Proficiency Testing Manager

Job summary

The Home Office works to build a safe, fair and prosperous UK. We achieve this through our work on counter-terrorism, policing, crime, drugs policy, immigration and passports.

Home Office Digital designs, builds and develops services for the rest of the department and for government. Every year our systems support up to 3 million visa applications, checks on 100 million border crossings, up to 8 million passport applications and deliver 140 million police checks on people, vehicles and property.

The high performance of laboratories that process forensic evidence is critical in the ability to generate a DNA profile that is of high enough quality to search against, or keep on, the National DNA Database. The Proficiency Testing Manager holds ultimate responsibility for the technical aspects of the proficiency testing schemes, ensuring they continue to provide high quality assurance measures for the DNA supply chain and retain their accreditation status.

This is an exciting opportunity to join an established team with a wide-ranging and interesting portfolio, and with significant exposure to senior leaders. Your workload will be varied and unpredictable, and you will have the opportunity to continually shape the service to meet the needs of our stakeholders.

Job description

The Forensic Information Databases Service (FINDS) operates and administers national forensic database systems that identify links between forensic evidence recovered from scenes of crime and arrestees (and on occasion other individuals including vulnerable persons and missing persons). FINDS deliver scientific services ensuring the integrity of records held on the National DNA Database (NDNAD), the National Fingerprint Unified Collection (IDENT1), the National Footwear System (NFS), and the Police National Computer (PNC), on behalf of policing and the wider Criminal Justice System.

The FINDS Proficiency Testing (PT) Manager promotes and maintains the assurance for DNA profile submissions to the National DNA Database (NDNAD) through the development and maintenance of PT as part of the performance management framework of the whole NDNAD supply chain. They develop and deliver PT schemes and associated quality assurance measures which meet the needs of the FIND Strategy Board and the Forensic Science Regulator (FSR). FINDS PT schemes support the accreditation to ISO 17025 for Forensic Service Providers (FSPs) and Law Enforcement Agencies (LEAs), and the accreditation to ISO 15189 for Sexual Assault Referral Centres (SARCs).

Key Responsibilities

• Manages 3 Scientific Officers.
• On behalf of the FINDS Head of Unit, the role holder manages the delegated budget (~£300k) for running the PT schemes, maintaining the full cost recovery charging model, and ensures that any commercial requirements for running the PT schemes are defined and the appropriate procurement protocols are complied with.
• Acts as Technical Manager for the DNA Proficiency Testing schemes offered by FINDS with ultimate responsibility for the technical aspects of the proficiency testing scheme, this includes the analytical procedures and processes, interpretation and reporting of results, and providing appropriate records to verify the techniques used.
• Accountable for demonstrating quality assurance, including the identification of deviations from technical activities and the initiation of appropriate actions to prevent/minimise such deviations. They are also responsible for authorising the halting of work as required and the resumption of work following a quality failure.
• Maintains accreditation to ISO 17043 for the FSP and LEA PT schemes and ensures PT products meet the needs of the FIND Strategy Board and Forensic Science Regulator (FSR).
• Maintains effective relationships with HO colleagues, LEAs in England and Wales, Northern Ireland and Scotland, the Forensic Capability Network (FCN), FSPs, and SARCs to ensure there is an understanding of the risk profile associated with the NDNAD supply chain.
• Manages and delivers change and improvement projects arising from regulatory updates, accreditation requirements, scientific developments and strategic priorities, ensuring controlled implementation and minimal disruption to business‑critical services.

The above responsibilities are not exhaustive, and the post holders may be required to undertake any of the above tasks or additional tasks not listed above, within the remit of their grade, to support the team.

Travel

Occasional travel may be required to other work locations within the UK according to business needs and may include overnight stays. All related costs will be reimbursed in line with Home Office policy.

Working Pattern

Due to the business requirements of this role, it is only available on a full-time basis. However compressed hours are available.

This role is office-based, requiring attendance at the office for all working hours with no remote or hybrid working arrangements as standard.

Person specification

Essential criteria:

• Experience of working with accredited quality standards, such as ISO 17043 and/or ISO 17025, in a scientific, testing or laboratory environment.
• Degree level in a relevant scientific subject or equivalent experience.
• Ability to communicate complex technical, quality and risk-related information clearly and effectively to a diverse range of stakeholders.
• Ability to analyse and interpret data, producing clear, evidence-based findings and recommendations.
• Sound judgement and decision-making skills, with experience managing risk and handling sensitive information appropriately.
• Experience of leading, coaching and developing individuals or teams within a quality-focused environment.
• Knowledge and practical application of quality management systems, risk-based approaches and project management principles to drive assurance and continuous improvement.

