Security Risk and Strategy Adviser

House of Commons

The House of Commons a unique and exciting place to work right at the heart of the UK's thriving democratic system. 

Behind the scenes, the House of Commons Service is made up of more than 3,000 employees who support and facilitate the smooth day to day running of the House. They provide professional services to Members of Parliament, their staff, and the wider parliamentary community.

Staff Benefits

In addition to your salary, we offer an attractive range of benefits including: 

• 30 days’ annual leave (increasing to 35 days after first full leave year). 
• Civil Service pension with an average employer contribution of 27%. 
• Access to training and development. 
• Flexible working. 
• Interest free season ticket loan and bicycle loan. 

Introduction 

The Parliamentary Security Department (PSD) is responsible for physical and personnel security across both Houses of Parliament and provides support to Members and staff when away from the Estate. Its purpose is to keep Parliament safe and open for business.

PSD sets security strategy, provides expert advice, and delivers an operational service. It does this in partnership with the Metropolitan Police Service (MPS) and by working closely with the Parliamentary Maintenance Services Team (PMST), Strategic Estates teams, Serjeant at Arms and Black Rod’s office, Restoration & Renewal teams, the Parliamentary Digital Service, and other key stakeholders. 

The Role 

Over the past two years PSD has jointly developed with MPS a Target Operating Model (TOM) for Physical Security at Parliament.  Underpinned by a Threat, Vulnerability and Risk Assessment (TVRA), the TOM sets out a layered approach to physical and operational security on the Parliamentary Estate.

Reporting directly to the Head of Security Strategy, the Security Risk and Strategy Adviser will support the creation, delivery and evolution of the TOM aligned physical security strategy, ensuring that PSD stays ahead of the evolving threat picture.

The Security Risk and Strategy Adviser is a new role and an exciting opportunity for a highly motivated self-starter with significant experience in physical security risk management.  The postholder will be a team player, able to engage effectively across PSD, and to draw on the expertise and insight of partners across Parliament and externally.  They will have strong written and verbal communication skills, and the ability to present with credibility and win support for new initiatives.

Some of the responsibilities for this role include:

• Work in conjunction with the Head of Security Strategy to ensure the TVRA remains current in the face of the evolving threat.
• Coordinate activity of the RAG Working Groups, at times acting as the nominated delivery lead, to deliver reports and studies as directed by the RAG. This will often require coordinating and analysing input from across stakeholders at all levels and directly briefing the RAG.
• Work with teams internal and external to PSD (including Planning and Advisory, and Operations) to ensure projects are suitably defined and prioritised, and the link to the TVRA is maintained through delivery.
• Act as guardian and primary point of contact for PSD for any strategic models and data sets that may be created, or already in use, to inform security requirements generation.
• Support the delivery of new capabilities as defined in the TOM capability map

Skills and Experience 

To be successful in this role you will demonstrate:

• Experience of developing TVRAs in the built environment but particularly for large, complex organisations and/or large masterplans.
• Experience of working successfully within a team and with diverse groups of people, upholding the principles of diversity, equality and inclusion, ensuring that everyone is, at all times, treated with dignity, courtesy and respect.
• Ability to build and maintain positive, confident and collaborative relationships with a wide range of colleagues and stakeholders – and to use logic, reasoning, empathy, and tenacity to persuade, influence and challenge people at all levels.
• Ability to identify risk, issues and problems, and use information from a range of sources to proactively identify and implement creative solutions and improvements. 
• Membership of a recognised security professional body, e.g. the Security Institute, and holds, or is working towards, a relevant professional qualification such as RSES (Member or Principal) or CSyP (or equivalent). 

Next Steps and Additional Information

• CV & Supporting Statement – If you would like to apply for this role, please submit your CV and covering letter with a 500 word limit. 

More information on the role and the full criteria can be found in the Job Description. 

Please note that most job offers will be made at the minimum of the salary range, other than in exceptional circumstances.

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