At a Glance
- Tasks: Lead security and estates management, ensuring safety and compliance at our Birmingham facility.
- Company: Join the National Physical Laboratory, a leader in research services with a commitment to security.
- Benefits: Flexible working arrangements, competitive salary, and a diverse, inclusive workplace.
- Other info: Opportunity for professional growth in a dynamic environment.
- Why this job: Make a real impact by safeguarding people and facilities while developing your career.
- Qualifications: Experience in physical security and strong organisational skills required.
The predicted salary is between 36000 - 60000 £ per year.
Join to apply for the Security and Estates Lead role at National Physical Laboratory (NPL).
About the Role
As a Security and Estates Lead within the UKTL Team, you’ll play a critical role in safeguarding our people, facilities and reputation. You’ll lead on physical and personnel security, ensuring our security posture remains proportionate to risk and aligned with government standards, and you’ll also be responsible for managing our site and facilities and health and safety. This hands‑on role involves designing, implementing and overseeing security measures across a complex environment, including secure facilities and data‑centre operations.
Key Responsibilities
- Overall responsibility for all security and estates matters at the UKTL facility.
- Maintain and promote a strong security culture.
- Oversee physical security standards, ensuring compliance with DSIT and accreditation requirements.
- Plan and conduct internal security audits, identifying gaps and recommending improvements.
- Partner with the Cyber Security team to deliver integrated risk management.
- Lead investigations into vulnerabilities or procedural failings and report findings.
- Build strong relationships with internal teams, contractors and government agencies.
- Develop operational procedures to address security gaps and support compliance.
- Manage all aspects of our secure site, including IT facilities and managing facilities contracts.
- Monitor emerging threats and provide intelligence to inform risk strategies.
- Respond to out‑of‑hours incidents and perform key holder duties.
- Manage security aspects of data‑centre facilities, ensuring resilience and continuity of operations.
Duty to be located within a one‑hour commute of the facility; out‑of‑hours incident response and key holder duties required.
About You
Essential Skills & Attributes:
- Experience in physical security design and implementation, including data centre security.
- Ability to balance business needs with security and health and safety requirements.
- Strong organisational skills and ability to manage competing priorities.
- Membership of a relevant professional body (e.g., DISA, Security Institute).
- Vocational qualification such as CSMP or ASIS CPP.
- Discretion, integrity and sensitivity in handling confidential matters.
- Adaptable, proactive and able to work autonomously.
Successful applicants must be able to commute to the UKTL offices in Birmingham at least twice a week and may work full‑time, part‑time or flexible arrangements where possible.
Employment Details
- Seniority level: Mid‑Senior level
- Employment type: Full‑time
- Job function: Other, Information Technology and Management
- Industry: Research Services
EEO Statement
NPL welcomes applications from all backgrounds and is committed to diversity, equality and inclusion. We encourage people of all genders, races, sexual orientations, religions, ages and disabilities to apply. Disabled candidates who meet the required criteria will be guaranteed an interview under the Disability Confident Scheme. We are an equal opportunity employer and will make reasonable adjustments to the recruitment process as required.
Security Clearance
To work in this role you need a clearance of DV with no restrictions, or the ability to obtain such clearance. The role has specific national security requirements.
Security and Estates Lead employer: National Physical Laboratory (NPL)
At the National Physical Laboratory (NPL), we pride ourselves on being an excellent employer that fosters a collaborative and innovative work culture. As an Associate Vulnerability Researcher, you will benefit from mentorship by seasoned professionals, access to cutting-edge technology, and the chance to contribute to vital security advancements in telecommunications. Our commitment to employee growth and development ensures that you will thrive in your early career while making a meaningful impact in the field.
Contact Details:
National Physical Laboratory (NPL) Recruitment Team
StudySmarter Expert Advice🤫
We think this is how you could land Security and Estates Lead
✨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 and Estates Lead. Plus, you can showcase your passion and familiarity with the latest trends!
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✨Directly Apply to National Physical Laboratory (NPL)
Don’t forget to apply for the Security and Estates Lead 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 National Physical Laboratory (NPL).
We think you need these skills to ace Security and Estates Lead
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 National Physical Laboratory (NPL). 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 National Physical Laboratory (NPL).
How to prepare for a job interview at National Physical Laboratory (NPL)
✨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 National Physical Laboratory (NPL).
✨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 National Physical Laboratory (NPL).
✨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 National Physical Laboratory (NPL).
