Head of Personnel Security

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UK Research and Innovation

Salary: £56,745 - £63,051 (Depending on skills and experience)

Hours: Full time (Compressed hours or flexible working patterns available)

Contract Type: Open Ended.

Location: Polaris House, Swindon (Hybrid working available including attending Swindon office 2-3 times a week)

Closing Date: Sunday 29th June 2025

About the Role

An Arm's Length Body (ALB) of the Department for Science, Innovation and Technology (DSIT), UK Research and Innovation (UKRI) is the UK's largest investor of public money in research and innovation. Through its nine research Councils, UKRI also provides leadership, expertise and infrastructure for the wider research and innovation community. To support these outputs, UKRI maintains key central corporate services. Within the Operations pillar of these, the UKRI Security and Resilience (S&R) Team delivers strategy and policy development as well as supporting operational delivery across personnel security, physical security, travel risk management and Business Continuity.

This role is a key member of the S&R Team. Responsible for the development, delivery and articulation of risk on all matters relating to UKRI personnel security, the incumbent is essential to protecting UKRI by ensuring we only employ, and entrust sensitive information to, those with the requisite honesty and integrity to work within one of the UK's most important research and innovation organisations.

Key Responsibilities

• Reporting to the Senior Security Adviser (SSA), you will lead and enable the delivery of personnel security across UKRI, its Councils and Centres, Institutes and Units (CIU) by:
• Overseeing UKRI's National Security Vetting (NSV) service, ensuring that applications are necessary, requirements are valid and both HMG and UKRI policy is adhered to.
• Where standards are not met or risks are identified, developing clear and actionable strategies to rectify and seek improvement.
• Working in accordance with the Vetting Decision Framework (VDF), act as the decision maker for UKRI NSV applications, formally raising any queries, concerns or complaints to the SSA for decision.
• Managing the operational relationship between UKRI and UK Security Vetting (UKSV).
• Managing the operational relationship with the Personnel Security lead in the Protective Security Centre (PSC) to maximise support to the UKRI Personnel Security programme.
• In close liaison with the PSC, develop and deliver the Critical Asset Risk Assessment (CARA) process to ensure High Trust Roles (HTR) are mapped and access to NSV is facilitated.
• Maintaining close liaison with relevant central Government bodies, and monitor cross HMG security programs, to ensure that UKRI is prepared for any changes and that UKRI's voice is heard in the development of new policies and programs.
• Driving forward UKRI's development of personnel security strategy and governance by advising the SSA on strategy development and managing the cross-UKRI Personnel Security Working Group.
• Developing and maintaining UKRI's top level Personnel Security, Screening and Vetting policies ensuring they are reflective of HMG requirements and are deliverable across UKRI.
• Developing, maintaining and delivering the Personnel Security Roadmap as part of the broader UKRI S&R Roadmap to ensure that key milestones are achieved.
• Owning the Personnel Security principal risk and risk register, ensuring that UKRI level risks are documented, managed, and responded to in a credible and proportionate manner, the relevant Accountable Officers are informed, and the UKRI level risk represents an aggregation of Council and CIU level Personnel Security risk.
• Working closely with UKRI HR to ensure key working relationships are maintained and collective processes are supported and delivered.
• Working closely with UK Shared Business Services (SBS) to ensure that key working relationships are maintained, and HMG screening requirements are met across all UKRI Councils and CIUs.
• Leading, motivating and managing 1 FTE based in Swindon ensuring the individual has clear objectives and is working effectively to deliver for UKRI.
• Matrix managing, motivating and informing a network of Personnel Security leads across all Councils and CIUs as part of the wider S&R Community of Practice.
• Working closely with UKRI Risk and Assurance to monitor and report compliance with HMG Personnel Security standards, including those monitored via the Departmental Security Health Check (DSHC), developing clear action and rectification plans where standards are not yet being fully achieved.
• Supporting the wider work of the SSA and peers in the S&R Team (Heads of Physical Security, Travel Risk Management and Business Continuity) as required to meet the objectives of the UKRI S&R Strategy.
• Managing and facilitating UKRI's access to ROSA (cross-government classified IT service) by delivering the roles of Partner Service Lead, Principal Asset Manager (PAM) and Corporate Information Manager (CIM).
• Development and maintenance of personnel security policies in accordance with HMG policy requirements.

Person Specification:

(S) - Shortlisting Criteria, (I) - Interview Criteria

Essential

• Previous experience in HMG Central, Departmental or Arm's Length Body (ALB) Personnel Security (I).
• Proven experience and expertise in delivering security operations (S).
• Proven experience and expertise in risk management and risk-based decision making (S).
• Proven ability in and a commitment to service development and improvement (I).
• Proven and credible experience in problem solving and strategic thinking (I).
• Proven and credible experience of line management and team leadership (S).
• High level written, verbal and presentation skills (I).
• Ability to work independently with a 'self-starter' approach to work and personal development (I).
• Eligibility for and willingness to undergo and maintain SC clearance (I).

Desirable

• Proven experience of cross-matrix management to deliver operational security outputs in a federated organisation. (S)
• Relevant professional qualifications in Personnel Security or related areas such as insider threat management and investigations management. (S)
• Relevant academic qualifications such as a security focused Bachelors or Masters degree. (S)
• Eligibility for and a willingness to undergo DV clearance and/or STRAP induction if requested (I)

Benefits

We recognise and value our employees as individuals and aim to provide a favourable pay and rewards package! We are committed to supporting employees' development and promote a culture of continuous learning!

• An outstanding defined benefit pension scheme
• 30 days' annual leave in addition to 10.5 public and privilege days (full time equivalent)
• Employee discounts and offers on retail and leisure activities
• Employee assistance programme, providing confidential help and advice
• Flexible working options

About UK Research and Innovation (UKRI)

UKRI launched in April 2018, UKRI is a non-departmental public body sponsored by the Department for Science, Innovation and Technology (DSIT). Our organisation brings together the seven disciplinary research councils, Research England, which is responsible for supporting research and knowledge exchange at higher education institutions in England, and the UK's innovation agency, Innovate UK. Together we build an independent organisation with a strong voice and vision to ensure the UK maintains its world-leading position in research and innovation.

The role holder will be required to have the appropriate level of security screening/vetting required for the role. UKRI reserves the right to run or re-run security clearance as required during the course of employment.

How we support EDI in the workforce

At UKRI, we believe that everyone has a right to be treated with dignity and respect, and to be provided with equal opportunities to thrive and succeed in an environment that enables them to do so. We also value diversity of thought and experience within inclusive groups, organisations and the wider community.

Disability Confident Employer

As users of the disability confident scheme, we guarantee to interview all disabled applicants who meet the minimum criteria for the vacancy/ies. We will ensure that individuals with disabilities are provided reasonable accommodation to participate in the job application or interview process, to perform essential job functions, and to receive other benefits and privileges of employment. Please contact us to request accommodation.

How to apply

Online applications only preferred for this role. Please submit a CV and covering letter which clearly outlines how you fulfil the criteria specified along with your motivation for UKRI and the role. Ensure that the job reference number is included in the filename description of each document uploaded. Note that failure to address the above criteria or submit an application without a covering letter may result in the application not being considered. Assessment will only be based upon the content of your submitted covering letter and CV.

UKRI seeks to ensure it creates and maintains a system of openness, fairness and inclusion - a collaborative, trusted environment, which is attractive to and accessible to everyone who is interested in developing their career with us.