About the job

Job summary

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.

Job description

This role requires the post holder to perform an on-call, out of hours function, the frequency of which will be split with the other local security advisers. This role attracts an additional on call allowance.

The post holder will be responsible for a number of constituency offices/other locations in the assigned area, and as such, will be expected to live within a reasonable distance (as specified in the job description) from key locations within that region. The role will involve frequent travel (in own vehicle or public transport) as well as occasional overnight stays. 

PSD is currently recruiting a number of local security advisers in the areas to provide support and guidance to Members’ and their staff away from the Parliamentary estate. 

The local security adviser will be motivated by a strong customer service ethic. They will be required to develop a good understanding of the work of Parliament and its Members to understand their priorities and the context within which they work.  It is essential that the local security adviser can act autonomously and under their own initiative. As well as being an effective team player, they must be self-motivated to deliver strong performance including against agreed objectives and KPIs. As a representative of the wider Parliamentary Security team, they will need to remain calm in the face of difficult situations, acting with professionalism, tact, and diplomacy.

Some of the responsibilities for this role include:

• Plan and deliver a regular schedule of engagement with Members and their staff in the constituency, including attending constituency roadshows to train constituency staff on personal security advice.
• Build and nurture relationships with Members, their staff and our wider partnership by delivering strong communication, engagement, advice and support.
• Explain in plain language complex security threat and risk mitigations to others and promote opportunities for enhanced security options.
• Liaise with the police and other stakeholders to understand the risks prevalent in that area, identifying and agreeing site vulnerabilities proportionate measures to mitigate against such.
• Be an integral member of a wider risk assessment process to provide local knowledge of threats and vulnerabilities.

Person specification

To be successful in this role you will demonstrate:

• Experience of successfully assessing and advising on physical, procedural, and personal security measures, providing proportionate solutions and recommendations following security incidents.

• Experience of working with diverse groups of people, upholding the principles of diversity, equality and inclusion, ensuring that everyone is, at all times, treated with dignity, courtesy and respect.

• Demonstrate a strong customer service ethic, with the ability to work in partnership with a wide range of people, to manage expectations and handle challenging situations and conversations, including evaluating information to provide the right advice.

• Excellent influencing and negotiation skills; experience working with a range of stakeholders, negotiating outcomes that align with programme objectives and priorities. Simplify and explain complex security terminology to others in a calm and reassuring manner.

• Experience working without the need for close supervision, independently and proactively managing workload.

• Access to own vehicle, a full driving licence (no more than 3 live penalty points), and business class insurance.

Benefits

Alongside your salary of £41,340, House of Commons contributes £11,161 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

If you would like to apply for this role, please submit an application providing evidence against criteria 1 - 6 in the Job Description. 

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

As part of the interview process candidates will be required to complete a role play exercise.  If your application is successfully shortlisted, you will be invited to attend an interview and you will be sent a scenario by email ten minutes before your interview. 

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

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

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.