Head of Sites and Security

Thales Group; Harwell; On-site; GBP 90,000 - 130,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Performance bonus

Friday half-day

Annual leave 28 days

Volunteer day

Private healthcare

Pension

Life cover

Employee assistance program

Discount schemes

Gym membership

Job summary

Thales Group in the UK seeks a Head of Sites and Security to lead Facilities, HSE and Security Operations across our Harwell site. You will manage office space, labs, storage and kitchen facilities while coordinating external providers to deliver safe, compliant and cost‑effective operations.

The role requires a strong background in facilities management, site operations, and security, with hands‑on leadership of BCM and asset control.

Qualifications

• Experience in facilities, site management, security or an operational role with transferrable skills
• A self-motivated and proactive approach with the ability to anticipate issues, identify opportunities for improvement and take ownership of actions through to completion
• Experience working with contractors, service providers and internal stakeholders to deliver safe and effective site operations
• Strong organisational and problem-solving skills, with the ability to manage multiple activities and competing priorities and adapt to changing business needs
• A solid understanding of Health and Safety, physical security and business continuity principles with demonstrable experience in the application of these

Responsibilities

• Overall accountable for the day-to-day management of Office Space, Laboratories, Storage Facilities and Kitchen areas, ensuring that maintenance and servicing of equipment and systems are carried out in accordance with contractual standards and business need
• Lead on the coordination of facilities management providers and specialist contractors to deliver the agreed scope of work, on cost, on quality and on time
• Communicate information relating to Site Management, Health and Safety, and Security to the relevant stakeholders, both internally and externally and including, but not limited to; Head of Operations and wider management team; Employees; Harwell Campus and contracted service providers
• Ensure the business is operating in compliance with Health and Safety Legislation, supported by Thales Group; manage safe working conditions in all our facilities and oversee and verify risk assessments for activities
• Coordinate and oversee the occasional logistics and movement of goods to support business operations
• Support the management and tracking of company assets and inventory, ensuring accurate records are maintained and appropriate controls are in place
• Lead Business Continuity Management (BCM) planning activities to ensure robust plans and processes are in place to strengthen business resilience and maintain operations during unexpected disruptions
• Responsible for verifying the security status of employees; working closely with the Thales Security team to ensure all new starters is vetted to the appropriate clearance level and that records of clearance are received and maintained, in support of future project access requirements.
• Responsible for the physical security standards of our Real Estate, ensuring doors and secure areas have appropriate locking mechanisms with electronic access control where required.
• Management of the Site Security Budget and Facilities CapEx Budget, ensuring local business needs are aligned with the needs of Thales Group

Skills

Facilities management

Site management

Security operations

Health and Safety

Contractors management

Budgeting

Job description

Location: Oxford, United Kingdom

Thales is a global technology leader with more than 83,000 employees on five continents. With over 7,500 people in the UK, operating across defence, space, aerospace, and digital security, we help build a future we can all trust. Thales supports the security and stability of our nation by providing extraordinary technology to our customers, as well as delivering social value to the UK with our products and services.

Join Thales Alenia Space UK in a key role safeguarding our sites, people and operations. We are recruiting for a Head of Sites and Security to join our Operations Management Team and lead critical areas of our business, spanning Site Management, Health, Safety and Environment (HSE) and Security.
The successful candidate will oversee the effective management of the company’s Real Estate, primarily located in Harwell, Oxfordshire; and lead the day to day and strategic Security Operations of TAS UK.

Governments and private industry rely on us to create satellite‑based systems that provide trusted, anytime‑anywhere connectivity and positioning—helping care for our planet, manage its resources thoughtfully, and explore our Solar System with curiosity and purpose. We view space as a new horizon for collective progress, shaping a more sustainable life on Earth. As a joint venture between Thales (67%) and Leonardo (33%), Thales Alenia Space partners with Telespazio through the Space Alliance to deliver a full suite of integrated solutions and services.

Main Responsibilities

• Overall accountable for the day-to-day management of Office Space, Laboratories, Storage Facilities and Kitchen areas, ensuring that maintenance and servicing of equipment and systems are carried out in accordance with contractual standards and business need
• Lead on the coordination of facilities management providers and specialist contractors to deliver the agreed scope of work, on cost, on quality and on time
• Communicate information relating to Site Management, Health and Safety, and Security to the relevant stakeholders, both internally and externally and including, but not limited to; Head of Operations and wider management team; Employees; Harwell Campus and contracted service providers
• Ensure the business is operating in compliance with Health and Safety Legislation, supported by Thales Group; manage safe working conditions in all our facilities and oversee and verify risk assessments for activities
• Coordinate and oversee the occasional logistics and movement of goods to support business operations
• Support the management and tracking of company assets and inventory, ensuring accurate records are maintained and appropriate controls are in place
• Lead Business Continuity Management (BCM) planning activities to ensure robust plans and processes are in place to strengthen business resilience and maintain operations during unexpected disruptions
• Responsible for verifying the security status of employees; working closely with the Thales Security team to ensure all new starters is vetted to the appropriate clearance level and that records of clearance are received and maintained, in support of future project access requirements.
• Responsible for the physical security standards of our Real Estate, ensuring doors and secure areas have appropriate locking mechanisms with electronic access control where required.
• Management of the Site Security Budget and Facilities CapEx Budget, ensuring local business needs are aligned with the needs of Thales Group

Ideal Experience & Skills

• Experience in facilities, site management, security or an operational role with transferrable skills
• A self-motivated and proactive approach with the ability to anticipate issues, identify opportunities for improvement and take ownership of actions through to completion
• Experience working with contractors, service providers and internal stakeholders to deliver safe and effective site operations
• Strong organisational and problem-solving skills, with the ability to manage multiple activities and competing priorities and adapt to changing business needs
• A solid understanding of Health and Safety, physical security and business continuity principles with demonstrable experience in the application of these

Benefits

• Performance-related bonus
• Half day every Friday, usually finishing around 13:00
• 28 days annual leave (plus bank holidays) with opportunity to buy up to 40 hours/year (pro rata)
• 24 hours volunteering paid for
• Private healthcare
• Pension scheme
• Life cover
• 24/7 Employee Assistance Program and access to mental wellbeing app
• Employee discount shopping schemes on major brands and retailers
• Gym membership discount s

Security Clearance Requirement:

Due to the nature of the work that we do at Thales, many of our roles are subject to security restrictions. This role requires Security Clearance (SC). It would be advantageous if currently held, however, if not currently held, it is a requirement that the successful applicant undergo, achieve, and maintain SC Clearance prior to commencing employment.

To be eligible for full SC, you generally need to have resided in the UK for the last 5 years. In some circumstances, a minimum of 3 years’ residence in the UK over the last 5 years may be accepted, with additional overseas checks.

Please visit the UKSV website for further guidance:

https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/united-kingdom-security-vetting-clearance-levels/national-security-vetting-clearance-levels

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At Thales, we ensure equal opportunities, pay and working conditions for all. The benefits we offer include private medical insurance, buying or selling annual leave, cycle to work schemes, employee discounts, paid volunteering day, stocks and shares, annual bonus and much more depending on the role. Read more about our benefits here.

We are committed to creating a workplace where everyone feels valued for who they are and the unique strengths they bring. Discover more about our programmes, employee networks, wellbeing policies, and inclusive features here.

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