Senior Personnel Security Leader — Insider Risk & Vetting

Pertemps; Reading; On-site; GBP 56,000 - 75,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Car Allowance

Pension (Contributory)

Annual Leave 26–30 days

Medical Assessments

Job summary

Thames Water is seeking a strategic Personnel Security Manager to shape and mature the organisation's personnel security; you will oversee screening, vetting, insider risk, and governance across the business. Reporting to Head of Protective Security, you will lead a high-performing team.

You will collaborate with HR, Legal, Procurement, Cyber Security and Operations to embed security into processes, drive continuous improvement, and ensure compliance with NSV/Security Check requirements.

Qualifications

• Significant experience within Personnel Security, Insider Risk, Protective Security or a related discipline, ideally within a complex, regulated or Critical National Infrastructure environment.
• Proven leadership experience with a strong track record of developing specialist security capabilities, setting strategic direction, and effectively managing personnel security risks across employees, contractors, third parties, and supply chains.

Responsibilities

• Lead and deliver Thames Water’s Personnel Security strategy, operating model, and improvement roadmap, ensuring alignment with organisational risk and regulatory requirements.
• Build, lead, and develop a high-performing Personnel Security function, strengthening capability across Thames Water and its supply chain.
• Manage insider and people-related security risks through effective screening, vetting, workforce trustworthiness, access governance, and personnel lifecycle controls.
• Drive continuous improvement by implementing robust governance, assurance, and performance frameworks based on industry best practice.
• Partner with senior stakeholders across HR, Legal, Procurement, Cyber Security, Operations, and Risk to embed personnel security into key business processes.
• Act as the organisation’s subject matter expert for Personnel Security, leading security culture initiatives, managing complex security incidents, and maintaining relationships with external regulatory, law enforcement, and government partners.

Skills

Strategic leadership

Personnel security

Screening and vetting

Governance and assurance

Insider risk management

Stakeholder engagement

Education

Relevant security qualification

Tools

NSV/SC clearance knowledge

Job description

Thames Water is seeking a strategic Personnel Security Manager to shape and mature the organisation's personnel security; you will oversee screening, vetting, insider risk, and governance across the business. Reporting to Head of Protective Security, you will lead a high-performing team.

You will collaborate with HR, Legal, Procurement, Cyber Security and Operations to embed security into processes, drive continuous improvement, and ensure compliance with NSV/Security Check requirements.