SECONDMENT - Assistant Director Applied Innovation

Publication Starting Date: May 22, 2025

Location: Singapore, Singapore

Company: Interpol

VACANCY NOTICE 1139

This vacancy announcement pertains to law enforcement and/or governmental officials within INTERPOL's member countries only.

Please read the Conditions of Secondment in force at INTERPOL (shared via the NCB) including the maximum duration of secondment.

Please be aware that your home Administration/Agency/Service/Government will be responsible for all of your salary/remuneration, social insurance, pension contributions, welfare benefits, family allowances, benefits during your assignment at INTERPOL as well as travel, removal expenses related to your arrival at and departure from INTERPOL, and any other related costs depending on your circumstances.

It is requested that you obtain in writing, confirmation from your home Administration/Agency/Service/Government that it agrees with these CONDITIONS OF SECONDMENT.

This confirmation letter should be forwarded to us THROUGH THE NCB.

INTERPOL is the world's largest international police organization, with 196 member states.

Created in 1923, it facilitates cross-border police co-operation, and supports and assists all organizations, authorities, and services whose mission is to prevent or combat international crime.

INTERPOL is now looking for a qualified candidate as a SECONDMENT - Assistant Director Applied Innovation within the Innovation Centre which is part of the Exec.

Dir.

Technology and Innovation.

Job title: SECONDMENT - Assistant Director Applied Innovation
Reporting To: Director Innovation Centre
Location: Singapore
Duration (in months): 36.00
Grade: 2
Number of post: 1
Security Clearance Level: Basic
Deadline for application: 15 January 2026

INTERPOL strives to achieve a diverse and inclusive workforce and welcomes applications from individuals with diverse backgrounds, experiences, and perspectives.

To achieve our Diversity goals, we encourage applications from women and nationals of under/unrepresented member countries who are passionate about our mission.

INTERPOL's recruitment process is merit-based hence all hiring decisions are made considering the applicant's qualifications and the needs of the Organization.

INTRODUCTION OF THE POST

The Innovation Centre (IC) is an entity that all law enforcement agencies around the world seek to actively engage to complement their respective strategic futures planning and technical innovation.

It consists of Strategic and Applied Innovation sub Directorates.

In this context the post holder is responsible for managing the Applied Innovation Sub Directorate including the Cyberspace and New Technologies Lab and the Digital Forensics Lab.

The post holder is expected to work closely with the Strategic Innovation Sub Directorate, other INTERPOL units and external partners in a flexible project team approach researching, developing and implementing dynamic and innovative solutions to policing issues.

The outputs of these project teams are:

• Foresight - Acquiring the capacity of strategic foresight to anticipate how future policing scenarios across various crime types may play out; the ability to apply forward-thinking to adapt and advocate fresh policing strategies, including shaping the way law enforcement agencies will operate and be organised in the future;

• Policy – Developing, considering and advocating interventions at the policy level to enhance law enforcement processes and value chains; facilitating the development of internationally endorsed policing standards and norms;

• New Technologies - Facilitating a coordinated approach for INTERPOL, member countries and non-governmental partners to be collectively plugged in to the world of new technologies, understand the threats they pose but also the opportunities they generate to enhance policing efforts.
  
  

• Concrete Deliverables – Applying innovation at the tactical level to deliver technical solutions to member countries based on their immediate needs.
  
  

The objective is instilling an INTERPOL culture of innovation to support its member states through the identification of future policing scenarios, the dynamic development of ground breaking policing initiatives and internationally agreed policing standards, underpinned by a research platform for police, public/private partners and academia.

PRIMARY DUTIES

DUTY 1: MANAGEMENT OF APPLIED INNOVATION

• Lead the management and development of innovative approaches to concrete operational deliverables in the fields of digital forensics, cyberspace and new technologies; closing the gap between the concept and the practice of innovation.
  
  
• Develop and maintain partnerships with relevant stakeholders to promote Applied Innovation.
  
  Assess and where applicable, initiate informed conversations amongst the community regarding the need to monitor developments in these areas, acquire a keen knowledge of the various facets involved and understand the extent of their respective impact on policing requirements.
  
