Head of Security Standards, Risk & Assurance

awepeople; Reading; On-site; GBP 90,000 - 130,000; Full time

Job summary

AWE is seeking an experienced security leader to head Security Standards, Risk & Assurance. You will shape security standards, risk frameworks and assurance activities protecting people, assets and information across a complex environment.

You will lead a team of security assurance professionals, drive improvements, and provide confidence to senior leaders that security risks are managed. Onsite at Aldermaston with flexible working options where possible.

Qualifications

• Proven track record in developing and overseeing security policy, standards and assurance frameworks.
• Experience leading security risk, assurance and compliance programs in regulated sectors.
• Membership of a recognised security professional body.

Responsibilities

• Set and maintain security standards across personnel, physical, operational and information security.
• Lead security risk, assurance and governance frameworks across the organisation.
• Provide assurance to senior leaders on effectiveness of controls.
• Drive continuous improvement and simplification of security policies and processes.
• Lead and develop a high-performing security team and partner with stakeholders.

Skills

Security leadership

Policy development

Risk management

Stakeholder engagement

Team leadership

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.

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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Important things you need to know:

You will need to obtain and maintain the necessary security clearance for the role. This will be funded by AWE. The nature of our work does mean you need to be a British Citizen who has been resident in the UK for the past 5 years in order to apply for SC clearance and 10 years for DV.

We want you to feel comfortable and able to shine during our recruitment process. Please let us know on your application form if you need any adjustments/accommodations during the process.

Our interviews typically take place over Teams and for most roles are a 1 stage process.

Our ambition is to create workplaces where we recognise and celebrate differences, encourage diverse contributions and our employees feel able to be themselves at work. We strive to create a genuine culture of opennes