Head of Security Standards, Risk & Assurance

AWE; Reading, Basingstoke; On-site; GBP 90,000 - 125,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Onsite parking

Benefits package

Job summary

AWE is seeking a seasoned security leader to become Head of Security Standards, Risk & Assurance. You will shape and oversee the security standards, risk frameworks and assurance activities protecting people, assets, information and operations.

You will lead a team of security professionals, drive continuous improvement, and provide confidence to senior leaders that risks are managed effectively. Based at Aldermaston, the role is fully onsite with opportunities for flexible working where

Qualifications

• Proven leadership in security policy, standards and assurance frameworks.
• Experience in highly regulated environments such as defence or critical infrastructure.
• Strong stakeholder engagement and ability to influence senior leaders.

Responsibilities

• Set and maintain security standards across personnel, physical and operational security.
• Lead security risk, assurance and compliance frameworks.
• Provide assurance to business leaders on effectiveness of controls.
• Drive continuous improvement of security policies and processes.
• Manage security regulatory risk, governance and defence requirements.
• Lead and develop a high-performing security team.
• Support wider security strategy and capability development.

Skills

Security leadership

Risk management

Policy development

Governance

Stakeholder engagement

Education

Security-related degree

Job description

Head of Security Standards, Risk & Assurance

Location: RG7 4PR, located between Reading and Basingstoke, with free onsite parking.

Package: Competitive salary and benefits package that reflects the Senior Leadership responsibilities of the role.

Working pattern: AWE operates a 9-day working fortnight, with every other Friday as a non-working day. For this role, employees are required to work fully onsite. We support flexible working arrangements where possible, including part-time and varied working hours, while maintaining an onsite presence. Please let us know if you would like us to consider an alternative working pattern as part of your application.

Shape the standards. Influence the risk landscape. Assure the future.

Let us introduce the role:

AWE is seeking an experienced security leader to join us as Head of Security Standards, Risk & Assurance.

This is a strategically important role, responsible for shaping and overseeing the security standards, policies, risk frameworks and assurance activities that protect AWE's people, assets, information and operations. Working across a complex and highly regulated environment, you will ensure security arrangements remain effective, proportionate and aligned to business needs.

You will lead a team of security assurance professionals, drive continuous improvement, and provide confidence to senior leaders that security risks are being managed appropriately. The role is the focal point for innovation in security, working with partners and peer organisations to deliver security better, faster, cheaper and in a more integrated way. The role also plays a key part in modernising security governance, with a particular focus on risk.

What you'll be doing

• Setting and maintaining security standards across personnel, physical, operational and security, to enable AWE to manage external and insider security threats.

• Leading security risk, assurance and compliance frameworks.

• Providing assurance to business leaders on the effectiveness of security controls.

• Driving continuous improvement and simplification of security policies and processes.

• Managing security regulatory risk, governance and defence security requirements.

• Leading and developing a high-performing team of security professionals.

• Supporting AWE's wider security strategy and future capability development.

What we're looking for

You'll be an accomplished leader with a strong track record of developing and overseeing security policy, standards and assurance frameworks within a highly regulated environment.

We'd particularly like to see:

• Significant security leadership experience within Defence, Critical National Infrastructure, Nuclear or similarly complex organisations.

• Exceptional stakeholder engagement and influencing skills.

• Experience building and leading high-performing teams.

• A degree in a security-related discipline (or equivalent experience).

• Membership of a recognised security professional body.

If you're passionate about setting security strategy, managing risk and influencing security outcomes at organisational scale, we'd love to hear from you.

The 'Working at AWE' page on our website is where you can find full details in the 'AWE Benefits Guide'.

Hybrid working is available for this role on an informal, non-contractual basis. Due to the classified nature of the role, there will need for this hire to be on site (Aldermaston) regularly.

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