About the job

Job summary

We have an exciting opportunity to join HM Land Registry (HMLR) as our Chief Security Advisor, providing strategic leadership, direction and oversight of all aspects of our security.

Leading the Security team, you will support HMLR to understand and effectively manage its security risks. To support you in the role you will have a dedicated team of security professionals and be part of a thriving government security profession.

You will be responsible for a holistic understanding of the organisation’s security needs, supporting the delivery of security controls and embedding a positive and engaging security culture through effective leadership and maintaining strong working relationships across the organisation and with external stakeholders.

You will have access to Government Security Profession learning and development opportunities, as well as the chance to expand your experience in the cyber, physical, personnel and industry security areas.

Job description

As Chief Security Advisor you will provide strategic leadership, direction and oversight of all aspects of security and resilience, including strategy, policy, standards and assurance.

You will report directly to the Deputy Director Risk, Assurance, Information and Security (RAIS), and manage a team of ten staff.  You will represent HMLR to the Government Security Function, including the Cabinet Office Government Security Group (GSG), UK Security Vetting (UKSV) and others.

You will ensure HMLR complies with Government security policies and standards and lead on the delivery of security advice including the treatment of identified security risks.

You will provide assurance and update reports to the Chief Executive and other senior leaders on the development of the security strategy, evolving security risks and security incidents, as well as leading on Security resilience and related business continuity matters for the organisation, with a lead role in the Crisis Management Team.

In this varied leadership role, you will also lead on our GovAssure (cyber security assurance) programme, as well as our Information Security Management System (ISMS), ensuring we maintain certification to ISO 27001 (Information Security Management).

You will create a positive and engaging security culture to influence positive staff behaviours through the Security Education and Awareness (SEA) programme and regular communications across the organisation, and build a network of security partners across Government, and the broader security industry to share best practice, adopt common approaches and foster joint working on area of mutual interest.

For more information about the role, please see the attached Candidate pack.

Person specification

To be successful in this role, you will have an excellent understanding of security and risk management with significant government or related experience across the following areas of expertise: cyber security, physical security, personnel security, and industry security.

You will have experience of engaging, collaborating, advising, and influencing at all levels of an organisation including senior managers, and executive level whilst projecting credibility and self-assurance and have a proven track record of developing productive working relationships, effecting business change to achieve successful security outcomes at an organisational level.

You should have a thorough awareness of security threats and the ability to inform and provide context for wider activities, as well as the ability to form excellent relationships with stakeholders and wider security community, including external bodies.

You will be adept at analysing, translating, and simplifying complex information in order to provide appropriate advice and guidance.

Where an individual taking up the responsibility will be based in Swansea Office, the ability to speak Welsh is desirable.

This is a permanent role, and we would really like the successful candidate to be in post for a minimum of two years ideally.

Benefits

Alongside your salary of £69,646, HM Land Registry contributes £18,804 towards you being a member of the Civil Service Defined Benefit Pension scheme. Find out what benefits a Civil Service Pension provides.

Things you need to know

Selection process details

This vacancy is using Success Profiles (opens in a new window), and will assess your Behaviours and Experience.

Please copy and paste your CV onto the online application form detailing your qualifications and work history.

The Personal Statement section (in no more than 1250 words) should be used to outline your wider skills and experience for the role and detail how you meet the essential Experience criteria set out on page 7 of the Candidate Pack, and listed below:

• Excellent understanding of security and risk management processes with significant government or related experience across the following areas of expertise: cyber security, physical security, personnel security, and industry security.
• Experience of engaging, collaborating, advising and influencing at all levels of an organisation including senior managers, and executive level whilst projecting credibility and self-assurance.
• Proven track record of developing productive working relationships, effecting business change to achieve successful security outcomes at an organisational level.
• Awareness of security threats and the ability to inform and provide context for wider activities.
• Ability to form excellent relationships with stakeholders and wider security community, including external bodies.
• Ability to analyse, translate and simplify complex information in order to provide appropriate advice and guidance

Please note, In the event of a high volume of applications, the panel may pre-sift on the lead criteria:

Excellent understanding of security and risk management with significant government or related experience across at least two of the following areas of expertise: cyber security, personnel security, physical security, and business continuity

The sift will take place shortly after the closing date. If successful at shortlisting stage, you will be invited to attend a virtual, blended interview and a pre-prepared presentation.  Details will be provided on invitation to interview. The blended interview will test the experience and behaviours listed in the Candidate Pack. There may be a requirement for a second round of interviews.

Candidates may refer to notes within their video interview, but they should be used as a prompt only.

You should ensure you read the attached Candidate Pack fully before submitting an application.

Please note, the Civil Service values honesty and integrity and expect all candidates to abide by these principles. Please ensure all examples provided throughout the entire recruitment process are of your own experience. HM Land Registry take any incidences of cheating very seriously. Any detected instances of plagiarism or other forms of cheating, including the use of artificial intelligence, will be investigated and, if proven, the relevant applications will be withdrawn from the process.

Please review your application form before clicking ‘submit’ – once you have submitted, you will not be able to amend your application.
Ensure your application form is received by the closing date for receipt of applications – this is 11:55pm on the advertised date.

HMLR is accredited to the Disability Confidence Scheme, which denotes organisations which have a positive attitude towards disabled people. Disabled applicants who meet the minimum essential criteria at the shortlisting stage are guaranteed an invitation to interview.

If any candidate requires the panel to consider a reasonable adjustment or there is anything else they would like the panel to take into consideration they are asked to notify us of this at application stage where possible or during the process as soon as it becomes a requirement.

If you would like further information about the use of your personal data, please click on the link below:
Job Applicant Personal Information

Feedback will only be provided if you attend an interview or assessment.

Security

Successful candidates must undergo a 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 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)

Working for the Civil Service

The Civil Service Code (opens in a new window) sets out the standards of behaviour expected of civil servants.

We recruit by merit on the basis of fair and open competition, as outlined in the Civil Service Commission's recruitment principles (opens in a new window). The Civil Service embraces diversity and promotes equal opportunities. As such, we run a Disability Confident Scheme (DCS) for candidates with disabilities who meet the minimum selection criteria. The Civil Service also offers a Redeployment Interview Scheme to civil servants who are at risk of redundancy, and who meet the minimum requirements for the advertised vacancy.