Personnel Security Lead

Bureau of Meteorology; Sydney; On-site; AUD 120,000 - 160,000; Full time

Job summary

The Bureau of Meteorology is seeking a Personnel Security Lead to provide strategic guidance, coordinate personnel security functions and oversee vetting and security clearances in alignment with the PSPF.

You will lead a multidisciplinary security program, mentor staff, interpret legislation, manage incidents, and deliver risk-based advice across the six PSPF domains, with a strong focus on insider threat mitigation.

Responsibilities

• Lead day-to-day personnel security operations, including triage and escalation of enquiries, incidents, requests and tasks to ensure timely action per PSPF and policy requirements.
• Carry out the role of Security Officer to manage security clearances as sponsoring entity.
• Develop, uplift and manage personnel security capability, procedures, guidance, and training aligned with PSPF.
• Provide expert, timely personnel security advice and guidance to staff and stakeholders to ensure compliant operations.

Job description

The Personnel Security Lead is responsible for providing high-level advice, coordination, and delivery of personnel security functions at the Bureau, with a strong focus on mitigating insider risk and ensuring compliance with the Protective Security Policy Framework (PSPF). The position reports to the Manager, Protective Security and plays an important role in safeguarding the Bureau's customers, systems, personnel and facilities. The role includes carrying out the duties of a Security Officer, performing specialist security functions and providing services to manage security clearances on behalf of the Bureau as a sponsoring entity.

Operating with a significant degree of independence, the role supports the design, implementation, and continuous improvement of the Bureau's personnel security policies, procedures, and assurance activities, particularly those relating to vetting, ongoing suitability and workforce integrity. The role is integral in building capability to deliver and support efficient and effective personnel security operations and incident management across the Bureau.

The Personnel Security Lead will have well-developed leadership qualities and be willing to mentor and support team members and contribute to the objectives of a multidisciplinary program. This includes interpreting and applying relevant legislation and policy, providing specialist personnel security advice and training, triaging and responding appropriately to personnel security concerns and incidents, and working closely with Bureau personnel and stakeholders to manage and deliver high-quality security operations across the six domains of the PSPF with particular focus on the personnel domain.

The role requires a strong understanding of mature security cultures, security vetting processes, insider threat management and the PSPF, including its application and inter-operability with other frameworks within the Australian Government setting. Knowledge of, or the ability to quickly acquire an understanding of the Bureau, its security posture and operating environment will assist the successful candidate to exercise sound judgement in coordinating responses to potentially complex and sensitive issues. The ability to operate with sensitivity and integrity and provide evidence- and risk-based advice is an essential requirement for the role.

The Personnel Security Lead is required to operate with a high degree of autonomy, accountability and professional judgement, and is responsible for delivering personnel security uplift at the Bureau. The role is key in ensuring delivery of the personnel security elements of the Enterprise Security Plan. The Personnel Security Lead requires excellent organistional skills and well-developed written and verbal communication. An ability to develop and maintain internal and external stakeholder networks is essential. The successful candidate will demonstrate the ability to plan, manage and organise their time and workstreams, and will be comfortable operating in a diverse and geographically dispersed environment with tight timeframes, shifting operational landscapes and conflicting priorities.

The key duties of the position include:

• Lead day-to-day personnel security operations, including management, triage and escalation of personnel security enquiries, incidents, requests and operational tasks to ensure timely action in accordance with agreed service level agreements, and PSPF and other policy requirements.
• Carry out the role of a Security Officer to perform specialist security functions and provide services to manage security clearances on behalf of the Bureau as a sponsoring entity.
• Support and contribute to the development, uplift and ongoing management of the Bureau's personnel security capability, ensuring alignment with the PSPF. This includes planning and implementing uplift initiative, maintaining supporting procedures, templates and guidance, and delivering high-quality training, communication and reporting.
• Provide expert, timely and risk-based personnel security advice and guidance to staff, executive and external stakeholders to ensure effective, consistent and secure operations, PSPF compliance and adherence to Bureau policies and procedures.
• Interpret and analyse complex government legislation, frameworks, directives, and security standards to translate them into clear, actionable policy, and practical advice and guidance.
• Identify and manage opportunities for development and uplift activities and risk mitigation through regular analysis of intelligence, assessments, policy updates, security incidents and compliance reporting to improve personnel security practices across the organisation and respond to emerging threats.
• Lead personnel security assurance activities, such as reviews, annual security check, audits, compliance checks, and monitor remediation of identified gaps.
• Conduct preliminary enquiries and investigations in relation to reported or identified personnel security concerns or incidents, in accordance with Bureau procedures and the Australian Government Investigations Standards.
• Oversee and support personnel security functions including vetting and security clearances, onboarding/offboarding security processes, and support implementation and maintenance of the Bureau's insider threat capability, including monitoring, assurance, governance and reporting.
• Build strong relationships with internal stakeholders, external providers and whole-of-government security counterparts to understand security framework requirements, share information and align practices. Lead and mentor staff, fostering a professional, collaborative and outcomes-focused security culture.
• Carry out all work in accordance with the APS Values, Employment Principles, and Code of Conduct.
• Comply with all Bureau work, health and safety policies and procedures, and take reasonable care for your own health and safety and that of others

Getting to know the Bureau of Meteorology

The Bureau of Meteorology is one of the few organisations that touches the lives of all Australians and all Australia, every day. The Bureau works across Australia and remote islands, providing services from the Antarctic to beyond the equator, and from the Indian Ocean to the Pacific.We are Australia's national weather, climate and water agency, in the Agriculture, Water and Environment portfolio of the Australian Government, operating under the authority of the Meteorology Act 1955 and the Water Act 2007. We provide data, information, knowledge, insight and wisdom to help Australians prepare and respond to the realities of their natural environment, including droughts, floods, fires, storms, tsunami and tropical cyclones.Our products and services include observations, forecasts, analysis and advice covering Australia's atmosphere, water, oceans and space environments. We undertake focused scientific research in support of our operations and services. Through regular forecasts, warnings, monitoring and advice, we provide one of Australia's most fundamental and widely used public services.We have strong relationships with our customers, partners and stakeholders in Australia, including the Australian Community and the emergency services sectors, all-levels of Government, and focus sectors including aviation, agriculture, energy and resources, national security and water.