Technical Manager - Digital Forensics

Technical Manager - Digital Forensics
Salary: £65k per annum

Location: Middleton M24 1SW or Leicester LE19 1SY

At CYFOR, we are at the forefront of providing Digital Forensics, eDiscovery, and Cyber Security services across the nation to law firms, corporate organisations, and law enforcement agencies. We are in search of extraordinary individuals who are not only passionate about technology but also driven by the ambition to make a significant impact in society. Our team members are the cornerstone of our success, embodying innovation, and a willingness to think creatively. If you are looking for a dynamic role that promises diversity and fulfilment and are eager to collaborate with like-minded professionals in a supportive and vibrant environment, CYFOR invites you to join us. Let's make a difference together.

The Role - Technical Manager (Digital Forensics)

CYFOR is seeking an experienced and driven Technical Manager to join and lead our Digital Forensics teams. This critical role will ensure the technical integrity, quality assurance, and compliance of our digital forensic operations across multiple locations, including our Manchester and Leicester laboratories, as well as supporting remote work from home.

The successful candidate will be responsible for providing forensic analysis of digital devices and overseeing the technical delivery of digital forensic investigations, ensuring compliance with ISO 17025 accreditation and Forensic Science Regulator (FSR) Code of Practice. While the primary focus of this role is on technical leadership, oversight, quality assurance, and compliance with ISO 17025 and FSR requirements, it is expected that approximately 25% of time will be allocated to direct casework contributions, where appropriate and as operational demands allow. This allocation ensures the Technical Manager remains engaged in practical forensic investigations to maintain hands-on expertise while prioritising their core leadership and technical responsibilities. They will manage case reviews, provide technical oversight, and lead the development and validation of forensic methods, ensuring CYFOR delivers high quality, legally admissible results to law enforcement agencies, legal teams, and private sector clients.

The Technical Manager will split their time between the Manchester and Leicester labs, supporting case prioritisation, audits, and staff development across both locations. The role involves providing technical support to the Quality Manager to maintain the Quality Management System (QMS) ensuring methodologies are validated, while also mentoring staff to ensure ongoing competency and professional development.

Security Clearance

Please note that this role will require NPPV3 clearance in addition to National security clearance to SC level. To achieve this, you must be a British National and have resided in the United Kingdom for the last 5 years. Exemptions apply for overseas or other diplomatic service (with HM Government) and studying abroad. If you do not hold an active SC clearance, please familiarise yourself with the vetting process before applying.

Role Responsibilities:

Laboratory Operations and Technical Oversight

• Ensure the delivery of high quality digital forensic services in compliance with ISO 17025 and FSR Code of Practice (CoP) on behalf of CYFOR Group.
• Oversee the end-to-end forensic examination process, including acquisition, preservation, analysis, and reporting of digital evidence.
• Provide technical leadership and expertise to Principal digital forensic investigators, ensuring adherence to scientific principles, best practices, and legal standards.
• Act as the technical signatory for forensic reports, ensuring accuracy, completeness, and compliance with legal and regulatory requirements.
• Provide commercial support to the case management teams by ensuring the timely delivery of detailed requirements and accurate quotations to external stakeholders.
• Assist the CYFOR Group bid team in delivering commercially viable responses to ITT, RFQ, and RFI requests.

Quality Assurance and Compliance

• Support the Quality Manager to deliver the laboratory's Quality Management System (QMS) to maintain ISO 17025 accreditation, including internal audits, proficiency testing, and corrective actions.
• Ensure compliance with the Forensic Science Regulator (FSR) requirements, including validation, verification, and method development for digital forensic processes.
• Lead the development, implementation, and maintenance of Standard Operating Procedures (SOPs) to ensure scientific integrity and legal admissibility of evidence.
• Coordinate with the Quality Manager for external audits from accreditation bodies, law enforcement agencies, and other stakeholders.

Case Management and Technical Review

• Oversee the allocation of digital forensic cases, ensuring timely and efficient processing of requests from law enforcement, legal teams, and other clients.
• Perform technical reviews and peer reviews of forensic reports to ensure they meet scientific, legal, and quality standards.
• Support case strategy development and forensic interpretation, providing expert technical guidance on complex investigations.
• Ensure all digital evidence handling complies with legal, ethical, and evidentiary standards, including chain of custody and continuity of evidence.
• Maintain and coordinate operational command and control of on-site activities in support of the criminal justice system, in addition to providing on-site assistance and expertise to our law enforcement clients.