  
• Identify and define research needs of the law enforcement community across all three INTERPOL Global Programmes: Cybercrime, Counter Terrorism and Organized and Emerging Crime; developing guidelines and best practices.
  
  
• Manage the staff and budget of the Cyberspace and New Technologies Lab, the Digital Forensics Lab and project teams delivering foresight, policy and new technologies.
  
  

DUTY 2: CYBERSPACE AND NEW TECHNOLOGIES

• Develop and maintain a comprehensive understanding of the cyberspace and new technologies sphere, be it through robust research work or close engagement with relevant stakeholders both within and outside the global policing community.
  
  
• Manage a group of experts in applied analysis of emerging crime trends and threats to digital security, through various processes including statistics, artificial intelligence and database management.
  
  
• Facilitate efforts by the global law enforcement community to leverage on new technologies through applied innovation to mitigate emerging policing concerns; creating an environment to fine-tune potential solutions through brokering pilot trials and testbeds.
  
  
• Coordinate development of innovative methodologies for research and tools development drawing on open-source intelligence and partnership contributions.
  
  

DUTY 3: DIGITAL FORENSICS

• Manage research into cutting-edge digital forensics capabilities to be at the forefront in terms of understanding and addressing operational demands resultant from the proliferation and usage of new technologies.
  
  
• Manage the development of a pool of experts in digital forensics which the Innovation Centre can use to coordinate and facilitate technical assistance and training to requesting INTERPOL member countries which may not have the requisite technical know-how.
  
  
• Advocate uniform global framework and operational procedures in digital forensics and formulate more effective solutions afforded by the advent of new technologies.
  
  

As well as the management functions outlined above, the post holder is expected to assist his/her hierarchy (Secretary General, Executive Director or Director) in the planning, coordination and prioritisation of the overall Innovation Centre's activities.

He/she accompanies or represents their hierarchy on missions, at meetings and within working groups, and liaises directly with Directors or Assistant Directors across the organisation.

REQUIREMENTS

Training / Education required

• At least five years' University education is preferred (Specialisation, Masters or Doctorate).
  
  
• At least ten years' working experience in the field of policing and innovation will be accepted in lieu of a formal university qualification.
  
  A combination of formal qualification and experience will also be considered.
  
  

Experience required

• Minimum of 10 years' policing experience.
  
  
• Minimum of 5 years' experience in management.
  
  
• Extensive knowledge of current computer, communications, and digital technologies; and evolving new technologies, techniques and developments.
  
  
• Experience in cybercrime or counterterrorism or organized crime in a law enforcement environment.
  
  
• Working knowledge of cyber enabled criminality including (but not limited to) terrorists' use of Internet technologies, illicit online markets, Internet scams and frauds, or online counterfeit goods.
  
  
• Working knowledge of legal issues relating to transnational crime investigations.
  
  
• Knowledge of futures and foresight in a law enforcement context.
  
  
• Experience in working or studying in an international environment would be desirable.
  
  

Languages

• Professional fluency in English is required (both in written and oral form).
  
  
• Proficiency in a second official language of the Organization (Spanish, French or Arabic) would be an additional asset.
  
  

Abilities required

• Demonstrated strong management skills, including:
• Leadership: being proactive in developing strategies to accomplish objectives;
• Vision: clearly communicating links between the organisation's strategy and the work unit's goals;
• Empowering others: delegating responsibilities, clarifying expectations, and giving staff autonomy in important areas of their work;
• Building trust;
• Managing performance: regularly discussing performance and providing feedback and coaching to staff;
• Managing a budget: consulting widely, drawing up and managing a budget.
  
  
• Personal and professional maturity in the areas of reliability, decisiveness and emotional well-being;
• Demonstrated ability to work in a multicultural and diverse environment;
• Strong communication skills, both in written and oral form;
• Ability to work persistently and under pressure;
• Ability to use innovative thinking to develop unique solutions;
• Ability to develop and maintain professional networks;
• Ability to synthesize;
• Good listening skills.