Security Operations Lead

Defence Equipment & Support; Beith; On-site; GBP 45,000; Full time

Job summary

A government agency in the UK is looking for a Security Operations Lead to manage security across its Defence Munitions sites. This role involves overseeing security operations, planning for emergencies, and ensuring compliance with security regulations. The ideal candidate will have leadership experience, a strong background in risk management, and a valid driving license for travel. Benefits include 25+ days’ holiday, flexible working options, and a market-leading pension contribution.

Benefits

25 days’ annual leave

Flexible and hybrid working options

Market-leading employer pension contribution

Annual performance-based bonus

Access to specialist training

Qualifications

• Previous experience in Security Operations.
• Experience in a leadership role delivering effective outcomes.
• Demonstrable experience managing risk and security governance.
• Valid driving license for travel across the UK.

Responsibilities

• Manage security risks across Defence Munitions sites.
• Plan and respond to security incidents.
• Ensure compliance with security regulations.
• Conduct assurance of site security measures.
• Maintain relationships with Policing and Guarding providers.

Skills

Leadership skills

Risk management

Stakeholder management

Communication skills

Education

Establishment Security Officer course or willingness to obtain

Job description

Job Details

Organisation: Defence Equipment & Support Salary: £44,100 per annum (plus generous benefits) Grade: Professional II (PII) Working Pattern: Full time, Flexible Working Contract Type: Permanent

About Defence Equipment & Support

At Defence Equipment & Support (DE&S), we supply and maintain vital equipment and services for the Royal Navy, British Army, and Royal Air Force. Together, we deliver a vast range of essential defence programmes and strive for what’s next. Because it helps keep our military at the top of their game and our nation safe – for today, and tomorrow.

We offer 25+ days’ holiday, flexible and hybrid working, enhanced parental leave schemes, shopping discounts, and an exceptional employer pension contribution of 28.97%, to help make work work for you.

Eligibility and Nationality

Nationality, visas, and vetting: For security reasons this role is open to Sole UK nationals only. A ‘sole UK national’ refers to an individual who holds citizenship solely in the UK, without dual citizenship or nationality from another country. We’re unable to offer visa sponsorship.

SC clearance: This role requires you to have lived in the UK for the last 5 years and obtain Security Check (SC) security clearance. Clearance must be obtained without any caveats ... Any conditional offer made to you will be withdrawn. Obtaining SC security clearance can be a lengthy process, and we reserve the right to withdraw any conditional offer made if the necessary security clearance isn’t obtained within 12 months.

Job Description

• DM Beith, Beith, Ayrshire KA15 1JT
• DM Gosport, Gosport, Hampshire PO13 0AH
• DM Kineton, Kineton, Warwickshire CV47 2UL
• DM Longtown, Carlisle, Cumbria CA6 5LX
• DM Plymouth, Ernesettle Lane, Plymouth, Devon, PL5 2TX
• DM Crombie, Nr Dunfermline, Fife, KY12 8LA
• DM Glen Douglas, Glen Douglas Road, Arrochar, Argyll and Bute, G83 7AZ

Defence Equipment and Support (DE&S) are recruiting for a Security Operations Lead to support security operations across our Defence Munitions (DM) sites. This is an exciting opportunity to play a key role in safeguarding complex, high-risk environments that directly support UK defence capability.

As a Security Operations Lead, you will ensure an effective and proportionate security posture across sites, facilities, estates and operational teams. You will lead and influence physical security operations, maintaining preparedness for security incidents and events, and ensuring risks are identified, managed and mitigated appropriately.

You will have confident leadership skills gained from a security operations environment, with experience in resilience, risk management, assurance and governance. Working closely with a wide range of stakeholders, you will provide clear and practical security advice and contribute to the development and implementation of security policies and procedures.

Having experience of working in an Explosives Environment would be beneficial as would familiarity with the National Protective Security Authority (NPSA) Foundation and Operational Requirements Process.

Please note the role requires regular travel to visit DM sites across the UK.

We champion flexible ways of working. Regular in-person attendance at your base site is required (this is expected to be approximately 60% / 3 days of your working week) to promote the benefits of face-to-face collaboration alongside flexibility of hours to support work-life balance and business need. Initially, you may be expected to attend more frequently to familiarise yourselves with the site, the team, and your role.