Technical Development and Innovation

• Lead the development and validation of new digital forensic methods, ensuring they meet ISO 17025 and FSR CoP standards.
• Identify emerging trends in digital forensics, such as new devices, data formats, and investigative techniques, and adapt laboratory capabilities accordingly.
• Promote continuous improvement and technical innovation within the laboratory to enhance efficiency, accuracy, and scope of services.

Training and Mentoring

• Deliver cascade technical training and mentoring to Principal forensic investigators, ensuring staff maintain a high level of competence and knowledge in digital forensics.
• Support the competency assessment and ongoing professional development of the team in line with the laboratory's QMS and FSR requirements.
• Ensure that all staff are trained on new methods, procedures, and quality standards as they are developed.

Expert Witness and Legal Support

• Conduct forensically sound acquisitions, analysis and examinations of computer systems and associated media, either on-site or in the lab, ensuring continuity of all exhibits and maintaining integrity throughout.
• Act as an expert witness in court proceedings, providing objective, impartial, and scientifically sound testimony on digital forensic findings.
• Liaise with law enforcement agencies, legal teams, and regulatory bodies to ensure clarity and accuracy in the interpretation of forensic evidence.
• Support the preparation of court documents, statements, and exhibits to ensure legal compliance and evidential continuity.

Risk Management and Incident Reporting

• Identify and mitigate technical risks that could impact the integrity of forensic processes or accreditation status.
• Lead incident investigations related to technical errors, non-conformances, or breaches of laboratory procedures, implementing corrective actions to prevent recurrence.
• Ensure the laboratory meets health and safety regulations specific to digital forensic operations.

Client and Stakeholder Engagement

• Act as the primary technical point of contact for clients, law enforcement agencies, legal teams, and regulatory bodies on matters relating to digital forensics.
• Build and maintain strong working relationships with external stakeholders to support ongoing collaborations and client satisfaction.
• Provide technical briefings and reports to clients to ensure they fully understand the forensic process and findings.

Qualities We Are Looking For:

• Comprehensive knowledge and understanding of digital forensic principles, including the laws, regulations, and best practices governing the acquisition, analysis, and presentation of digital evidence. You must have a solid grasp of ISO 17025 accreditation requirements and the Forensic Science Regulator (FSR) Code of Practice to ensure ongoing compliance and quality within the lab.
• Demonstrable Experience with mainstream digital forensic tools and the technical capability to lead validation and continuous improvement of forensic methods. Ideally, you will have proficiency and experience in tools such as EnCase, FTK, X-Ways, NUIX, Magnet Axiom, Magner Graykey, Magnet Griffeye, Cellebrite UFED, and MSAB XRY, with a strong understanding of their practical application in investigations.
• Advanced technical expertise in analysing and interpreting file systems, operating system artefacts, and a wide range of digital devices, ensuring that forensic processes are robust, reliable, and legally defensible.
• Strong written and verbal communication skills to effectively review and approve forensic reports and provide expert testimony in court, clearly presenting technical findings to both technical and non-technical audiences.
• Demonstrated experience as a digital forensic practitioner at senior level, with a proven ability to lead and mentor forensic examiners, oversee technical casework, and ensure scientific integrity and quality assurance across all investigations.
• A proactive, problem solving mindset, with a focus on continuous improvement, innovation, and the development of new forensic techniques to meet the challenges of evolving digital crime.
• The ability to manage risk, perform technical audits, and ensure that casework meets both client requirements and regulatory expectations.

Benefits

• Flexible working policy
• Holiday: 24 days + Birthday + Bank holidays (rising 2 days extra per year of service to a maximum of 30 days+ Birthday + Bank holidays)
• Salary Sacrifice Group Pension: Employer 3% up to 3 years' service (matched to years' service maximum of 10% (example after 5 years' service 5%)
• AXA Private Medical Insurance (Virtual GP)
• Life Insurance (Death in service)
• BUPA Cashplan
• Salary Sacrifice EV Car Scheme
• Media subscription package (Netflix, Spotify etc)Annual Media Subscriptions (from a choice of Netflix HD, Amazon Prime, Spotify, Magazine sub, etc)