Project Security Manager

mbda; Stevenage; Hybrid; GBP 58,000 - 63,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Company bonus up to £2,500

Pension up to 14%

Overtime opportunities

Flexi Leave

Flexible working

Enhanced parental leave

On-site facilities

Healthcare Cash Plan

Job summary

MBDA is seeking a dedicated Project Security Manager to own and coordinate security activities across a product line. You will harmonise practices, liaise with the MoD Customer Team, and drive risk‑balanced decisions throughout the project lifecycle.

The role requires the ability to work in a hybrid environment (on‑site 3–4 days) and to obtain SC clearance, with DV considered advantageous. The package includes a robust benefits plan and potential for overtime as workload allows.

Qualifications

• Security oversight mindset and ability to coordinate cross‑functional teams.
• Experience with risk management and security governance is desirable.
• Excellent communication and stakeholder management skills.

Responsibilities

• Own the Project Security Grading Guide and maintain/update documents.
• Manage MoD export approvals and related paperwork with stakeholders.
• Coordinate Project Security Equipment and maintain Secure Hardware register.
• Act as Project Security Representative and liaise with Security Operations and MoD teams.
• Lead cross‑project security activities and share best practices across programs.
• Ensure timely delivery of the Project Security Plan and closure processes.

Job description

An exciting opportunity has arisen to join the Security Engineering team to be responsible for all aspects of Project Security on a specific Programme and help to shape the future of this type of role as a distinct domain within the Security Engineering Department.

Salary : Circa £ 60,000 depending on experience.

Dynamic (hybrid) working : 3-4 days per week on-site due to workload classification; where possible, we will seek to accommodate a blended approach to on-site and remote working.

Security Clearance : British Citizen.

Restrictions and/or limitations relating to nationality and/or rights to work may apply. As a minimum and after offer stage, all successful candidates will need to undergo HMG Security Check (SC) clearance, which is managed by the MBDA Personnel Security Team. Applicants either holding or willing to undergo Developed Vetting (DV) clearance are ideal, but not mandatory.

What we can offer you:

• Company bonus : Up to £2,500 (based on company performance and will vary year to year)
• Pension : maximum total (employer and employee) contribution of up to 14%
• Overtime: opportunity for paid overtime
• Flexi Leave: Up to 15 additional days
• Flexible working: We welcome applicants who are looking for flexible working arrangements
• Enhanced parental leave: offers up to 26 weeks for maternity, adoption and shared parental leave -enhancements are available for paternity leave, neonatal leave and fertility testing and treatments
• Facilities : Fantastic site facilities including subsidised meals, free car parking and much more...
• Healthcare Cash Plan: The Healthcare Cash Plan benefit provides the option to claim cash back on everyday healthcare expenses such as optical, dental, health and wellbeing and more .

The opportunity:

The Security Engineering Department provides all Project teams across the business with skilled resources, Technical Experts and other specialist capabilities to manage the Security Engineering process throughout the Product Life Cycle phases. Alongside a highly technical Product Security Solution every Project requires a robust Project Security strategy. Historically, Project Security aspects have been managed as delegated tasks from the Chief Engineer to knowledgeable people within the team, usually the Product Security Domain Lead. Most of our Products now involve iterative (spiral) development cycles and expanded export strategies meaning the amount of Project Security effort required has outgrown the model of being an ad hoc part of a Security Engineer's role.

There now exists a collection of highly important and necessary roles and responsibilities that need to be managed across multiple stakeholders and export campaigns. Furthermore, the complex technical nature of our Projects usually means that answers are nuanced and require detailed navigation of process/procedure to achieve an appropriate risk‑balance.

The complexity and scope of Project Security activities now necessitates a dedicated Project Security Manager role to own and manage the activities, act as a centralised point of contact, harmonise practice across Missile Design Projects and provide coherency and consistency in the domain. Initially there will be a single role deployed onto a specific Product Line, however the longer‑term strategy is to develop a small departmental team formed from a number of these roles working together on a truly cross‑project set of responsibilities. Specific duties are identified as follows:

• Owner of the Project Security Grading Guide(s) :
  • Internal/External Stakeholder agreement;
  • Document update / maintenance;
  • General advisor for queries and interpretation;
• Project Release Approvals Manager
  • Liaise with the Security Engineering team to determine, agree, and understand export Red Lines;
  • Manage the Project‑specific MoD Approval process for the release of information to 3rd parties (i.e. Export Customers / Suppliers) via liaison with appropriate internal and external stakeholders;
  • Support to export approval paperwork;
• Project Security Equipment Management
  • Coordinate the Project response to a centralised Secure Hardware Register and coordinate the Project application process;
• Formally act as the Project Security Representative as defined by Company Process
  • Continued liaison with the Security Operations Team on all security matters;
  • Act as the focal point with the MoD Customer Team on all security matters;
  • Production of the Project Security Questionnaire;
  • Coordinate production of the Project Security Plan;
  • Manage the progress of the Project against the Project Security Plan and any amendments to the Project Security Aspects Letter(s);
  • Production of the secure closure process upon completion of the project;
• Cross‑project Responsibilities
  • Informs the Security Engineering Department on potential cross‑project issues;
  • Records and disseminates best practice;
  • Identifies lessons learned from each Project, for future reference.

This role is an opportunity for an organised, technically mind