Head of Physical Security Assurance

Department for Work and Pensions (DWP); Cardiff; On-site; GBP 90,000 - 120,000; Full time

Job summary

Department for Work and Pensions (DWP) is seeking a Head of Physical Security Assurance to provide strategic leadership for its security assurance function. You will lead a specialist team delivering second-line assurance across a dispersed estate, ensuring robust evaluation of controls and timely improvement actions.

The role requires senior stakeholder engagement, cross-government collaboration, and a frontline ability to challenge risk owners while supporting ESRM transformation.

Qualifications

• Senior leadership experience in security-related functions including strategic direction and delivery.
• Experience in security risk assurance, integrating physical security with cyber, information and personnel security.
• Ability to lead geographically dispersed teams and work across organisational boundaries.

Responsibilities

• Provide strategic leadership for the Physical Security Assurance function.
• Oversee delivery of assurance activities across DWP locations with consistent standards.
• Engage with senior stakeholders and present clear assurance findings and recommendations.
• Support ESRM transformation activities and future operating models for enterprise security.
• Travel frequently to DWP sites and maintain operational continuity during changes.

Skills

Senior stakeholder influence

Security leadership

Security risk assurance

Travel readiness

Cross-functional collaboration

Job description

Department for Work and Pensions (DWP) is seeking a Head of Physical Security Assurance to provide strategic leadership for its security assurance function. You will lead a specialist team delivering second-line assurance across a dispersed estate, ensuring robust evaluation of controls and timely improvement actions.

The role requires senior stakeholder engagement, cross-government collaboration, and a frontline ability to challenge risk owners while supporting ESRM transformation.