Senior Security Adviser, Enterprise Technology and Security Branch

Department of the Prime Minister and Cabinet; Canberra; On-site; AUD 90,000 - 110,000; Full time

Job summary

The Department of the Prime Minister and Cabinet is seeking a Senior Security Adviser to lead the personnel security team and support day-to-day protective security operations.

You will coordinate the security clearance process across PM&C and portfolio agencies, provide high-quality administrative support, rostering, and stakeholder advisory services, and interpret PSPF guidance to strengthen protective security across the department.

Qualifications

• Experience implementing security best practices and thinking critically.
• Clear written and verbal communication with a broad audience.
• Understanding of risk standards and contemporary personnel security challenges.

Responsibilities

• Lead and manage the personnel security team and coordinate the security clearance process across PM&C and portfolio agencies.
• Deliver high-quality administrative support, rostering and client service at the security office.
• Liaise and collaborate with a wide range of internal and external stakeholders.
• Prepare and provide advice to stakeholders at all levels on personnel security matters.
• Interpret and implement Protective Security arrangements based on PSPF guidance.
• Review and develop personnel security policies as required.
• Lead the implementation of approved security controls and procedures.
• Deliver and facilitate security awareness training sessions for the department and portfolio agencies.
• Perform other ad-hoc duties as directed.

Skills

Analytical skills

Written communication

Verbal communication

Stakeholder engagement

Time management

Discretion & confidentiality

Security awareness

Risk understanding

Education

Certificate IV in Government Security (Security Vetting or Personnel Security)

Job description

Who we are

The Security Operations Team provides a business enabling function supporting the Department of the Prime Minister and Cabinet (PM&C) to manage protective security. The team ensures the department, the Prime Minister’s Office, our portfolio ministers and shared services agencies objectives can be achieved without loss, harm, disruption or damage to our people, information, assets and reputation. This includes the management of personnel and physical security, COMSO services, the department’s Insider Threat Program and security project management.

What you will do

The Senior Security Adviser plays an essential role in the delivery of protective security services. They lead and manage the personnel security team and support day-to day protective security operations. The Senior Security Adviser will lead the security team’s administrative responsibilities. This includes reporting, undertaking reviews, rostering of personnel security team, task allocation and procurement activities. We are looking for applicants with experience in implementing security best practice, thinking critically and effectively communicating with a broad audience. This includes a basic understanding of risk standards, effective written and verbal communication skills and a strong understanding of contemporary challenges within security.

Under general direction, the main duties of the role are:

• Lead and manage a small team in personnel security to coordinate and support the security clearance process across PM&C and our portfolio agencies.
• Deliver high quality administrative and office support, including rostering and client service at the security office.
• Liaise and collaborate with a wide range of internal and external stakeholders.
• Prepare and provide advice to stakeholders at all levels on a range of personnel security matters.
• Interpret and implement Protective Security arrangements based on guidance from the PSPF.
• Review and develop personnel security policies as required.
• Lead the implementation of approved security controls and procedures.
• Deliver and facilitate security awareness training sessions for the department and our portfolio agencies.
• Perform other ad-hoc duties as directed.

The role may be required to perform an out of hours on-call function. We are looking for applicants with experience in implementing security best practice, thinking critically and effectively communicating with a broad audience.

Our ideal candidate will perform at the APS6 level in accordance with the PM&C Performance model and will bring:

• Strong analytical skills with ability to exercise sound judgement and make risk-based decisions on personnel security matters.
• Highly developed written and verbal communication skills, with ability to provide clear advice to a wide range of stakeholders.
• Strong stakeholder engagement and relationship building capabilities, with the ability to build trust and influence outcomes.
• Excellent time management skills with the ability to manage competing priorities.
• Experience responding professionally to sensitive enquiries while maintaining discretion and confidentiality.
• Understanding of contemporary challenges within personnel security.
• Certificate IV in Government Security (Security Vetting or Personnel Security), other qualifications, and/or demonstrated experience in training and assessment will be highly regarded, but not essential.

In line with our dedication to an inclusive and safe workplace culture we are seeking candidates who are respectful of people’s unique differences, backgrounds and cultures (including Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander culture) particularly when communicating and working together.