Project Security Service Lead

Job summary

Are you an experienced security professional looking to influence high-profile science, technology and defence projects? Dstl is seeking a Project Security Service Lead to drive security assurance across our diverse project portfolio and help deliver critical capabilities safely and securely.

As a senior member of the Operational Security Team, you will provide expert security leadership, ensuring security risks are identified, managed and embedded throughout the project lifecycle. You will work closely with project teams, senior leaders and key defence stakeholders to enable secure delivery while supporting innovation and operational success.

Dstl recognises the importance of diversity and inclusion as people from diverse backgrounds bring fresh ideas. We are committed to building an inclusive working environment in which each employee fulfils their potential and maximises their contribution.

Job description

What you'll be doing

• Leading the delivery of project security advice, assurance and governance across Dstl programmes and projects.
• Providing expert guidance on security risk management, supply chain security and third-party assurance.
• Working with internal and external stakeholders to ensure compliance with defence and government security standards.
• Coordinating specialist security expertise across cyber, physical, personnel and operational security disciplines.
• Supporting projects from inception through to transition into business-as-usual operations.
• Driving continuous improvement of security policies, processes and assurance activities.
• Coaching and mentoring colleagues, helping to build security capability across the organisation.

Person specification

What we're looking for

We're interested in candidates who can demonstrate:

• Experience providing security advice and assurance within defence, government or another highly regulated environment.
• Strong knowledge of security risk management and assurance frameworks.
• The ability to assess complex risks and provide practical, proportionate solutions.
• Experience working with multiple stakeholders and influencing decision-making at a senior level.
• Understanding of key security disciplines, including supply chain, cyber, physical and personnel security.
• Excellent communication, leadership and relationship-building skills.

Why join Dstl?

This is an opportunity to play a key role in protecting nationally important science and technology programmes while helping shape the future of security across Dstl. You'll work with a wide range of experts, influence strategic decisions and contribute to projects that have real impact on UK defence and security.

If you're passionate about enabling secure delivery, leading through expertise and making a difference, we'd love to hear from you.

Important Information

Our work in defence, security and intelligence requires our employees to be UK Nationals who are able to gain a high level of security clearance to undertake the projects we are involved in to protect us from security threats. For this reason, only UK Nationals will be able to apply for this role. If you are an international or dual-national candidate, and you think you have the skills we need, please consider applying to any of our government, security or defence partners.

This role will require full UK security clearance and you should have resided in the UK for the past 5 years. For some roles Developed Vetting will also be required, in this case you should have resided in the UK for the past 10 years.

Qualifications

Evidence of good standard of general education e.g. GCSEs or equivalent including English and Mathematics at Grade C or above.

Behaviours

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

• Leadership
• Making Effective Decisions
• Seeing the Big Picture
• Communicating and Influencing

Technical skills

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

• Please describe your experience of leading and decision making relating to Security and Resilience, in the civil or defence context.

Benefits

Alongside your salary of £51,568, Defence Science and Technology Laboratory contributes £14,939 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).

Benefits

Dstl’s full range of great benefits can be found in the information pack which includes:

• Financial: An excellent pension scheme starting from 26% employer contribution (find out more here). In Year Rewarding Achievement bonuses and thank you vouchers. Rental deposit scheme and cycle to work scheme.

• Flexible working: Options include alternative working patterns such as; compressed hours, job shares and annualised hours (agreed number of hours per annum paid monthly i.e. working term-time only).

• Working hours: Flexibility around your working day (e.g. start time, finish time). Ability to bank hours in a 12 month reference period including the ability to accrue and use 3 days per calendar month.

• Where you work: Depending on your role, blended working may be available including remote working to suit you and your team. This can be discussed at interview.

• Annual leave: 25 days pro rata (rising to 30 after 5 years) plus 8 public holidays with the ability to buy/sell 5 additional days per annum.

• Family: Maternity, adoption or shared parental leave of up to 26 weeks with full pay, an additional 13 weeks statutory pay and a further 13 weeks unpaid

• Learning and Development: Dstl encourages and supports charterships, accreditations and provides employees access to fully funded apprenticeships up to level 7 (Masters Degree). Dstl will pay for 2 memberships with relevant bodies/institutions. Employees also have access to Civil Service Learning.

• Facilities: Onsite parking, EV Charging points, restaurants, cafés and gyms.

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 candidate guidance (opens in a new window) for more information on appropriate and inappropriate use.

Selection process details

This vacancy is using Success Profiles (opens in a new window), and will assess your Behaviours, Experience and Technical skills.<