Physical Security Assurance Manager

Job summary

The Integrated Corporate Services (ICS) is a shared corporate service. It provides corporate services (HR, Finance, Digital, Commercial, Security and Estates) across the Department for Energy Security & Net Zero (DESNZ) and the Department for Science, Innovation & Technology (DSIT).

Our team of over 400 professionals will be leading the way in how these functions will be delivered in the future. Our ambition is to be the leading provider of integrated corporate services for government and set the standard for quality, efficiency, and innovation in our field.

We offer great working benefits including a world-class pension, flexible working options and a career where your learning and development is taken seriously. We are enormously proud to be a Disability Confident Leader employer. We support candidates with adjustments throughout our recruitment process. Information about disability confidence and just some examples of the adjustments that you can request can be found in the reasonable adjustment section below.

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Job description

This role is based within the Integrated Corporate Services (ICS) Departmental Security Unit (DSU), which delivers protective security and business continuity support and assurance to both the Department of Energy Security and Net Zero (DESNZ) and the Department for Science, Innovation and Technology (DSIT) through a shared service approach.

This role is within the Physical Security team within the department security unit (DSU). Our unit is responsible for all aspects of the physical, information, IT and personnel security, as well as resilience. The role within the physical team, run by a Grade 6 Security Adviser for Physical and Personnel Security, will be mainly focused on assuring the physical security measures across our national estate.

We are seeking a proactive, well-organised, and flexible Physical Security professional to maintain the management, maturation and continuous improvement of the Physical Security assurance programme. As Physical Security Assurance lead, you will be responsible for the team’s assurance activities including risk recording and reporting. You will also need to develop and maintain strong working relationships with our landlords and stakeholders.

You will also oversee the ICS GovPass service, ensuring a robust service for our customers within pre-agreed timeframes, whilst seeking opportunities for continuous improvement of the operational processes.

Please contact the vacancy holder if you would like to discuss this role in further detail.

Person specification

Key Responsibilities

• Managing the security assurance programme across the DESNZ and DSIT national estate. This involves working closely with key stakeholders such as Estates, Government Property Agency (GPA), and Private Landlords to maintain an appropriate level of security for each building. This will require semi-regular travel throughout the estate.
• Monitoring and analysing threats to the physical security of the national estate, collaborating with landlords and colleagues to ensure effective information sharing and incident response.
• Engaging stakeholders in mitigations where security risks are identified.
• Maintaining programme management documentation for the estate such as risk registers, action logs, threat tooling, security assessments and remediation reports.
• Working closely with other DSU teams and stakeholders on national estate security projects such as access control changes and secure services
• Supporting the DSU in providing up-to-date physical security information to the departments and Partner Organisations on a monthly basis.
• Drive customer compliance with relevant regulation and legislation, working closely with the DSU Culture lead to provide accurate guidance to customers.
• Undertake security incident management responsibilities, including issuing physical security incident response communications to stakeholders, assuring stakeholders’ incident management plans in the estate, and supporting the DSU workstream to centralise incident management as a DSU service.
• Performing appropriate secondary duties as the need arises by the management team to maintain cross-functional security resilience and as part of your development.
• Line Manage 1 x HEO, overseeing the performance of the ICS GovPass Service.
• Undertake physical security onboarding activity of new buildings, communicating progress to the ICS Onboarding Manager and the Security Adviser.
• Be a point of contact for Department business and individuals seeking advice on physical security mitigation methods.
  
• Provide Security Duty Office cover for the Department (about 1 week in every 8).
• Be a role model for the security community, modelling Civil Service values to champion and develop the profession across government.
  

Skills and Experience

• show knowledge of protective security principles and operational experience of working in a security environment.
• building effective relationships, engage and negotiate with key stakeholders and staff at all levels of seniority, ensuring that security risks and actions are adequately promoted and considered
• capacity and capability to apply good judgement and respond to sophisticated, dynamic situations.
• having flexible, team player attitude, encouraging collaborative team and cross-department working and can work within a small but robust team.
• utilising an analytical approach, having a strong eye for detail and the ability to identify areas for improvement and suggest solutions.
• delivering in a fast-paced environment, with the ability to prioritise by risk to deliver security to standard, acting promptly to meet targets and maintain performance.
  It would also be beneficial if you demonstrate any of the following skills or experience:
• Project or programme management experience.

As a line manager, you will be responsible for working with your members of staff to define their objectives, as well as managing their development and performance.

Essential criteria

• Experience in planning and delivering protective physical security (ideally from working in a central government organisation, large corporation, the armed forces, police or as part of a commercial security company) as well as a desire to keep learning.
• Experience of contractual or service level agreements and acting as an intelligent customer.
• Experience in risk management and using data to inform decisions.
• Ability to work at pace and adapt quickly to changing priorities and customer needs.
• Excellent communication skills, with the ability to explain timelines, risks and requirements clearly to both technical and non-technical audiences.

Desirable criteria

• Professional accreditation (e.g., MSyI, FSyI, CSyP), or willingness to work toward this.
• Level 4 Protective Security Apprenticeship.
• Demonstrable interest or experience in using PowerBI or reporting software to improve processes or productivity.

Behaviours

We'll assess you against these behaviours during the selection process:

• Making Effective Decisions
• Communicating and Influencing
• Delivering at Pace

We only ask for evidence of these behaviours on your application form:

• Making Effective Decisions

Benefits