Security Advisor

Job summary

Looking for a role that offers variety, challenge, and the opportunity to make a real impact?

As a Security Advisor within Dstl's Compartmented Assurance and Governance Cell (CAGC), you'll help protect some of the UK's most sensitive information, cutting-edge science, and critical capabilities. Working as part of the Enterprise Security Team, you'll support security assurance activities, maintain key security records, and provide expert advice to help ensure Dstl remains secure, compliant, and able to operate effectively.

You'll collaborate with a wide range of stakeholders across Dstl and external organisations, helping to build a positive security culture while supporting essential business operations.

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

• Supporting security assurance activities and maintaining critical security records.
• Monitoring compliance activities, audits, and remediation actions.
• Working with stakeholders to develop and deliver security assurance plans.
• Providing practical, evidence-based security advice to customers and colleagues.
• Supporting specialist clearance processes and validation activities.
• Helping to minimise security risks across Dstl sites.
• Maintaining databases, inboxes, and filing systems to ensure accurate and accessible information.
• Building strong working relationships to support secure and compliant delivery.

Person specification

What We're Looking For

• Experience in an administrative or support role with strong attention to detail.
• Confidence working with spreadsheets, databases, and accurate record-keeping.
• A customer-focused approach with strong problem-solving skills.
• Excellent communication and stakeholder management skills.
• Ability to work collaboratively and build effective relationships.
• Experience working to high standards in a compliance, assurance, or regulated environment would be beneficial.

Why Join Us?

This is a fantastic opportunity to develop your security expertise, work with a diverse stakeholder network, and play a vital role in protecting Dstl's people, information, and operations. You'll join a supportive team where your work directly contributes to Dstl's ability to deliver its mission securely and successfully.

Please see full Job profile attached below

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.

Behaviours

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

• Changing and Improving
• Making Effective Decisions
• Communicating and Influencing
• Working Together

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

• Working Together

Benefits

Alongside your salary of £28,039, Defence Science and Technology Laboratory contributes £8,122 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 and Experience.

We want you to have your best chance of success in our recruitment process, so If at any stage of the application process you would like help or assistance please contact the Dstl Recruitment Team [email removed] and we will do all we can to support you.

Sifting will take place week commencing the 9th November with interviews to be arranged from the 23rd November 2026

Your interview will consist of behavioural & technical interview

Feedback will only be provided if you attend an intervie