About the job
Positions: 1
Band / Grade: A1
Salary: £68,900 – £81,879 per annum.
Contract Type: Permanent
Working Pattern: Full Time
Location: Hybrid (on-site and remote)
Leave entitlement: Starting at 30 days per annum, pro-rata
Closing Date: 31st March 2025 at 23:55
Interview Date(s): Week Beginning 14th April 2025
UK Parliament
Working at the UK Parliament offers a unique and rewarding career at the heart of the UK’s democratic system.
With a wide range of roles available, our impartial colleagues enable the day to day running of the House of Commons, House of Lords and Joint Departments. Together, we make Parliament happen.
Staff Benefits
In addition to your salary, we offer an attractive range of benefits including:
* 30 days’ annual leave (increasing to 35 days after first full leave year).
* Civil Service pension with an average employer contribution of 28.97%.
* Access to training and development.
* Flexible working.
* Interest free season ticket loan and bicycle loan.
Introduction
The Parliamentary Security Department (PSD) is responsible for physical and personnel security across both Houses of Parliament and provides support to Members and staff when away from the Estate.
PSD sets security strategy, provides expert advice and delivers an operational service. It does this in partnership with the Metropolitan Police Service (MPS) and by working closely with many teams across Parliament.
The Role
The Head of Personnel Security Strategy is a new post being created to establish a programme of work to make our personnel security measures more effective against the range of security risks faced by Parliament. This is a senior leadership role in the Parliamentary Security Department. The post holder will manage a team of three personnel security officers, providing a real opportunity to develop work in this area.
The post-holder will own the policy framework that we use to shape personnel security procedures in Parliament. A comprehensive review of existing policies is needed, and they will have the opportunity to set the future direction of our personnel security work through the review. An early priority for the Head of Personnel Security Strategy will be to identify insider risk vulnerabilities and develop mitigations to help us spot and stop insider activity.
Working closely with technical and physical security leads in PSD, the post holder will lead the design of a bespoke set of measures and mitigations that will have the greatest impact in reducing insider risk. They will engage with a wide range of stakeholders, with different priorities and responsibilities to ensure that these measures are compatible with, and support, the business of Parliament. The post-holder will also be responsible for reviewing, improving and delivering the vetting appeals process, to ensure that appeal cases are managed appropriately and in a timely fashion when it is necessary to withdraw security clearance.
This role requires DV clearance.
Responsibilities
* Establishing a programme of work to identify and mitigate insider risk.
* Establishing robust processes and overseeing vetting appeals.
* Overseeing the review of existing personnel security policies to ensure they are fit for purpose and provide a robust basis for personnel security measures in Parliament.
* Building a new team of three personnel security officers to assist with the delivery of the above functions, ensuring a positive culture is fostered and maintained.
* Playing an active part in the Personnel Security Working Group, using the group as an opportunity to build networks across other parts of the House and gain consensus on Personnel Security matters.
Skills And Experience
To be successful in this role you will demonstrate:
Personnel Security Expertise
* Deep understanding of personnel security measures and processes and experience of implementing and embedding them in an organisation.
* Strong understanding of vetting and appeal processes.
* Experience of working with NPSA (the national technical authority), UKSV and with other governmental personnel security specialists, to understand best practice.
Planning and Delivering
* Experience of delivering a programme of work to manage insider risk in an organisation, specifically: designing and delivering appropriate mitigations; and ensuring the programme is underpinned by a personnel security policy framework.
Relationship Building and Stakeholder Management
* Excellent stakeholder management skills, and ability to develop understanding of partner requirements, ways of working and priorities.
* Strong relationship-building skills and ability to influence and persuade colleagues at all levels.
* Ability to work as part of a senior leadership team to negotiate a shared approach and lead change.
People Management and Inclusive Leadership
* Ability to lead a team, develop colleagues and build a team culture rooted in the House of Commons values.
* Experience of working with diverse groups of people, and an ability to lead, manage, develop, and motivate teams to deliver high quality services and sustainable change, whilst upholding the principles of diversity, equality and inclusion, ensuring that everyone is, at all times, treated with dignity, courtesy and respect.
Communication
* Excellent oral and written communication skills, ability to listen to and assimilate a range of inputs and views to shape a proposal.
* Ability to draft clear and accurate papers and proposals effectively. Can interpret and explain complex issues to a lay audience.
Analytical Skills
* Strong analytical skills to evaluate the impact of personnel security interventions, adjusting in response, in order to achieve continuous improvement of security at Parliament.
Next Steps And Additional Information
Application Form – If you would like to apply for this role, please submit an application providing evidence against criteria 1, 2 and 4 in the Job Description.
More information on the application process can be found here: Application process – UK Parliament
More information on the role and the full criteria can be found in the Job Description.
Please note that most job offers will be made at the minimum of the salary range, other than in exceptional circumstances.
As part of the selection process, you may be required to give a presentation at the interview stage. Further information will be provided to shortlisted candidates.
Please ensure that you anonymise your application by removing any identifiable factors from your CV or Supporting Statement.
We may close the vacancy prior to the closing date stated due to a high volume of applications.
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