Security and Estates Lead

National Physical Laboratory; Metropolitan Borough of Solihull; Hybrid; GBP 62,000; Part time

Job summary

A leading research institution in the UK is seeking a Security and Estates Lead. The role focuses on safeguarding facilities and managing security standards, requiring strong experience in physical security and excellent organisational skills. Candidates must have relevant qualifications and be willing to commute to Birmingham. The position offers part-time and flexible working options, along with a commitment to diversity and inclusion, and a variety of industry-leading benefits.

Benefits

Enhanced pension scheme

Flexible working

Above-industry standard benefits

Qualifications

• Experience in physical security design and data centre security.
• Strong organisational skills and ability to manage competing priorities.
• Membership of a relevant professional body.

Responsibilities

• Oversee all security and estates matters at the facility.
• Maintain compliance with security standards.
• Develop operational procedures to address security gaps.
• Respond to out-of-hours incidents.

Skills

Experience in physical security design

Organisational skills

Ability to manage competing priorities

Discretion and integrity

Adaptability

Education

Vocational qualification such as CSMP or ASIS CPP

Membership of a relevant professional body

Job description

Solihull £61,552 per year - estimated ? Part time NEW

Overview

As a Security and Estates Lead within the UKTL Team, you'll play a critical role in safeguarding our people, facilities, and reputation. You will lead on physical and personnel security, ensuring our security posture remains proportionate to risk and aligned with government standards, and you will also be responsible for managing our site, facilities, and health and safety. This is a hands‑on role where you'll design, implement, and oversee security measures across a complex environment, including secure facilities and data centre operations.

You will be the go‑to expert for all security and estates matters, working closely with leadership and collaborating with cyber security colleagues to deliver a holistic approach to risk management.

Key Responsibilities

• Overall responsibility for all security and estates matters at the UKTL facility.
• Maintain and promote a strong security culture.
• Oversee physical security standards, ensuring compliance with DSIT and accreditation requirements.
• Plan and conduct internal security audits, identifying gaps and recommending improvements.
• Partner with the Cyber Security team to deliver integrated risk management.
• Lead investigations into vulnerabilities or procedural failings and report findings.
• Build strong relationships with internal teams, contractors, and government agencies.
• Develop operational procedures to address security gaps and support compliance.
• Responsible for maintaining all aspects of our secure site, including IT facilities and managing facilities contracts.
• Monitor emerging threats and provide intelligence to inform risk strategies.
• Respond to out‑of‑hours incidents and perform key holder duties.
• Manage security aspects of data centre facilities, ensuring resilience and continuity of operations.
• The post holder will be responsible for out‑of‑hours incident response and key holder duties and therefore must be located no more than one hour commute of the Facility.

Successful Applicants must be able to commute to the UKTL offices in Birmingham at least twice a week. We strive to offer a great work-life balance – if you are looking for full time, part time or flexible options, we will try to make this work where business possible, depending on the kind of role you do and part of the business you work in.

Essential Skills & Attributes

• Experience in physical security design and implementation, including data centre security.
• Ability to balance business needs with security and health and safety requirements.
• Strong organisational skills and ability to manage competing priorities.
• Membership of a relevant professional body (e.g., DISA, Security Institute).
• Vocational qualification such as CSMP or ASIS CPP.
• Discretion, integrity, and sensitivity in handling confidential matters.
• Adaptable, proactive, and able to work autonomously.

Applications will be reviewed, and interviews conducted throughout the duration of this advert; therefore we may at any time bring the closing date forward. We encourage all interested applicants to apply as soon as practical.

To work in this role, you will need to have an DV clearance with no restrictions, or you must have the ability to obtain an DV clearance.

Diversity & Inclusion

NPL and DSIT have strong commitments to diversity and equality of opportunity, and welcome applications from candidates irrespective of their background, gender, race, sexual orientation, religion, or age, providing they meet the required criteria. Applications from women, disabled and black, Asian and minority ethnic candidates in particular are encouraged. All disabled candidates (as defined by the Equality Act 2010) who satisfy the minimum criteria for the role will be guaranteed an interview under the Disability Confident Scheme. We offer a wealth of above-industry standard benefits, such as enhanced pension scheme, flexible working, and more.

Benefits

Our values are at the heart of what we do, and they shape the way we interact, develop our people and celebrate success. We are always willing to make reasonable adjustments to the recruitment process.