Head of Community Safety & Security Services

Cardiff University / Prifysgol Caerdydd; Cardiff; On-site; GBP 60,000 - 67,000; Full time

Job description

20026BR

Estates & Campus Facilities

Managerial, Professional and Specialist Staff – MPSS

Advert

Head of Community Safety & Security Services

Cardiff University is seeking a Head of Community Safety & Security Services to lead and develop our Community Safety and Security Service across our large, diverse campus and community.

This exciting new role will ensure the safety and wellbeing of students, staff, and visitors by ensuring provision of a service that is highly customer centric, accessible, and committed to the university’s Values (Collaboration, Consistency & Excellence, Learning, Efficiency, Inclusion) and associated Behaviours. It will play a key supporting role in delivery of university strategy ‘Our future, together’.

The successful candidate will be able to demonstrate their commitment to continuous service improvement and excellence, as well as demonstrating innovation, commitment to and knowledge of the industry / sector. They will be a motivational and inspiring leader, able to support team members at all levels through change and will be supported by an experienced and committed team.

Cardiff University Offers Excellent Working Conditions And Benefits Including

• Generous annual leave (37 days),
• Membership of the Universities Superannuation Scheme (USS),
• Use of the university’s leisure and cultural facilities,
• Access of our Employee Assistance Programme.
• 35 hour working week.

Due to the nature of the service (operating 24 hours, 7 days a week, 365 days a year), the successful candidate will require flexibility to deal with emergencies outside of standard operating hours, including Bank holidays and university shutdown periods.

This is an office-based role with frequent on-campus presence for stakeholder engagement and incident response.

Appointment will be subject to a successful basic DBS check.

This is a full-time, open-ended position, available immediately.

Salary: £60,907 per annum (Grade 8) with 3 annual increments up to £66,537 per annum.

If you’d like and informal chat about the role, please email David Manfield, Deputy Director of Estates (Soft FM): [e-mail] to arrange a mutually convenient time.

IMPORTANT: The Person Specification is split into 2 sections: essential and desirable. Please demonstrate clearly how you meet all of the essential criteria. Where possible you should give examples of how, when and where you have used your experience, knowledge, specific skills and abilities to match those required for this particular job role.

Please ensure that you communicate this fully by developing a supporting statement, listing ALL OF THE CRITERIA and commenting against each one as to how you meet them.

This will need to be completed before you begin your online application as you will be required to upload it. When uploading the supporting statement the document title needs to read “supporting statement” and should also detail the post reference number BR.

Date advert posted: Thursday, 17 April 2025
Closing date: Thursday, 15 May 2025

Cardiff University is committed to supporting and promoting equality and diversity and to creating an inclusive working environment. We believe this can be achieved through attracting, developing, and retaining a diverse range of staff from many different backgrounds who have the ambition to create a University which seeks to fulfil our social, cultural and economic obligation to Cardiff, Wales, and the world. In supporting our employees to achieve a balance between their work and their personal lives, we will also consider proposals for flexible working or job share arrangements.

Applications may be submitted in Welsh, and an application submitted in Welsh will not be treated less favourably than an application submitted in English.

Job Description

Job Purpose

The Head of Community Safety & Security Services leads the development, implementation, and management of Community Safety & Security operations across the university. The role ensures the protection of students, staff, visitors, and university assets while fostering a customer centric, secure and inclusive environment. The position involves strategic planning, operational oversight, risk management, and collaboration with internal and external stakeholders to support the university’s mission and safeguard its community.

Duties and Responsibilities

Key Duties

Strategic Leadership

• Develop and deliver a comprehensive community safety and security plan aligned to and supporting university strategy.
• Set and monitor policies, systems, and procedures to enhance campus safety, security, and emergency preparedness.
• Keep up to date with sector-wide risks, legal requirements, and best practices to ensure proactive safety measures.
• Implement any legislative requirements and changes to our policy and procedures.

