About the job

Job summary

House of Commons

The House of Commons is a unique and exciting place to work right at the heart of the UK's thriving democratic system. 

Behind the scenes, the House of Commons Service is made up of more than 3,000 employees who support and facilitate the smooth day to day running of the House. They provide professional services to Members of Parliament, their staff, and the wider parliamentary community.

Introduction 

The Parliamentary Security Department (PSD) is responsible for physical and personnel security across both Houses of Parliament and provides security support to Members when away from the Estate. Its purpose is to keep Parliament safe and open for business.  

PSD sets security strategy provides expert advice and delivers an operational service. It does this in partnership with the Metropolitan Police Service (MPS) and by working closely with the Parliamentary Estates Teams, Serjeant at Arms and Black Rod’s office, Restoration & Renewal teams, the Parliamentary Digital Service, and other key stakeholders.  

Job description

The Deputy Director of Personnel Security will lead on all aspects of insider threat and associated mitigations, with direct oversight of Insider Risk, Vetting, Cyber policy and awareness and security culture and engagement. 

Some of the responsibilities for this role include:

• Lead approximately 50 staff in Personnel Security, maintaining high standards of professionalism, effectiveness and delivery while promoting an inclusive and diverse working environment.
• Deputise for the Director of Security for Parliament on all personnel security issues.
• Be accountable for implementation and delivery of all personnel security-related PSD Strategic Objectives, including design and implementation of an Insider Threat strategy, taking account of Parliament’s vulnerabilities and risk appetite Understand and advise on the espionage threat to Parliament from foreign state actors across all vectors, including cyber.
• Develop and maintain the relationships with the National Security Community to achieve this and develop the policy responses and actions to manage, mitigate and disrupt the threat.

Person specification

To be successful in this role you will demonstrate:

• A strong track record of leading and managing teams in successful delivery of customer-focused services, and in policy development and implementation, actively promoting diversity and an inclusive working environment.
• Subject matter expertise in national security issues, developed by working with government security institutions and agencies at an organisational level to deliver outcomes; and familiarity with personnel security processes.
• Experience of designing and delivering strategic change at an organisational scale using change management skills to lead teams through cultural transformation and create positive change.
• Strong interpersonal, diplomatic and relationship-building skills, with a proven ability to influence and negotiate, engender trust and co-operation, and deliver through others.
• Demonstrable ability to establish authority and credibility quickly, to build and maintain confident and collaborative relationships with a wide range of colleagues and stakeholders.

Benefits

Alongside your salary of £82,000, House of Commons contributes £22,140 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

• CV & Supporting Statement – If you would like to apply for this role, please submit your CV and covering letter with a 500 -1000 word limit.

More information on the role and the full criteria can be found in the Job Description. 

Please note that most job offers will be made at the minimum of the salary range, other than in exceptional circumstances.

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 developed vetting (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

Please note this Post is NOT regulated by the Civil Service Commission. 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.