Contract type – Full Time
Band – Band M
Job Summary
This role serves as the National Lead and Subject Matter Expert (SME) for Physical Security compliance across the Counter Terrorism Policing (CTP) Network. As the technical authority for physical security within the Cyber Security Operations Centre (CSOC), you will drive the development, implementation and continuous improvement of CTP’s Physical Security Strategy, policies, standards and frameworks to ensure the national CT estate remains resilient, accredited, and aligned to UK Government protective security requirements.
You will provide senior-level technical leadership across all physical security disciplines, ensuring that physical, personnel and technical security controls are designed, implemented and maintained in line with threat assessments, accreditation requirements, system architecture, and national protective security standards. This includes advising on and assuring the secure design, deployment and integration of physical security technologies such as access control systems, CCTV, intruder detection systems, perimeter protection, security monitoring platforms and other protective measures used across the national estate.
As the National Lead, you will oversee the formal accreditation and assurance of all CT sites, ensuring they meet required security standards through technical assessment, risk evaluation and participation in national working groups and governance boards. You will maintain the central repository of accredited sites and ensure all documentation, risk statements and accreditation evidence remain accurate, auditable and technically robust.
A critical part of the role involves continuous engagement with key partners and stakeholders, including the Accreditor, UK NACE, NPSA and regional security leads, often at Director or senior governance level. You will act as the authoritative point of contact for all physical security technical matters, providing expert guidance, interpreting complex requirements, and ensuring the national approach remains consistent, compliant and operationally effective.
As the Physical Security Unit (PSU) Team Leader, you will lead and manage a team of Physical Security Officers (PSOs), ensuring a high-quality, technically capable workforce. This includes developing the PSU training pathway, overseeing ongoing professional development, mentoring new officers, allocating regional responsibility, quality‑assuring technical assessments and reports, and ensuring the unit operates as a cohesive, high-performing national capability.
The role carries significant technical responsibility and requires an in‑depth understanding of protective security engineering, risk assessments, site security architecture, secure system integration, and the emerging technologies used to protect the CT estate.
This is a national post and will involve regular travel across the UK, with the flexibility to meet operational, technical and accreditation demands. You will play a key role in safeguarding the security, integrity and resilience of the CT estate, ensuring physical, human and technical measures work together to protect communities and support national security.
Key Tasks
The post holder will be required to do the following:
- Demonstrate advanced expertise in compliance, assurance and physical protective security, applying technical knowledge of protective security architecture, system integration, physical security engineering and accreditation requirements to maximise value to the organisation.
- Understand and communicate the technical and operational value of the Physical Security service, clearly articulating how protective security controls, systems and accreditation outcomes support the CTP Network and wider mission.
- Apply detailed technical knowledge of physical security principles, systems and standards, including access control technologies, CCTV systems, intruder detection, perimeter protection, secure storage solutions, blast/ballistic standards, and security zoning, within practical and operational contexts to enhance resilience.
- Lead and manage a national physical security portfolio, identifying and communicating risks, dependencies, system weaknesses and emerging threats to stakeholders at regional, national and director-level governance boards.
- Analyse, interpret and present complex technical information objectively, including system and site diagrams, technical specifications, accreditation evidence, site surveys, risk assessments and system performance data.
- Assess CTP accommodation and estate against the national physical security standards, identifying opportunities to uplift maturity through improved design, technology upgrades, risk mitigation or enhanced procedural controls.
- Translate customer, operational and threat-driven requirements into clear, technically accurate service descriptions, solution options and protective security recommendations.
- Provide authoritative technical advice, challenge and support across the full-service lifecycle, from the initial design and planning of secure estates through to implementation, accreditation, assurance and ongoing compliance activities.
- Clearly articulate physical security technical requirements, risks and outcomes to diverse audiences, building awareness across the CTP Network and ensuring stakeholders understand the purpose and value of compliance with national physical security standards.
Key Skills
The post holder must have:
- Demonstrable experience in a relevant technical security field such as physical protective security, technical security engineering, information assurance, information security, or protective monitoring, with the ability to apply this experience to complex operational environments.
- Proven ability to interpret, apply and operationalise complex security policies, technical standards and government guidelines, translating them into practical physical security requirements, controls and actionable recommendations.
- Strong technical understanding of physical security systems and technologies, including access control, CCTV, perimeter protection, secure storage, security zoning, and supporting infrastructure.
- Ability to critically analyse and assess technical documentation, system and site designs, site security plans, risk assessments, engineering specifications and accreditation evidence to ensure compliance with national standards.
- Experience in leading or contributing to technical risk assessments, identifying vulnerabilities in physical and technical security controls, and advising on mitigation measures.
- Highly developed communication skills, with the ability to articulate complex technical and security concepts clearly to both technical and non‑technical audiences, including senior leaders, engineers, and operational colleagues.
- Strong IT and digital skills, with the ability to work confidently with Microsoft 365, digital mapping tools, asset management systems, dashboards, and technical reporting platforms to maintain accurate records and present information effectively.
How to Apply
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