Protective Security Specialist - Martyn's Law

Job summary

The SIA is an executive non-departmental public body sponsored by the Home Office, set up in 2004 to regulate certain activities in the private security industry. Currently, we employ nearly 400 members of staff. We are operationally independent of government.

We are now preparing to take on new responsibilities as the regulator of Martyn’s Law - named after Martyn Hett, one of the 22 people who tragically died on 22 May 2017 in the terrorist attack on Manchester Arena. Martyn’s Law, introduced by the Terrorism (Protection of Premises) Act 2025, is intended to improve protective security and preparedness at premises and events across the UK.

The new Act will require premises in scope to be prepared to keep people safe in the event of an attack. Certain larger premises and events will also need to take steps to reduce their vulnerability to acts of terrorism.

Martyn’s Law is primarily a civil, regulatory regime. We will regulate supportively and proportionately but robustly. The SIA will have new guidance, investigatory and inspection functions and a range of new powers and sanctions. Our new Martyn’s Law functions will sit alongside and complement our existing responsibility for regulating the private security industry.

Job description

Use your expertise to help shape a new era of public protection.

This is a unique opportunity to apply your protective security expertise where it can make a real difference to public safety. As a Protective Security Specialist within the Martyn’s Law Regulator’s Inspections and Enforcement function, you will play a key role in supporting the implementation of the Terrorism (Protection of Premises) Act 2025 (Martyn’s Law) across the UK.

As a lead subject matter expert, you will provide authoritative specialist advice to inspection and assessment teams undertaking Terrorism Protection investigations. You’ll help ensure regulatory decisions are proportionate, consistent, evidence-based and informed by current protective security standards, emerging threats and best practice.

You’ll provide expert advice on complex and high-risk cases, assess the appropriateness and effectiveness of protective security measures, and identify both areas of regulatory concern and examples of good practice. You’ll also contribute to thematic reviews, investigations, inspection frameworks, technical quality assurance, guidance and staff training.

The role offers significant opportunity to influence how the regulator develops its protective security capability. You’ll advise senior leaders on emerging security developments, mentor inspectors and assessors, and help strengthen organisational understanding of protective security risk.

Building strong partnerships will be central to your success. You’ll work with NaCTSO, NPSA, policing and counter terrorism agencies, local authorities, regulators, government departments and sector security leads, representing the regulator at external forums, briefings and conferences.

We’re looking for someone with significant protective security experience, ideally including counter terrorism and/or security risk management, and a proven ability to provide specialist advice within operational, inspection, audit or regulatory environments. You’ll have strong knowledge of physical, personnel and operational security, protective security risk management, counter terrorism measures, and security governance and assurance.

A recognised protective security qualification is required, or equivalent professional experience.

If you’re a credible expert with sound judgement, strategic thinking and the confidence to influence senior stakeholders, this is an opportunity to put your expertise at the heart of protecting the public and shaping the future of Martyn’s Law regulation.

Person specification

Essential

• Significant experience in protective security

• Experience providing specialist advice to operational, inspection, audit or regulatory teams.

• Experience of interpreting security requirements and applying them in complex environments.

• Experience of producing technical guidance on protective security measures.

• Experience of engaging with senior stakeholders and external partners as a subject matter expert.

• Detailed knowledge of:

- Physical, personnel and operational security

- Protective security risk management

- Counter terrorism protective security measures

- Security governance and assurance

- Authoritative guidance produced by government departments and protective security partners.

• Excellent analytical and judgment skills.

• Ability to challenge constructively and support robust decision making.

• Excellent communication and influencing skills, able to build effective and enduring relationships at senior levels with a range of stakeholders and partners and act with credibility at senior levels internally and externally.

• Strong organisational and time-management skills, with experience delivering work effectively within time pressured or high demand environments.

• Demonstrateexcellent understanding of operational risk and prioritisation.

Desirable

• Significant experience in counter terrorism and/or security risk management.

• Qualified in Counter Terrorism Security Management to LCGI Level 4 or GCGI level 6 or equivalent.

• Experience of manging the coordination of work across teams and contributing to the delivery of shared objectives within a collaborative environment.

• A flexible attitude to working hours with the ability to adapt to changing demands.

Benefits

Alongside your salary of £49,251, Security Industry Authority contributes £14,268 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).

• A welcoming and innovative work environment.

• Continued support and development opportunities.

• Access to training for attainment of recognised qualifications.

• Flexible working arrangements.

• Annual leave entitlement will be 27.5 days, rising by one additional day for every two years of service up to a maximum of 32.5 days.

• A variety of discounts including Gymflex.

• Civil Service Pension Scheme – employee contribution between 4.60% and 7.35% and employer contribution between 26.60% and 30.30%.

Things you need to know

Artificial intelligence

Artificial intelligence can be a useful tool to support your application, however, all examples and statements provided must be truthful, factually accurate and taken directly from your own experience. Where plagiarism has been identified (presenting the ideas and experiences of others, or generated by artificial intelligence, as your own) applications may be withdrawn and internal candidates may be subject to disciplinary action. Please see our