Site Security Controller in Cheltenham

Must be eligible for highest level UK Government clearance.

The Opportunity

Pivt is supporting a leading organisation operating within the UK’s national security and defence environment to appoint a Site Security Controller for a critical site in Cheltenham. This is not a standard security role. It is a key leadership position responsible for protecting people, infrastructure and sensitive information within a highly secure, government-aligned environment. You will take ownership of both physical and information security, ensuring compliance, accreditation, and continuous improvement of the site’s overall security posture. This role offers the opportunity to operate at the heart of a mission-driven organisation, influencing senior stakeholders and shaping how security is embedded across the business.

Key Responsibilities

• Act as the security lead for the Cheltenham site, overseeing physical and information security standards.
• Maintain and evolve security policies, procedures, and operating frameworks.
• Manage risk, threat, and accreditation registers, ensuring ongoing compliance with government standards.
• Build strong relationships with customer and government security stakeholders, ensuring alignment on all accreditation requirements.
• Provide expert security advice across Operations, Facilities, H&S, and programme teams.
• Lead on business continuity and resilience planning, ensuring operational readiness.
• Conduct and support security investigations, producing clear and actionable reports.
• Drive a strong security culture, mentoring colleagues and promoting best practice across the site.
• Identify vulnerabilities and implement practical, risk-based mitigation strategies.

What We’re Looking For

• Proven experience in physical and information security within Defence, MOD, or HM Government environments.
• Strong understanding of government security frameworks (e.g. NPSA principles, GovS 007, accreditation processes).
• Experience working with cross-government stakeholders and representing security interests externally.
• Ability to identify, assess, and manage risk in complex, high-security environments.
• Experience conducting security investigations and producing detailed reports.
• Excellent communication skills, with the ability to influence at all levels.
• Strong organisational skills, attention to detail, and the ability to operate in a fast-paced environment.

Security Clearance

Due to the nature of this position:

• You must be a sole UK national.
• You must be eligible to obtain and maintain the highest level of UK Government security clearance.

Why This Role

• Work within a high-impact, mission-critical environment.
• Influence and shape site-wide security strategy.
• Engage with senior stakeholders and government partners.
• Be part of a business where security is central to operational success, not an afterthought.

Apply if you’re operating at, or ready to step into, a site-level security leadership role within a government or defence environment, we’d be keen to speak.