Protective Security Assurance Principal in Bristol

At Defence Equipment & Support (DE&S), we supply and maintain vital equipment and services for the Royal Navy, British Army and Royal Air Force. Together, we deliver a vast range of essential defence programmes, and strive for what's next. Because it helps keep our military at the top of their game and our nation safe – for today, and tomorrow.

DE&S has recently been integrated into the National Armaments Director (NAD) Group. The NAD Group brings together key Ministry of Defence (MOD) organisations to unite expertise across science, technology, procurement, infrastructure, and support to provide integrated capabilities faster and more efficiently for our armed forces and our allies. This is an exciting new opportunity to enable better ways of working and empower greater collaboration across Defence.

We offer 25+ days’ holiday, flexible and hybrid working, enhanced parental leave schemes, shopping discounts, and an exceptional employer pension contribution of 28.97%, to help make work for you.

As a Protective Security Assurer, you will play a crucial role in advising and supporting the delivery of a robust security and resilience posture across the NAD Group, industry partners, and the wider Defence community. You will ensure the organisation applies rigorous security and business continuity management processes to protect critical operations and assets across all security classification levels. Your expertise will support the secure delivery of the NAD Group, MOD, and Government projects, working within established policies and governance frameworks to maintain the highest standards of security assurance throughout the project lifecycle.

The UK Government holds vast amounts of sensitive data, financial assets, and personal information that underpin essential public services used by millions. Protecting this information is vital, as threats from organised crime, hacktivists, terrorism, foreign intelligence, and rogue individuals pose significant risks. Your role will be key in defending people, property, and physical assets from damage or loss, helping to maintain public trust and national security.

We seek curious, analytical minds who consider every possibility, ask insightful questions, and dig deeper to uncover risks. You should have a solid understanding of Risk, Mitigation, and Physical Security, alongside working knowledge of Protective Security, Threat Awareness, and Government standards.

On joining, you will undergo comprehensive training including 3-6 months of on-the-job learning and shadowing experienced staff, completion of online NPSA practitioner courses, and attendance at a 3-week Defence Critical National Infrastructure (CNI) course. This role requires a full UK driving licence and frequent travel across UK regions. Your designated permanent duty station will be Abbey Wood in Bristol or Glasgow. Attendance at Bristol will be required for the initial training.

If you are passionate about protecting the nation’s security and want to make a real difference, we encourage you to apply and join a dedicated team committed to excellence in protective security.

For security reasons these roles are open to sole UK nationals only. A ‘sole UK national’ refers to an individual who holds citizenship solely in the UK, without dual citizenship or nationality from another country. We’re unable to offer visa sponsorship.

These roles require you to have lived in the UK for the last 10 years and obtain Developed Vetting (DV) security clearance. Clearance must be obtained without any caveats that prevent you from carrying out the role you have been recruited for. If it isn’t obtained or is obtained but with caveats that prevent you from carrying out the role, any conditional offer made to you will be withdrawn. Obtaining DV security clearance can be a lengthy process. You’ll join us once Security Check (SC) clearance is obtained, and then the more enhanced DV checks will continue after you’ve started your employment. If SC clearance isn’t obtained within 12 months, we reserve the right to withdraw any conditional offer made.

We champion flexible ways of working. Regular in-person attendance is required to promote the benefits of face-to-face collaboration alongside flexibility of hours to support work-life balance and business need. Initially, you may be expected to attend more frequently to familiarise yourselves with the site, the team, and your role.

What you’ll be doing:

• Engaging with Security Controllers to certify industry premises for industry security accreditations such as Facilities Security Clearance.
• Conducting routine security assurance reviews of the premises and working arrangements to ensure that their contracted security conditions are met. Liaising with Contracting Authorities, CTSAs, and National Technical Authorities where needed.
• Engaging with Heads of Establishment (HoE) and Establishment Security Officers (ESyO) in the routine Security Assurance of DE&S establishments. This includes the conduct of Security Risk and Assurance Reviews (SRAR), Guarding Security Reviews (GSR), Counter Sabotage and Operational Resilience Surveys (CSOR), security exercises, ad-hoc inspections and investigations.
• Providing protective security advice and guidance to internal and external stakeholders such as industry security associations.
• Responsibility for the administrative management of your assignments, production of assurance letters, reports and evidence packs, and reporting as required to the Task Manager.
• Align with relevant regulation, policy and standards to provide proportional, practical advice, tailored to the strategic environment, and advise relevant stakeholders on any residual risk.
• Ensure security and business continuity effect is delivered in alignment with organisational objectives and standards.
• Deliver informed / evidence-based recommendations to decision-makers with a means of mitigating risk and managing issues.
• Design and support the implementation of risk reduction methods, advising on residual risks and potential resolutions.

Person specification:

To be successful with your application, you'll need to show that you meet the following essential criteria:

• Lead criterion - Significant experience of providing protective security advisory, consultancy or assurance services within government, defence, critical national infrastructure, industry, the public sector, or a similarly complex organisation. Demonstrable experience of applying protective security expertise to assess risk, influence stakeholders, develop practical mitigations and deliver security outcomes.

In addition to the responsibilities above, the following technical competences and behaviours will be assessed at interview:

• Core Behaviour 1: Making Effective Decisions – CSBC 3
• Core Behaviour 2: Communicating and Influencing – CSBC 3
• Technical Competence 1: Legal and Regulatory Environment and Compliance – Expert
• Technical Competence 2: Risk understanding and mitigation – Expert

Offered benefits:

• 25 days’ annual leave +1 day a year up to 30 days, 8 bank holidays and a day off for the King’s birthday.
• Flexible and hybrid working options.
• Market-leading average employer pension contribution of 28.97%.
• Annual performance-based bonus and recognition awards.
• Access to specialist training and funded qualifications.
• Support for progression.
• Huge range of discounts.
• Volunteering days.
• Enhanced parental leave schemes.

Improving innovation and enriching our culture, diversity of thought is vital to our success. So whether you’re looking for a new opportunity, a next step, or a helping hand as you return from a career break, bring your experiences and help deliver for the defence of tomorrow. Here you’ll find a supportive, family-friendly organisation to be a part of - and if you need any assistance with your application, just let us know.