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- Tasks: Spot risks, provide security advice, and enhance personnel security across the organisation.
- Company: Join the Maritime and Coastguard Agency, a leader in protective security.
- Benefits: Enjoy 25 days annual leave, flexible working, and a generous pension contribution.
- Other info: Collaborative team environment with opportunities for professional growth.
- Why this job: Make a real impact on national security while enjoying diverse daily challenges.
- Qualifications: Attention to detail and experience in security or safeguarding policies are essential.
The predicted salary is between 40000 - 50000 £ per year.
Can you spot risk early, give clear security advice and help build a strong security culture? Do you enjoy working in a role where no 2 days are the same? Do you have the judgement and attention to detail needed to manage national security vetting with confidence? Have you contributed to security, safeguarding or protective policy? If so, we’d love to hear from you!
The Maritime and Coastguard Agency (MCA) is seeking a Personnel Security Advisor. This role sits within the Protective Security Assurance team at the MCA, with a focus on personnel security. The Protective Security Assurance team is a cross function, integrated team covering Personnel, Physical, Cyber and Technical security. The purpose of the team is to safeguard the organisations people, information, systems and physical assets against threats such as espionage, terrorism, insider risk, and criminal activity.
Benefits:
- Employer pension contribution of 28.97% of your salary.
- 25 days annual leave, increasing by 1 day each year of service (up to a maximum of 30 days annual leave), plus 8 bank holidays and a privilege day for the King’s birthday.
- Flexible working options where we encourage a great work-life balance.
As a Personnel Security Advisor, you will strengthen the MCA’s protective security posture by operating and improving personnel security and insider‑risk controls across the people lifecycle and supply chain. You will run day‑to‑day National Security Vetting (NSV), managing aftercare and transfers, driving compliance with MCA policy and His Majesty’s Government (HMG) standards, advising on proportionate risk‑based controls, and contributing to casework and investigations. You’ll collaborate with Human Resources (HR), Physical, Cyber and Technical security colleagues, providing insight and reporting to governance forums, and help build a positive security culture that enables operational delivery. The Personnel Security Advisor role is aligned to skills from the Government Security Profession Career Framework.
Responsibilities:
- Support the Physical and Personnel Security Specialist ensuring all vetting functions and processes are delivered in line with the relevant policies.
- Work across the MCA, verifying third‑party suppliers requiring NSV and managing the process.
- Support internal business‑facing processes including Building Pass, Overseas Travel and IT elevated access requests.
- Deliver pre‑defined overseas travel security briefings for staff travelling for business to high‑risk countries.
- Identify, assess and manage personnel security risks, escalating significant concerns in a timely manner.
- Support stakeholders with clear, proportionate security advice, reinforcing positive security culture through awareness activities and risk assessments.
- Liaise with stakeholders tracking and progressing actions in a timely manner.
- Deputise, as appropriate, in internal & external forums and work with and cover for the Physical Security Advisor, Third Party Security Advisor and Cyber Security Advisor.
Personnel Security Advisor in Southampton employer: Government Recruitment Service
Contact Detail:
Government Recruitment Service Recruiting Team
StudySmarter Expert Advice 🤫
We think this is how you could land Personnel Security Advisor in Southampton
✨Tip Number 1
Network like a pro! Get out there and connect with people in the security field. Attend industry events, join relevant online forums, and don’t be shy about reaching out on LinkedIn. You never know who might have the inside scoop on job openings!
✨Tip Number 2
Prepare for those interviews! Research the MCA and its security culture thoroughly. Think about how your experience aligns with their needs, especially around personnel security and risk management. Practice answering common interview questions to boost your confidence.
✨Tip Number 3
Showcase your skills! Bring examples of your past work that demonstrate your judgement and attention to detail. Whether it’s a case study or a project you led, having tangible evidence of your capabilities can really set you apart from other candidates.
✨Tip Number 4
Apply through our website! We make it easy for you to find and apply for roles like the Personnel Security Advisor. Keep an eye on our listings and don’t hesitate to submit your application – we’re excited to see what you bring to the table!
We think you need these skills to ace Personnel Security Advisor in Southampton
Some tips for your application 🫡
Tailor Your Application: Make sure to customise your CV and cover letter for the Personnel Security Advisor role. Highlight your experience in security, risk management, and any relevant policies you've contributed to. We want to see how your skills align with what we're looking for!
Showcase Your Judgement Skills: In your application, give examples of how you've demonstrated good judgement and attention to detail in past roles. This is crucial for managing national security vetting, so let us know how you’ve handled similar responsibilities before.
Emphasise Collaboration: Since this role involves working closely with various teams, mention any experiences where you've successfully collaborated with others. Whether it's HR or technical security, we love to see teamwork in action!
Apply Through Our Website: Don't forget to submit your application through our website! It’s the best way for us to receive your details and ensures you’re considered for the role. Plus, it makes the whole process smoother for everyone involved.
How to prepare for a job interview at Government Recruitment Service
✨Know Your Security Stuff
Make sure you brush up on the latest trends and policies in personnel security. Familiarise yourself with national security vetting processes and insider risk controls, as these will likely come up during your interview.
✨Showcase Your Judgement Skills
Prepare examples that demonstrate your ability to spot risks early and make sound decisions. Think of situations where you've had to assess security threats or provide clear advice, and be ready to discuss them in detail.
✨Collaborate Like a Pro
Since this role involves working with various teams, be prepared to talk about your experience in cross-functional collaboration. Highlight any past roles where you’ve worked with HR or other security specialists to strengthen security measures.
✨Build a Positive Security Culture
Think about how you can contribute to a positive security culture within the organisation. Be ready to share ideas on awareness activities or training sessions you've led or participated in that helped promote security best practices.