At a Glance
- Tasks: Ensure safety and security at the iconic UK Parliament, protecting people and property.
- Company: Join the historic House of Commons with a commitment to public service.
- Benefits: Enjoy 30-35 days annual leave, a generous pension scheme, and flexible working options.
- Other info: Dynamic role with opportunities for personal growth and a unique work experience.
- Why this job: Make a real difference in a high-profile environment while developing specialist security skills.
- Qualifications: Customer service experience, teamwork skills, and good security awareness are essential.
The predicted salary is between 23400 - 28600 £ per year.
What You'll Be Doing
Join the UK Parliament as a Security Officer and play a vital role in keeping the House of Commons safe, secure and accessible, 24 hours a day, 365 days a year.
Based at the iconic Parliamentary Estate, you'll work in a fast-paced and constantly changing environment, protecting colleagues, visitors and buildings while supporting the democratic work of Parliament.
You’ll be responsible for controlling access, conducting searches and screening people, vehicles and premises, monitoring CCTV, responding to alarms and identifying potential security threats.
You’ll also patrol the Estate, challenge unusual or suspicious activity and provide a professional, welcoming service to the more than one million visitors who come to Parliament each year.
This is a unique opportunity to develop specialist security skills in one of the UK's most high-profile environments.
Security experience is welcomed, but transferable skills, sound judgement, physical fitness and excellent customer service are equally valued.
Find out more about working at the House of Commons.
Why Join us?
In addition to your salary, we offer an attractive range of benefits including but not limited to:
- Generous annual leave starting at 30 days and increasing to 35 after one full working year.
- Enrolment in the excellent Civil Service pension scheme with an average employer contribution of 27%
- Flexible working options that help you find a balance including enhanced maternity, paternity, shared parental and adoption leave, caring leave and alternative working patterns.
What We're Looking For
- Experience of working with diverse groups of people, with great customer service skills, and also working well within a team.
- Excellent communication skills.
- Good security awareness, with the ability to follow relevant policies and procedures.
- Ability to gather relevant information to fully understand incidents.
- Provisional Dates
- Assessment Day including Observational and Fitness Tests, Week Beginning 28th September 2026.
- Four available days are 1st to 4th October 2026.
- Final Interviews will take place on the same day.
As part of the selection process as Security Officers, we require a reasonable level of physical fitness to effectively carry out the duties of the job.
This includes walking and patrolling the Estate, long periods of standing, lifting bags/trays and walking up stairs.
To assess this, the Assessment Day will include a multi-stage fitness test (also known as bleep test) to level 5.4, which is our standard required for this role.
In addition, you will need to pass a full range of movement, comprehension and colourblind tests in order to reach the interview stage.
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Security Officer employer: HOUSE OF COMMONS
Joining the Parliamentary Commercial Department as a Contract Management Capability Lead offers a unique opportunity to contribute to the heart of UK democracy while enjoying a supportive and inclusive work culture. With generous annual leave starting at 30 days, a robust Civil Service pension scheme, and flexible working options, employees are empowered to achieve a healthy work-life balance. The role also provides significant opportunities for professional growth through training programmes and stakeholder engagement, making it an excellent choice for those looking to make a meaningful impact in contract management.
StudySmarter Expert Advice🤫
We think this is how you could land Security Officer
✨Join Security Community Events
Dive into local security conferences and workshops. These events are goldmines for networking with industry professionals, and they often host recruiters looking for candidates for full-time roles like Security Officer. Plus, you can showcase your passion and familiarity with the latest trends!
✨Connect with Industry Experts
Utilise platforms like LinkedIn to follow and connect with leaders in security services. Engage with their content; it shows your interest and can spark conversations that might lead to job opportunities at companies like HOUSE OF COMMONS. Don’t hesitate to reach out and ask for insights or informational interviews!
✨Polish Your Online Presence
Make sure your online presence reflects your skills in security services – think certifications, relevant projects, or coursework. Share your expertise through blogs or posts discussing recent trends in security. This will make you stand out to employers searching for full-time Security Officer candidates.
✨Directly Apply to HOUSE OF COMMONS
Don’t forget to apply for the Security Officer role directly through our website! It not only ensures that your application is seen by the right eyes but also demonstrates your enthusiasm for joining HOUSE OF COMMONS.
We think you need these skills to ace Security Officer
Some tips for your application 🫡
Highlight Relevant Certifications:When applying for a full-time position in security services, make sure to showcase any relevant certifications you have, like SIA or other security industry qualifications. This adds credibility and shows that you're serious about your career in this field.
Demonstrate Your Attention to Detail:In security roles, attention to detail is crucial. Use your CV and cover letter to provide examples of how you’ve noticed and addressed security vulnerabilities or hazards in past jobs. This will help us see your proactive approach to ensuring safety.
Tailor Your Experience:Don’t just list duties from previous jobs; instead, frame your experiences in a way that relates directly to the role at HOUSE OF COMMONS. Whether that's managing a team, conducting risk assessments, or successfully maintaining safety protocols, make this relevant to what we do.
Share Your Availability and Flexibility:Full-time roles often require a degree of flexibility. Make sure to clearly state your availability in your application, especially if you can work various shifts. This shows us your readiness to adapt to the needs of the role at HOUSE OF COMMONS.
How to prepare for a job interview at HOUSE OF COMMONS
✨Know Your Security Protocols
In the security services field, it's crucial to familiarise yourself with the latest security protocols and technologies. Brush up on things like surveillance systems, access control, and emergency response procedures. You'll likely face technical questions, so having a couple of solid scenarios or case studies ready can really impress your interviewers at HOUSE OF COMMONS.
✨Demonstrate Situational Awareness
Prepare to showcase your situational awareness skills. You might be put in hypothetical scenarios where you need to assess potential risks or respond to incidents. Practising how you’d handle these situations ahead of time can give you the confidence to articulate your thought process during the interview.
✨Emphasise Teamwork & Communication
Since security services often rely on effective teamwork and clear communication, be ready to share examples of how you’ve successfully collaborated in the past. Highlight any instances where you’ve had to relay critical information or work closely with other services – this is key for a role at HOUSE OF COMMONS.
✨Prepare for Behavioural Questions
You can expect a variety of behavioural interview questions focusing on your past experiences and how you've handled challenges. Use the STAR method (Situation, Task, Action, Result) to structure your answers. Sharing specific examples from previous security roles or related jobs will help demonstrate your problem-solving abilities and reliability to the team at HOUSE OF COMMONS.
