increasing to 30 days for 5 years+ service) plus 8 bank holidays
- NHS Fleet Solutions Car Lease Scheme
- Enhanced maternity, shared parental and adoption leave
- Flexi time - allowing you to fit your working hours around your individual needs
- Flexible working (we are happy to discuss options such as compressed hours)
- Agile working – option to work from home, your team zone, and spaces across the force
- Fantastic market-leading public sector pension scheme with up to 16% employer contribution
- Corporate travel schemes – local rail, bus services and metro discounts
- Access to private healthcare and eye test vouchers
- Discounts on shopping and eating out thanks to the Blue Light Card and Blue Light Tickets
- We’ve invested in extensive paid sick leave, trained mental health first aiders on-site, an employee advice service for the times you need that additional support.
- Access to gyms in some stations
- Sports & Social Club – join our thriving sports scene at Team NP and enjoy further exclusive discounts on days out and travel
- Cycle to work scheme
- Opportunity to volunteer in local community
Just so you know
Candidates with priority status will be given precedence for this role over other applicants.
Our application form will help us understand how your work, education and life experience has prepared you for the role of a Geolocation and Cell Site Technical Manager with #TeamNP. To help support your application research what makes us tick here at Northumbria, the role you’re applying for and the values and behaviours that contribute.
The recruitment process will consist of the initial application form followed by a face-to-face interview. Just so you know, you can save your application and come back to it any time prior to the closing date on the advert.
We are proud members of the Business Disability Forum, with whom we collaborate with to improve the lives of disabled employees. We are also a Disability Confident Employer, therefore if you demonstrate that you meet the minimum criteria for this role as stated in the advert, we will progress your application and offer you an interview.
If you tell us that you have a disability, we can make adjustments to support you through the recruitment process (for example we can arrange extra time for tests or provide a sign language interpreter) You can get in touch with us via careers@northumbria.police.uk for any support regarding the application process. Please provide us with plenty of notice so we can ensure your visit goes smoothly.
Use of AI in Applications: At Northumbria Police, we embrace innovative technologies to enhance our recruitment process. We understand that candidates may use AI tools to assist with their applications. While AI can be a valuable resource, we encourage applicants to ensure their submissions accurately reflect their personal qualifications, experiences, and skills. Our selection process includes thorough evaluations to verify the authenticity and suitability of all applications. We value genuine and thoughtful responses that showcase your unique strengths and perspectives.
If your application is successful, we’ll ask you to complete a Management Vetting (MV)/ Security Clearance (SC) form, therefore you must be a resident of the UK for a minimum period of 5 years to ensure vetting checks can be successfully performed. A job offer will be dependent upon vetting clearance, medical information, and references.
Terms of appointment
This is a permanent subject to a six-month probationary period.
There will be an expectation that the successful candidate remains in post for a minimum of 2 years.
If you are successful in your application, you will have a six-month probation period with us where you will be unable to apply for any other post advertised internally or externally.
We reserve the right to close this vacancy early if we receive sufficient applications for the role. Therefore, if you are interested, please submit your application as early as possible.