Head of Professional Capability

The SIA is an executive non-departmental public body sponsored by the Home Office, set up in 2004 to regulate certain activities in the private security industry. Currently, we employ nearly 400 members of staff. We are operationally independent of government.

We are now preparing to take on new responsibilities as the regulator of Martyn’s Law - named after Martyn Hett, one of the 22 people who tragically died on 22 May 2017 in the terrorist attack on Manchester Arena. Martyn’s Law, introduced by the Terrorism (Protection of Premises) Act 2025, is intended to improve protective security and preparedness at premises and events across the UK.

The new Act will require premises in scope to be prepared to keep people safe in the event of an attack. Certain larger premises and events will also need to take steps to reduce their vulnerability to acts of terrorism.

Martyn’s Law is primarily a civil, regulatory regime. We will regulate supportively and proportionately but robustly. The SIA will have new guidance, investigatory and inspection functions and a range of new powers and sanctions. Our new Martyn’s Law functions will sit alongside and complement our existing responsibility for regulating the private security industry.

The Security Industry Authority (SIA) is seeking a strategic and influential Head of Professional Capability to play a pivotal role in the delivery of Martyn’s Law regulation. This is a unique opportunity to help establish and lead the protective security profession within a new and high-profile regulatory function, driving improvements that will strengthen public safety and preparedness across the UK.

Reporting to the Deputy Director of Martyn’s Law Inspections and Enforcement, you will provide expert leadership on protective security and counter terrorism measures, ensuring regulatory activity is informed by the latest threats, standards and best practice. As the SIA’s principal subject matter expert, you will lead a team of specialist professionals and develop the capability, standards and frameworks that underpin effective regulation.

A key focus of the role will be designing and embedding professional development pathways for assessors, inspectors and protective security specialists. You will establish competency frameworks, accreditation standards and a comprehensive continuing professional development programme that ensures our people remain equipped to respond to an evolving threat landscape.

Working closely with senior leaders, government departments, policing and counter terrorism partners, regulators and industry stakeholders, you will build trusted relationships and provide expert advice that informs inspection strategies, regulatory decisions and organisational priorities.

This role will suit a confident and credible leader with significant experience in protective security, a recognised qualification in Counter Terrorism Security Management (GCGI Level 6 or equivalent), and a track record of developing high-performing teams. You will be passionate about professional excellence, capable of influencing at senior levels, and motivated by the opportunity to make a lasting impact on public safety.

If you are looking for a career-defining opportunity to help shape a new regulatory regime, influence national protective security standards and lead a specialist profession at the heart of Martyn’s Law, we would love to hear from you.

Person specification

• Senior leader with experience at or near Head of Function level in comparable organisations (government, private or public sectors).
• Significant experience in protective security.
• Qualified in Counter Terrorism Security Management to GCGI Level 6 or an equivalent qualification.
• Strategic thinker with the ability to develop and advise on organisational strategy.
• Inspirational and visible people leader, with strong people leadership skills, the ability to influence and form strong working relationships and gain the respect and confidence of seniors, peers and colleagues.
• Proven record of building and developing high preforming professional teams committed to continuous improvement, delivering excellent results and outcomes, and showing accountability when things do not go well or as planned.
• Excellent interpersonal skills, a team player with integrity, good self-awareness, able to work under own initiative with drive and at pace, resilient under pressure and responds calmly and objectively to internal and external challenges and scrutiny.
• Experience of designing and implementing competency frameworks, professional standards, training, learning and CPD within a protective security or regulatory environment.
• Experience of interpreting security requirements and applying them in complex environments.
• Experience of producing technical guidance on protective security measures.
• Experience of engaging with senior stakeholders and external partners as a subject matter expert.
• Detailed knowledge of:

- Physical, personnel and operational security

- Protective security risk management

- Counter terrorism protective security measures

- Security governance and assurance

- Authoritative guidance produced by government departments and protective security partners.

• Excellent analytical and judgment skills.
• Excellent communication and influencing skills, able to build effective and enduring relationships at senior levels with a range of stakeholders and partners and act with credibility at senior levels internally and externally.
• Demonstrate excellent understanding of operational risk and prioritisation.
• Experience of manging the coordination of work across teams and contributing to the delivery of shared objectives within a collaborative environment.
• A flexible attitude to working hours with the ability to adapt to changing demands.

Alongside your salary of £67,001, Security Industry Authority contributes £19,410 towards you being a member of the Civil Service Defined Benefit Pension scheme. Find out what benefits a Civil Service Pension provides (opens in a new window).

• A welcoming and innovative work environment.
• Continued support and development opportunities.
• Access to training for attainment of recognised qualifications.
• Flexible working arrangements.
• Annual leave entitlement will be 27.5 days, rising by one additional day for every two years of service up to a maximum of 32.5 days.
• A variety of discounts including Gymflex.
• Civil Service Pension Scheme – employee contribution between 4.60% and 7.35% and employer contribution between 26.60% and 30.30%.

Things you need to know

Artificial intelligence can be a useful tool to support your application, however, all examples and statements provided must be truthful, factually accurate and taken directly from your own experience. Where plagiarism has been identified (presenting the ideas and experiences of others, or generated by artificial intelligence, as your own) applications may be withdrawn and internal candidates may be subject to disciplinary action. Please see our candidate guidance (opens in a new window) for more information on appropriate and inappropriate use.

The SIA does not use Success Profiles - please disregard any information below in relation to this.

Sift and Interview Process:

Sift will take place from 17th November.

Interviews will be held on during week commencing 30th November.

Interviews will be held on MS Teams.

Security

Successful candidates must undergo a basic (or equivalent) criminal record check.

Successful candidates must meet the security requirements before they can be appointed. The level of security needed is security check (opens in a new window).

See our vetting charter (opens in a new window).

People working with government assets must complete baseline personnel security standard (opens in a new window) checks.

Nationality requirements

This job is broadly open to the following groups:

• UK nationals
• nationals of the Republic of Ireland
• nationals of Commonwealth countries who have the right to work in the UK
• nationals of the EU, Switzerland, Norway, Iceland or Liechtenstein and family members of those nationalities with settled or pre-settled status under the European Union Settlement Scheme (EUSS) (opens in a new window)
• nationals of the EU, Switzerland, Norway, Iceland or Liechtenstein and family members of those nationalities who have made a valid application for settled or pre-settled status under the European Union Settlement Scheme (EUSS)
• individuals with limited leave to remain or indefinite leave to remain who were eligible to apply for EUSS on or before 31 December 2020
• Turkish nationals, and certain family members of Turkish nationals, who have accrued the right to work in the Civil Service

Further information on nationality requirements (opens in a new window)