Operational Management:

• Oversee all security operations, including campus patrols, incident response, access control, and surveillance systems.
• Manage contracts and partnerships with external security providers, ensuring high-quality service delivery in-line with agreed KPI’s.
• Coordinate safety and security for university events, including large-scale gatherings and VIP visits.
• Crisis and Emergency Management:
• Lead the university’s response to emergencies, acting as the primary point of contact for incidents.
• Develop and regularly update emergency response plans, ensuring alignment with regulatory requirements.
• Organise training and training exercises to prepare staff and students for potential crises.

Community Engagement and Inclusivity:

• Promote an inclusive approach to campus safety that recognises the needs of a diverse community.
• Build strong relationships with students, staff, and the wider university community to encourage reporting of concerns and increase awareness of safety initiatives.
• Support programmes to foster a welcoming and secure campus environment.

Stakeholder Collaboration:

• Work closely with university departments such as Student Life, Staff Safety and Wellbeing and Compliance and Risk to ensure integrated safety efforts.
• Liaise with external partners, including local law enforcement, emergency services, council and community groups.
• Represent and lead the university in national and regional forums on community safety and security, building strong relationships.

Risk Management and Compliance:

• Conduct regular risk assessments and safety / security audits to identify vulnerabilities and recommend and implement improvements.
• Ensure compliance with UK legislation, including health and safety regulations, Prevent Duty, and GDPR.
• Maintain accurate records of incidents, investigations, and reports, provide and interpret data to senior leadership for decision making.

Team Leadership and Development:

• Lead and manage the university’s Community Safety & Security team, ensuring high performance, a customer centric approach and professional conduct.
• Provide training and development opportunities to enhance staff skills and knowledge.
• Foster a culture of accountability, collaboration, customer centricity and continuous improvement within the team.

Budget and Resource Management:

• Develop and manage the budget for Community Safety and Security operations, ensuring effective use of resources.
• Identify and implement cost-effective solutions to improve campus safety and security infrastructure.
• Oversee the procurement of outsourced contracts, including:
• Maintenance of security systems (e.g. CCTV, access control, intruder alarms),
• Static guarding / event marshalling.

Job Description Continued in Additional Information

Person Specification

Essential Criteria

Qualifications And Education

• A recognised qualification in Security or Facilities management or demonstrable experience gained at senior management level covering Security or Facilities Management services. Comprehensive knowledge of UK legislation and regulations relating to security, safety, and risk management and familiarity with the Prevent Duty and safeguarding responsibilities in a UK university context.

Knowledge, Skills And Experience

• Substantial experience in a security or safety leadership role, ideally within a university, public sector, or large organisational setting.
• Proven ability to lead, influence, motivate and develop teams (including during periods of change), fostering professionalism and high standards.
• Experience in business continuity and risk management.

Customer Service, Communication and Team Working

• Excellent interpersonal and communication skills to engage effectively with diverse stakeholders, and demonstrable experience of negotiating effectively with internal and external business partners.
• Proved ability to promote open and effective partnership working with key stakeholders within and outside the institution.

Planning, Analysis and Problem solving

• Strong analytical and problem-solving skills, with the ability to make decisions under pressure.
• Experience managing budgets, contracts, and resources efficiently.
• Strong operational planning and organisational skills (including long term forward resource planning and forecasting) and demonstrable achievement in the successful delivery of projects within approved budget.

Other

• Flexibility to work evenings and / or weekends as required to support university operational requirements / events, and the ability and willingness to respond to out of hours emergencies.

Desirable Criteria

• Professional qualifications in security management, e.g.:
• ASIS Certifications (Certified Protection Professional (CPP) / Physical Security Professional (PSP) / Associate Protection Professional (APP)
• City & Guilds Level 5 Diploma in Security Management
• CSMP (Certified Security Management Professional)
• Knowledge of modern security technologies and their applications.
• Experience in a higher education or complex campus environment.
• Fluency in Welsh, written and oral.

Additional Information

• The role is office-based with frequent on-campus presence for site inspections, stakeholder engagement, and incident response.
• The role may require occasional travel and overnight stays for collaboration with external partners and participation in sector events.
• Due to the nature of this role, the successful candidate will be subject to an Basic DBS check before the appointment is confirmed.

Salary Range Min.

60,907

Salary Range Max.

66,537

Job Category

Estates

Grade

Grade 8