Protective Security Risk Lead — Hybrid (Reading)

Pertemps Thames Water; Reading; Hybrid; GBP 42,000 - 53,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

26 days holiday (typical)

Pension plan

Performance pay

Job summary

Pertemps Thames Water in Reading is looking for an experienced Protective Security Risk Lead to assess threats and vulnerabilities, develop risk treatments, and advise stakeholders across the business. The role emphasizes turning complex risk information into practical actions that safeguard people, assets and operations.

The ideal candidate brings strong analytical and communication skills, with experience in risk management within regulated environments and familiarity with protective security

Qualifications

• Experience working within a regulated or Protective Security environment, with practical risk management experience.
• Proven ability to conduct risk assessments, maintain risk registers, develop KRIs and implement risk and control frameworks.
• Strong understanding of risk management principles, including threats, vulnerabilities and potential impacts.
• Excellent analytical, organisational and communication skills, with the ability to manage changing priorities and deadlines.
• Confident building relationships and influencing stakeholders, including presenting complex information to senior leaders.
• Strong working knowledge of Microsoft Office, including Word, Excel, PowerPoint, SharePoint, Forms and Power BI.
• Experience developing and managing risk assessment schedules and supporting continuous improvement.
• Experience within Critical National Infrastructure (CNI) or the water industry and project management experience would be advantageous.
• A relevant Risk Management and/or Security qualification would also be desirable.

Responsibilities

• Lead Protective Security risk assessments, using threat and vulnerability information to identify risks and recommend appropriate treatments.
• Act as a trusted Protective Security subject matter expert, providing specialist advice and guidance to stakeholders while embedding Protective Security risk management into business processes, decision‑making and organisational activities.
• Define, maintain and communicate security risk tolerances and appetite, ensuring alignment with wider enterprise risk thinking.
• Develop and continually improve the Protective Security Risk Management and Control frameworks, ensuring risks, gaps and vulnerabilities are effectively identified and managed.
• Maintain risk registers and Key Risk Indicators (KRIs), identifying emerging security risks and providing clear, up‑to‑date reporting.
• Produce and present clear risk reports, briefings and presentations for a range of stakeholders, turning complex information into actionable insights.
• Lead Protective Security governance and assurance, ensuring risk actions are tracked, monitored and reported, while supporting reviews of security policies and standards.
• Develop and maintain a robust risk assessment schedule, ensuring security risks are regularly reviewed and clearly understood across the business.

Skills

Risk management

Risk assessments

KRIs

Stakeholder engagement

Analytical thinking

Communication

Regulated environment

CNI/water industry

Tools

Word

Excel

PowerPoint

SharePoint

Forms

Power BI

Job description

Pertemps Thames Water in Reading is looking for an experienced Protective Security Risk Lead to assess threats and vulnerabilities, develop risk treatments, and advise stakeholders across the business. The role emphasizes turning complex risk information into practical actions that safeguard people, assets and operations.

The ideal candidate brings strong analytical and communication skills, with experience in risk management within regulated environments and familiarity with protective security