What you’ll be doing

• Managing security risks by overseeing Physical Security operations appropriate to the Weapons, Ordnance, Munitions and Explosives (WOME) setting and the deployment of security measures to effectively protect assets, (information, people, buildings and equipment) throughout the estate.
• Planning, testing, and responding to security/emergency incidents.
• Conducting assurance of all risks pertaining to site/facility/estate security, providing evidence-based risk mitigations to decision-makers.
• Ensuring compliance with relevant regulation and legislation, providing site/facility/estate level guidance on the implementation of these through site security instructions or orders.
• Assuring the implementation of effective security governance, guidance, education and training for all staff across the site/facility/estate.
• Maintaining effective strategic relationships with Policing and Guarding providers, including external Home Office Police Forces.

Person specification

• Lead Essential Criteria - Previous experience of working within Security Operations.
• Experience in a leadership role and delivering effective outcomes.
• Demonstrable experience managing risk and security governance.
• Demonstrable experience managing stakeholder relationships and influencing decisions.
• Evidence of using written verbal communications skills.
• Hold or be willing to attain the Establishment Security Officer course in the first six months of employment, with the assistance of DE&S.
• Hold a valid Driving license to travel to sites across the UK.

In addition to the responsibilities above, the following technical competences and behaviours will be assessed at interview:

• Core Behaviour 1: Leadership – CSBC3
• Core Behaviour 2: Communicating and influencing – CSBC3
• Technical Competence 1: Risk Understanding and Mitigation – Practitioner level
• Technical Competence 2: Protective Security -Supervised Practitioner level

Offered benefits

• 25 days’ annual leave +1 day a year up to 30 days, 8 bank holidays and a day off for the King’s birthday
• Flexible and hybrid working options
• Market-leading average employer pension contribution of 28.97%
• Annual performance-based bonus and recognition awards
• Access to specialist training and funded qualifications
• Support for progression
• Huge range of discounts
• Volunteering days
• Enhanced parental leave schemes

Further Information

• Recruitment Principles - Civil Service Commission https://bit.ly/DES-Candidate-Information-Pack
• Candidate Information Pack https://bit.ly/DES-Candidate-Information-Pack
• Terms and Conditions https://bit.ly/DES-Terms-and-Conditions
• Civil Service Code The Code - Civil Service Commission https://bit.ly/DES-Civil-Service-Code

Privacy Notice

Any personal data that you provide during the Recruitment process will be treated in accordance with the MOD Privacy Notice which can be accessed here https://bit.ly/mod-privacy-notice

Disability Confident

Please note as a Disability Confident Leader we want to ensure you receive any reasonable adjustments that you need throughout the recruitment process. If you do require any reasonable adjustments, you can let us know on your online application under the section ‘Please indicate and give details of any reasonable adjustments you may require during the recruitment process.’

Conflicts of Interest

The Ministry of Defence requires all candidates who are successful at interview to declare any outside interests. These declarations will be discussed with successful candidates following the interview process and before a formal offer of employment is made, as some outside interests may not be compatible with MOD civilian roles. This will not, in the majority of cases, prevent employment in MOD, but it is a measure that must be taken to ensure that appropriate mitigations can be put in place to manage any potential, perceived or actual conflicts of interest from the first day of employment.

Selection Process Details

Your application will go through the following stages of assessment:

1. Pre-sift - We will check that you meet any essential or eligibility criteria that are listed in the Person Specification section of this advert. On your CV, please clearly show how you meet the essential criteria.
2. Sift - Your CV will be assessed against the following categories, using a simple numerical scoring system: Key Achievements; Relevant Experience; Applied Knowledge and Skills.
3. Interview - If you're invited to interview, you'll be assessed against the Sift categories listed above, as well as the Technical Competences and Behaviours listed in the Person Specification section of this advert.

In the event of a tied score at interview, the Order of Merit will be distinguished based on the ranking of the assessed behaviours and competencies below:

• 1st: Core Behaviour 1
• 2nd: Core Behaviour 2
• 3rd: Technical Competencies
• 4th: CV Review

In the event of a further tie using the method above, we reserve the right to use the Lead criterion, and/or an additional assessment. Feedback will only be provided if you attend an interview.

If you feel that your application has not been treated in accordance with the Recruitment Principles and you wish to make a complaint, in the first instance you should contact department via email: [e-mail]. If you are not satisfied with the response you receive from the Department, you can contact the Civil Service Commission: Recruitment Complaints - Civil Service Commission