Personnel Security Lead

Australian Bureau of Meteorology; Sydney; On-site; AUD 120,000 - 180,000; Full time

Job summary

The Australian Bureau of Meteorology seeks a Personnel Security Lead to provide high-level advice, coordination, and delivery of personnel security across the organisation, with a focus on mitigating insider risk and PSPF compliance.

Reporting to the Manager, Protective Security, the role entails developing policies, managing security clearances as sponsor, mentoring team members, and coordinating security operations across the PSPF domains.

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 organisational 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.