About the job

Job summary

Working at the UK Parliament offers a unique and rewarding career at the heart of the UK’s democratic system.

With a wide range of roles available, our impartial colleagues enable the day to day running of the House of Commons, House of Lords and Joint Departments. Together, we make Parliament happen.

The Parliamentary Security Department (PSD) is responsible for physical and personnel security across both Houses of Parliament and provides support to Members and staff 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.

The Head of Security Culture and Communications is a new role in the PSD Personnel Security team. Reporting to the Deputy Director of Personnel Security, the post holder will be instrumental in both shaping Parliament’s desired security culture with the senior leadership of both Houses and will design and deliver the engagement and communications strategy to support its realisation in collaboration with the House of Commons and House of Lords corporate communications teams.

You will act as PSD’s key security communications and engagement advisor. This role will be of key importance as PSD engages with the new Parliament and the MPs and staffers who are new to Westminster.

Job description

You will take over management of the existing communications and engagement team in PSD, who also focus on the communications and engagement of the PSD workforce, and integrate two new members of the team who previously delivered cyber security communications for the Parliamentary Digital Service. 

You will use your expertise in security communications to work closely with members of the PSD Senior Leadership team and the Central Communications teams of both Houses, ensuring that effective communication is delivered professionally, accurately and on time using the range of communication channels available, including digital, film, print and events.

Some of the responsibilities for this role include:

• Work with the PSD Leadership team, the Commons Executive Board, Lords Management Board and Commissions to assess Parliament’s current security culture(s) and establish the desired security culture(s).
• Develop a security communications and engagement strategy and other appropriate interventions to support realisation of the desired security culture(s), and work with colleagues and Member bodies across both Houses to effect interventions in support of this.
• Lead wider security communications activity, ensuring that the different cohorts of the parliamentary community.
• Advise PSD senior managers on effective internal communication strategies.
• Build and lead an integrated security communications and engagement team, developing staff to reach their potential and establishing an inclusive, positive and effective team culture.   

Person specification

Criterion 1 - Strategic Security Communications and Culture

You have overseen the design and delivery of effective security communications strategies at an organisational level to support a healthy security culture by using your extensive specialist knowledge. You are able to champion and deliver best practice in a wide range of communications channels.

Criterion 2 - People Management and Inclusive Leadership

You have the ability to lead a team, developing your colleagues and building a team culture rooted in the House of Commons values: courageous, trusted, inclusive and collaborative. You are able to create an inclusive working culture where challenge and diversity of thought are valued.

Criterion 3 - Communication Skills

You have excellent written and verbal communications skills and experience of developing engaging security-related content which translates complex concepts into digestible information tailored to a range of audiences.

You have demonstrable successful experience of using multiple channels of communication to achieve security outcomes.

Criterion 4 - Relationship Building and Stakeholder Management

You demonstrate excellent stakeholder management by using your relationship-building skills and ability to influence and persuade colleagues at all levels. You are able to work as part of a senior leadership team to negotiate a shared approach and lead change. 

Criterion 5 - Planning and Delivery

You are able to create and deliver a structured strategic communications plan, ensuring effective co-ordination with stakeholders within PSD, Corporate Communications and across the stakeholder community, managing competing priorities effectives and flexing to take advantages of opportunities and events.

Criterion 6 - Analytical Skills

You have strong analytical skills which you have used to evaluate the impact of cultural and communications interventions, adjusting in response to achieve continuous improvement.

Benefits

Alongside your salary of £68,900, House of Commons contributes £64,152 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

Application Form - If you would like to apply for this role, please submit an application providing evidence against criteria 1 - 4 in the Job Description. 

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.

We may close the vacancy prior to the closing date stated due to a high volume of applications.

Security

Successful candidates must meet the security requirements before they can be appointed. The level of security needed is counter-terrorist 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

Open to UK nationals only.

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.