About the job

Job summary

Security and Business Continuity (SBC) sits within the Workplace Division in the Directorate for Communications, Ministerial Support and Facilities and is responsible for Physical and Personnel Security, Business Continuity, and a Security Improvement Programme.  

The Personnel Security Branch comprises two teams who are responsible for delivery of the personnel security programme encompassing National Security Vetting (NSV), Baseline Personnel Security Standard (BPSS) for SG contingent workers and providing security-based advice and guidance.

The post-holder will work in the Personnel Security Team, dealing with applications for NSV. You will be required to quickly grasp complex Cabinet Office NSV guidance and apply it consistently to casework. You will have the opportunity to enhance your networking and customer service skills by collaborating with both internal and external partners to meet targets and manage expectations effectively. This is a fast-paced, high volume working environment which would suit an initiative-taking individual.

The post-holder must hold or be willing to undertake National Security Vetting at SC level.

Job description

• Process and review National Security Vetting (NSV) applications in respect of SG staff and wider public sector within Scotland, including non-government staff (e.g. consultants and contractors) who require access to sensitive Scottish Government assets, information, and people – working to agreed timescales. 

• Become competent in the use of the UKSV digital Case Management System (CMS) and appropriately escalate cases to the Personnel Security Team Leader.

• Gather and record stakeholder and management information.

• Ensure guidance and desk instructions are up to date and train new colleagues as required.

• Conduct monthly security appraisals and manage aftercare on NSV cases.

• Provide advice and guidance to applicants, demystifying vetting and therefore avoiding vetting hesitancy.

• Communicate effectively with internal and external stakeholders in respect of NSV requirements and on-going applications; and  attend UKSV / Cabinet Office meetings monthly.

• Handle digital and physical personal sensitive data – including criminal record data, financial information, and personal information – with professionalism, care, discretion and attention to detail where required; update a range of databases timeously with complete and correct information; manage physical case files and destroy based on destruction timelines.

Person specification

Qualifications

No specific qualifications required for this post, however Security Check (SC) level of NSV is required to be held or obtained by the successful applicant.

Essential Criteria

1. Excellent attention to detail and the ability to closely follow established processes.

2. Excellent organisational skills with the ability to prioritise and manage workloads to ensure deadlines and objectives are met.

3. Established written and verbal communication skills including being confident in dealing with and influencing a wide range of internal and external stakeholders.

4. Proven track record of working effectively as part of a team, meeting competing priorities and working flexibly across the team where required.

Benefits

Alongside your salary of £27,513, Scottish Government contributes £7,428 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

Sift and Interview dates TBC. Please apply using the link provided.

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.