Digital Quality and Research Technical Manager

To support the West Midlands Police (WMP) Service Improvement Team in maintaining and growing ISO accreditation within the WMP Digital Forensic Unit (DFU), central Digital Media Investigation (DMI) Team, DMI hubs and/or similar functions. You will be responsible for daily guidance of staff within the Digital Quality and Research Team, including prioritisation, tasking and co-ordination of work ensuring compliance with service level agreements, regulatory codes of practice and international standards. 

To provide technical assistance to the Digital Forensics Unit and Digital Investigations across WMP, supporting the Digital Data Acquisition Team, Data Analysis and Reporting Team, Self Service Force Kiosks and other frontline tooling through the validation of hardware and software, being innovative via research and development to identify the latest development from vendors and trouble shooting. Provision of training, competency and audit requirements of staff in laboratory and Force environments. 

Communicate verbal and written summaries/reports of findings to review and make informed recommendations as to how to progress. Additionally to providing technical assistance to investigating officers through the digital forensic investigation of computers, mobile phones and other digital data devices that have been or are suspected of being used in the commission of crime reporting on them in formal evidential reports for the purposes of presenting evidence to Investigating officers, Crown Prosecution Service and Courts

 

Key Responsibilities: 

  • Understand and follow Digital Forensic good practice methodologies (ISO 17020, ISO 17025, ILAC G19, FSR Codes of Practice & Conduct quality standards and ACPO Principles of Digital Evidence) during and when delivering all their responsibilities. 
  • Provide ownership of supervision and daily management of technical accreditation requirements within the sphere of digital forensics and digital investigations.
  • Provide daily tasking and line management of Digital Quality and Research Officers with a key emphasis on demonstrating positive guidance, performance management and leadership.
  • Monitor performance by submitting regular update reports to Senior Leadership Team.
  • Conduct Performance Development Reviews of staff you line manage based on technical competence, capability and productivity associated to their role responsibilities.
     

Click here to view the full details of the role including the Essential, Desirable and any educational requirements for the role. 

 

Prospective staff/officers must be held to a higher standard of behaviour and accountability than members of the public, and that therefore their right to privacy can be fettered in certain circumstances. This is to ensure that members of the police are fully aware and accountable for the unique powers entrusted to them and the standards of professional behaviour they swear to uphold.

 

Selection Process

The selection process for this role will consist of the following elements: 

  • Initial application 
  • Shortlisting
  • In-person interview

 

Benefit Statement:

  • By choosing to join West Midlands Police you will receive an enhanced benefits package including:
  • Fair remuneration with progression opportunities and access to a very competitive pension scheme.
  • Enhanced annual leave in addition to public holiday entitlements.
  • Discounts across travel, parking, daily costs of living and leisure activities.
  • A comprehensive wellbeing package including 24/7 support, free eye tests and flu jabs
  • Comprehensive benefits including pension, Blue Light Card, and employee assistance programme.

 

Important Information

Closing Date:

Interview Dates: W.C 3rd August 2026

Vetting: Successful applicants will be required to pass Management Vetting and Counter Terrorism Clearance scrutiny prior to commencing their role, this will include a full background & financial disclosure as part of the vetting process.

Medical: Appointment to this role will be dependent upon you successfully passing medical checks, which may include a drug and hearing test. 

Hours/Location: Lloyd House, Primarily 7 -3pm, please see attached job role for full details.

Contact: For further information email careers@westmidlands.police.uk         

 

West Midlands Police is a Disability Confident Leader - the highest level an organisation can achieve under the scheme run by the Department of Work and Pensions.  As part of our commitment we operate a ‘Disability Confident Interview Scheme’ - all candidates who declare a disability and meet the essential criteria for the role will be offered an interview.  

It is important to note that there may be occasions where it is not practicable or appropriate to interview all disabled people who meet the essential criteria for the job. For example: in certain recruitment situations such as high-volume, seasonal and high-peak times, the employer may wish to limit the overall numbers of interviews offered to both disabled people and non-disabled people. In these circumstances, the employer could select the candidates who best meet the essential criteria for the job, as they would do for non-disabled applicants.

"Diversity and Inclusion Vision:  Maximise the potential of people from all backgrounds through a culture of fairness and inclusion to deliver the best service for our communities"

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