About the job

Job summary

UKHSA Security is adapting to support current and future requirements. This is a great opportunity for experienced security professionals to join a high-profile government security organisation at a critical time. You will play a key role in helping to shape our capability and be a member of the Government Security Profession with opportunities to develop your career that simply cannot be found anywhere else.  

We are looking for people who understand security and can work collaboratively within UKHSA and across government to understand threats and develop mitigating solutions. You will be an expert in your field - an experienced, inclusive leader, adept at managing risk and implementing sustainable change. 

If you're passionate about security, thrive in a demanding environment with the skills and experience required then UKHSA is keen to hear from you.

We can offer the training you need to support your development, and (for Civil Service applicants) are prepared to consider both level transfers and appointments on promotion for the right candidates.

Security is key to the success of UKHSA, as a data-led body, looking to protect the health of the nation from infectious diseases and other external threats to health. We cover physical and personnel security in accordance with Government Functional Standard 007: Security.

Job description

Key Responsibilities:

• Produce a monthly Security Threat Report and disseminate it as required within UKHSA, collating feedback, and presenting the reporting and threat updates at Security Working Groups and Governance meetings.
• Drafting, updating and maintaining a Strategic Threat Assessment for UKHSA, with oversight of the production of site specific threat assessments and ad-hoc, tactical assessments in line with incidents and emerging issues
• Regularly update line management regarding local security issues and any threat reporting received.
• Liaise with other establishments, Law Enforcement groups and external agencies and to disseminate information in line with local and national policies to maintain security.
• Provide advice and guidance to the UKHSA Security Advisor on current trends and issues
• Act as the Focal Point for dissemination of threat related information throughout UKHSA

The role of the Threat Lead (Protective Security) is to help the UKHSA understand the threats that may impact its mission and objectives and protect its people, assets and information.

This role will aim to build relationships with different parts of UKHSA to better understand how they operate and the challenges they are facing in order to mitigate threats. You will be responsible for delivering threat assessments, insights and threat awareness briefing/debriefings to address customer needs and will work closely with the UKHSA sites and specialist teams.

You will:

• develop and apply rigorous methods for assessing the impact of threats and deliver a range of outputs (e.g., verbal presentations, written briefings/debriefing etc.) to UKHSA staff.  This will help to influence how UKHSA mitigates risks.
• build networks of contacts across the national security community and work with a range of partners across government, law enforcement, academia and industry.
• be also required to support the wider team as required depending on priority changes.

A hybrid working pattern of office and home is expected for this role, with 2-3 days in the office. Your primary office is likely to be London, Colindale, Porton Down, Chilton, Birmingham, Liverpool or Leeds other options may be available

This role will be home, or office-based, with travel to UKHSA sites/ offices as required. Your salary will be based on your home address and the relevant pay scales under UKHSA policy. National pay rates will apply to those employees whose permanent place of work is outside of the 40-mile radius of the M25. This should be considered when applying for this role. Please note you must be resident in the UK to apply for this role and your home address, if you undertake this role from there if successful, must be in the UK. Travel and overnight stays for training courses will be required.

Travel and overnight stays for training courses will be required. In addition, travel to and from UKHSA or Client Offices will be expected to be undertaken within working hours.

Your salary will be based on your home address and the relevant pay scales under UKHSA policy

Person specification

Essential criteria:

• Experience of working in or with defence/national security partners.
• Experience of engaging with a range of people, building networks/relationships, and joint working.
• You’ll be keen to improve your understanding of how UKHSA works, applying your skills in order to protect UKHSA people, assets and information.
• Experience conducting Professional Head of Intelligence Assessments (PHIA).
• You’ll be a team player but be able to independently develop assessed areas of research.
• You’ll have excellent communication skills.

 Desirable criteria

• Full membership of the Security Institute or PHIA would be advantageous as would another professional security qualification.
• National Intelligence Analysis Training (NIAT) training/qualification or equivalent.

Benefits

Alongside your salary of £51,824, UK Health Security Agency contributes £13,992 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 and will assess Behaviours and Experience

Stage 1: Application & Sift  

You will be required to complete an application form. You will be assessed on essential criteria, and this will be in the form of a:

• CV/ Application form (‘Employer/ Activity history’ section on the application) 
• 750 word Statement of Suitability.  

This should outline how you consider your skills, experience, and knowledge, provide evidence of your suitability for the role, with reference to the essential criteria.  

The CV and Statement of Suitability will be marked together.

If you are successful at this stage, you will progress to interview & assessment  

Please do not exceed 750 words. We will not consider any words over and above this number. 

Feedback will not be provided at this stage. 

Stage 2: Interview  

You will be invited to a (single) remote interview

Behaviours  will be tested at interview. 

The Behaviours tested during the interview stage will be:

• Seeing the Bigger Picture
• Communicating and Influencing
• Working Together
• Managing a Quality Service

Once this job has closed, the job advert will no longer be available. You may want to save a copy for your records. 

Eligibility Criteria 

Option 1 - External  

Open to all external applicants (anyone) from outside the Civil Service (including by definition internal applicants). 

Security Clearance Level Requirement   

Successful candidates must pass a disclosure and barring security checks. If successful, you must also hold or be willing to obtain security clearance to DV level. More information about the vetting process can be found at the following link: https://www.gov.uk/guidance/united-kingdom-security-vetting-applicant

For meaningful National Security Vetting checks to be carried out individuals need to have lived in the UK for a sufficient period of time. You should normally have been resident in the United Kingdom for the last 10 years as the role requires Developed Vetting (DV) clearance. UK residency less than the outlined periods may not necessarily bar you from gaining national security vetting and applicants should contact the Vacancy Holder / Recruiting Manager listed in the advert for further advice. 

Disability Confident scheme  

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.  

Reserve List clause  

Candidates who pass the interview criteria but are not offered a post will be kept on a reserve list for 12 months and may be contacted if similar roles become available.   

If you are interviewed for the post and do not meet the required threshold for the specified grade, your application may be assessed against a similar, lower grade role and you may be offered the post should one be available.  

Starting salary  

New entrants to the Civil Service are expected to start on the minimum of the pay band.    

The internal roles rules apply to existing Civil Servants, i.e. level transfers move on current salary or the pay range minimum, transfers on promotion move to new pay range minimum or receive 10% increase.    

Either case is determined by whichever is the highest.   

For further details please refer to the Information Sheet- Starting Salaries & Benefits attachment  

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

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.