The Australia Federal Police (AFP) has started a recruitment drive to fill no fewer than 12 IT positions spanning reporting, analytics, cryptography and eavesdropping.

In advertising the Canberra-based positions on its Web site, the AFP is searching for people with a variety of skills for support and development roles across its entire IT operations.

A business analyst is required to support back-office applications, including PROMIS (Police Real-Time Online Management Information System) and SAP for HR and financials, and assist with the compilation of software requirement documents.

Also sought are project managers, analysts for reporting, and project officers for information services delivery. There is also an emphasis on data quality at the AFP, which is seeking a data quality and reporting professional.

Security is also being beefed up with positions advertised for specialists in cryptography, telephony interception, and security operations.

APF's cryptography team is responsible for the management, accounting and auditing of the national security classified Sectera cryptographic accounts. These are used for secure mobile communications. Furthermore, the telephone intercept support team contributes to the development and maintenance of the AFP's telecommunications interception activities. The telephone interception environment consists of Solaris Unix, Windows 2003 Server, and Windows XP desktops. The database systems are Sybase and Oracle.

General IT security operations staff are also needed to assist with the implementation of AFP IT security policies, standards and procedures. There is an emphasis on system account and password management, according to the AFP.

In addition to the Microsoft Windows desktop and server support requirements, AFP's IT shop consists of Active Directory, Exchange 2003, Citrix Metaframe and Microsoft Office tools. Support is also required for the AFP's in-house developed applications.

A Federal Police spokesperson told Computerworld that several new IT positions are being added to provide support to enhance the "intelligence handling capabilities" of the organization.

"Funding has been provided by a new initiative through the commonwealth government," the spokesperson said. "The balance of the positions, such as the positions for the IT Support Centre and IT Services, represent normal recruitment activities for staff replacement."

More information is available from the AFP Web site - www.afp.gov.au. Applications close on June 6.