Vetting Officer

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 our departmental customers through a shared service approach.

This role is within the Personnel Security team, run by a Grade 6 Security Adviser for Physical and Personnel Security, manages vetting administration, including sponsoring, assessing and confirming clearances. The team also manages the Overseas service, and insider risk programme activities.

The team has a positive, welcoming, and inclusive culture, and we are looking for pro active and engaged team members to join us and help to deliver a high-quality security service to our department customers and partner organisations.

You will be a part of the Government Security Profession. There are a wide variety of roles, specialisms and career paths for Government Security Professionals who work throughout the Civil Service helping to protect the UK Government and our citizens both at home and overseas.

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

Person specification

The key responsibilities of this role are: -

• Facilitating the transfer of existing security clearances in coordination with UKSV and departmental process, primarily for staff joining the department who already hold NSV.
• Attend and support with internal security briefs alongside the Senior Personnel Security Manager, and Personnel Security Manager.
• Close management of the team’s multiple shared inboxes, working across all additional workstreams.
• Manage and maintain multiple trackers and databases, including data entry, data validation and data analysis.
• Continuous management of the team's SharePoint site holdings, ensure relevant content is filed and stored in accordance with internal policies, government security classifications, and data protection regulations.
• Support audits and implement corrective actions where necessary.
• Develop and maintain up to date desk instructions and process documents for the Vetting Administration Officer and Vetting Officer roles.
• Identify service issues and trends and raise to line manager and seniors as required.
  
• Undertake initial review of complex vetting cases where additional decision making is required, escalating as appropriate.
  
• Performing appropriate secondary duties across the Personnel Security Team, as the need arises by the management team, to maintain cross-functional security resilience and as part of your development.
  
• As part of the Department Security Unit, demonstrate leadership by modelling best security practices and promoting a strong security culture.
  
• As a member of the regional Personnel Security Team, you may be required to travel to other offices to participate in training sessions and team engagement activities.

Essential Criteria

We would love to hear from you if you have a genuine interest in security and improving departmental security culture.

Our ideal candidate will:

• Be an excellent communicator with a customer-focused approach, able to work within a small team
• Proven ability to work with high accuracy and attention to detail
• Experience in using MS Office
• Have a flexible, team player attitude, encouraging collaborative team and cross department working
• Experience in supporting colleagues in a team environment to achieve set objectives
  
• Experience of working under pressure handling multiple tasks and prioritising your own workload
• A willingness to undergo National Security Vetting in order to achieve SC, including ongoing adherence to the standards and behaviours expected of a clearance holder

Desirable Criteria

• Security experience and knowledge of vetting or supporting a vetting service would be useful, but not crucial, as we can offer the training you need. If you have not worked in a vetting role before but have strong administrative, organisational and other transferrable skills, you should still apply.
• A history of working in a customer-focussed environment
• A proven ability to deliver an ‘at volume’ service consistently and at pace
• An understanding of the principles of data protection and a strong commitment to confidentiality and discretion when handling sensitive personal or organisational data

Additional Information

Successful candidates must pass disclosure and barring security checks. If successful, you must also hold or be willing and able to obtain security clearance to SC level. You do not need to already hold SC to apply. We will sponsor you through the process but any offer will be conditional until SC is obtained.

Individuals applying for security clearance should usually have been continuously resident in the UK for the following periods immediately before the clearance is launched:

SC – 5 years
DV – 10 years

If you have spent more than six months resident outside the UK within these timeframes then you are still encouraged to apply. Eligibility for security clearances will be assessed on a case by case basis but in some instances, it may not be possible to take forward applications from those who do not meet residency requirements.

Note: If a large number of applications meet the minimum standard, an interview wait list may be created for this position. This means that if you have met the minimum requirements at sift you may be placed at a ‘Hold’ status for up to 12 months and if we are able to invite you to an interview we will be in touch.

Behaviours

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

• Managing a Quality Service
• Delivering at Pace

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

• Managing a Quality Service

Benefits

Alongside your salary of £30,940, Department for Energy Security & Net Zero contributes £8,963 towards you being a member of the Civil Service Defined Benefit Pension scheme. Find out what benefits a Civil Service Pension provides (opens in a new window).

The Department for Energy Security and Net Zero offers a competitive mix of benefits i