Desirable criteria:

• Demonstrable experience with different DNA technologies, profiling systems and performance monitoring, including the use of quality indicators, trend analysis and assurance mechanisms to support confidence in DNA processes and outputs.
• Good knowledge of policies, procedures, and regulatory frameworks that govern the activities of LEAs and FSPs within the Criminal Justice System, or within a similar regulatory framework.

Qualifications

Degree level in a relevant scientific subject or equivalent experience.

Behaviours

We'll assess you against these behaviours during the selection process:

• Seeing the Big Picture
• Managing a Quality Service
• Leadership
• Changing and Improving

We only ask for evidence of these behaviours on your application form:

• Seeing the Big Picture

Technical skills

We'll assess you against these technical skills during the selection process:

• Technical Oversight and Management

Benefits

In addition to your salary, a career with the Home Office offers a range of benefits, including:

• A Civil Service pension with an employer contribution of 28.97%.
• In-year reward scheme for one-off or sustained exceptional personal or team achievements.
• 25 days annual leave on appointment, rising with service to 30 days.
• Eight days of public holidays, plus one additional privilege day.
• An additional £2,000 Recruitment & Retention Allowance is available for exceptional candidates. This allowance is subject to annual review and could be reduced or withdrawn at any time.
• See more of our benefits on our careers website.

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Things you need to know

Artificial intelligence

Artificial intelligence can be a useful tool to support your application, however, all examples and statements provided must be truthful, factually accurate and taken directly from your own experience. Where plagiarism has been identified (presenting the ideas and experiences of others, or generated by artificial intelligence, as your own) applications may be withdrawn and internal candidates may be subject to disciplinary action. Please see our candidate guidance (opens in a new window) for more information on appropriate and inappropriate use.

Selection process details

This vacancy is using Success Profiles (opens in a new window) , and will assess your Behaviours, Strengths, Experience and Technical skills.

This gives us the best possible chance of finding the right person for the job, drives up performance and improves diversity and inclusivity.

We will endeavour to conduct the selection process in line with the dates indicated below, but cannot guarantee that these will not, where necessary, be revised.

Application – by 10th September 2026.

As part of the application process, you will be asked to complete:

• CV
• Personal Statement (maximum 1000 words)
• Evidence of the Behaviour: Seeing the Big Picture (maximum of 250 words per Behaviour)

Your CV should consist of your career history, qualifications and skills/experience , including any key achievements in each role. Your CV will be scored against the experience required for the role as noted within the essential criteria.

The Personal Statement should be aligned to and demonstrate how you meet the skills and experience set out in the essential criteria, detailed in the job description.

For guidance and information on how to construct your application (CV, Personal Statement and Behaviours), you are encouraged to visit Civil Service Careers website.

Sift – commencing 14th September 2026.

The sift will be held on the CV, Personal Statement and Behaviour 'Seeing the Big Picture', as listed in the advert.

Should a high volume of applications be received, an initial sift will be conducted on the Personal Statement. Candidates who pass the initial sift will then be progressed to a full sift that will consist of all the remaining elements submitted (CV and the Behaviour 'Seeing the Big Picture') . Candidates who fail to meet the minimum pass score for the initial sift will not have their remaining submitted elements scored and will only receive a sift score for that assessed at the initial sift.

Interview – commencing 5th October 2026.

If you are successful at sift stage, you will be invited to an interview that will be Behaviours (as listed in the job advert), Strength based questions and Technical Skills based questions. All Behaviours and Technical skills listed in the selection process will be scored at the interview.

The interview will take place on MS Teams.

For guidance on the Technical skills, please refer to the

Government Science and Engineering Framework .

For guidance and information on what to expect and how to prepare for an interview, you are encouraged to visit Civil Service Careers .

Problems during the application process

If you experience problems accessing this advert, or you think you’ve made a mistake on an initial application, please contact hocandidates.grs@cabinetoffice.gov.uk, including the vacancy reference, at least two working days before the vacancy closes. Further information can be found on our website .

Do not create or attempt to submit another application, online test or use a different Civil Service Jobs account to proceed as this would be in violation of the candidate declaration.

Reserve List

A reserve list may be held for a period of up to 12 months from which further appointments may be made. There is no guarantee that being held on a reserve list will lead to a job offer. Further information can be found on our website.

Breaking Tied Scores

The behaviours, technical skills and strengths have been ranked in order of importance to enable us to differentiate between candidates with tied interview scores.

Candidates judged to be a near miss at interview may be offered a post at the grade below the one advertised without the need to go through a further selection process, providing the role has th