Digital Forensic Services Manager

We Are Hiring: Digital Forensic Services Manager

📍 Location: Stoke-on-Trent / Llanelli (with national travel as required)
💼 Full-Time | Hybrid working available
🧭 Join our Strategic Leadership Team

At SYTECH, we do more than digital forensics, we set the standard for quality, innovation, and integrity in a field that matters.

As we continue to grow and lead the way in forensic excellence, we are looking for an experienced and technically confident Digital Forensic Services Manager to join our Strategic Leadership Team.

This is a senior role that offers both depth and breadth: from ensuring compliance with ISO 17025 and the Forensic Science Regulator’s Codes, to driving innovation, shaping technical strategy, and representing SYTECH on national forums.

🚀 About the Role

As Digital Forensic Services Manager, you will be our senior technical authority, overseeing all forensic disciplines, guiding tool validation and workflow optimisation, and ensuring quality across multiple locations. You will collaborate closely with internal teams (labs, FCT, quality, operations) as well as clients, regulatory bodies, and the wider forensic community.

You will also contribute directly to business strategy, supporting tenders, shaping capability development, and scanning the horizon for new tools and methods that align with both client needs and commercial growth.

Requirements

🛠 Key Responsibilities

• Serve as the technical point of contact for internal teams (FCT, DF Labs, Quality, Finance, SLT), and external customers
• Oversee the development, implementation, and review of all technical policies and procedures across the forensic departments, and ensure a unified approach across multiple locations.
• Maintain and evolve a robust programme for validation of all digital forensic tools and workflows (Cellebrite, MSAB, Griffeye, S21, CAINE, X-Ways etc)
• Manage and monitor Ground Truth Data (GTD) production and management, ensuring it supports meaningful validation and blind testing processes.
• Lead the end-to-end process for Proficiency Testing and Inter-Laboratory Testing, including design, coordination, review, reporting, and corrective action where required
• Manage a portfolio of tools and methods, using horizon scanning to explore new versions, tools, and best practice across the forensic marketplace, whilst maintaining a strong commercial mindset
• Lead on UKAS inspections and audits, acting as a technical lead during witnessed activities and contributing to the resolution of audit findings
• Ensure technical training, competency assessment, and document review are aligned with accreditation requirements and operational needs
• Investigate and contribution to resolution of complaints and technical issues arising from the laboratories
• Collaborate with the Operations Manager to ensure performance is optimal
• Contribute to the continuous improvement of service delivery, including optimizing workflows, tooling, and workforce allocation
• Mentor emerging technical leaders and foster excellence across the labs
• Support commercial engagement and represent SYTECH in external forums

Strategic and Commercial Engagement

• Provide expert support in customer meetings, tenders, and technical scoping discussions, translating customer needs into actionable technical solutions
• Engage in horizon scanning for emerging forensic methods, tools, and services that enhance our capability or support service diversification
• Support diversification planning and innovation for corporate and law enforcement clients
• Lead on national discussions within the forensic marketplace as a subject matter expert within digital forensics
• Maintain thorough knowledge of FSR (Forensic Science Regulator), UKAS & related organisations through lessons learned, newsletters and ad-hoc communications associated with forensics.
• Liaise with Finance and software vendors to manage licensing, ensure cost-efficiency, and resolve technical platform/software issues within the business, building succession resilience

🎓 What You’ll Bring

• A degree in Digital Forensics, Cybersecurity or equivalent experience
• Significant experience in digital forensics across multiple disciplines
• Technically proficient in digital forensics, and able to adapt to oversee a broad range of specialisms (mobiles, cell-site, computers, audio/video forensics)
• Strong understanding of UK forensic legislation (PACE, RIPA, CPIA, GDPR).
• Proven ability to lead teams, influence stakeholders, and manage complex, cross-functional forensic operations.
• Experience supporting technical input into commercial and procurement processes (desirable).
• Familiarity with case management systems such as LIMA (desirable).
• Strong communication skills and the ability to influence, guide and collaborate
• A commercial mindset and understanding of forensic service delivery at scale
• Willingness to travel nationally as required

Benefits

What We Offer:

🎉 Annual Leave: 28 days of holiday, inclusive of bank holidays.
🎂 Birthday Leave: Enjoy an additional day off on your birthday.
💰 Pension Plan: Secure your future with our retirement benefits.
🩺 Online GP Access: 24/7 access to online GP services for you and your family.
🕊️ Life Assurance Benefit: £30,000 pay out to your nominated beneficiary, plus concierge support for wills and funeral planning.
🤒 Company Sick Pay: Receive a proportion of your wages from the first day of sickness.
🛡️ Optional Income Protection Scheme: Up to 75% of your salary for long-term illness beyond 28 weeks.
👓 Free Eyecare: Complimentary eye tests and vouchers towards glasses and frames.
🕓 Flexible Working Arrangements: Tailored to fit your lifestyle and personal needs.
💬 Employee Assistance Programme: 24/7 confidential counselling, plus support for financial, legal, social, physical, and mental well-being.
💚 Health & Wellbeing Programme: Access a Health Hub app, onsite Mental Health First Aiders, and continuous support.
🛍️ BrightExchange: Exclusive deals and discounts on a wide range of products and services.
🎊 Engaging Social Events: Build connections through team activities with our SYTECH Social Club.
🚗 Free On-Site Parking: Convenient and accessible parking.
👕 Casual Dress Code: Enjoy a comfortable work environment.

💼 Remuneration:

We offer a competitive salary package that reflects the seniority of this role and the expertise required. The final offer will be aligned with the calibre, experience, and qualifications of the successful candidate.

🎯 Why SYTECH?

At SYTECH, we are dedicated to creating a welcoming and inclusive environment where everyone is valued and empowered to contribute to our collective success. We actively encourage applications from individuals with diverse experiences, recognizing that varied perspectives strengthen our team and is key to innovation and growth.

We proudly embrace diversity as an equal opportunity employer, where every hiring decision revolves around qualifications, merit, and business needs, without exception. We are committed to ensuring an inclusive, supportive recruitment process for all applicants. If you have any access needs or require any adjustments, whether related to a disability, neurodiversity, or any other reason, please let us know. We’re happy to discuss how we can make the process work for you, from interview arrangements to any other support that may be helpful.

Accessibility Notice:

Please note that our offices are located on the first floor of a building without lift access, which may present challenges for individuals who are unable to use stairs. We recognise the importance of accessibility and are committed to making reasonable adjustments wherever possible. If this may affect your ability to attend an interview or carry out the role, please let us know, we will be happy to discuss potential accommodations.

Important Information:

• We're handling this recruitment process in-house, so we kindly ask agencies and recruiters not to contact us about this position. Thank you for your cooperation.