Head of Physical and Personnel Security 19 views

💷 Salary: £59,816 – A Civil Service Pension with an employer contribution of 28.97%. Candidates based in Yeading/Uxbridge will receive the London Weighting allowance of £4,000.

🕒 Contract Type: Permanent – Flexible working, Full-time, Job share, Part-time.

The Head of Physical and Personnel Security is the senior specialist lead for physical and personnel security within DVSA, responsible for leading the development, implementation and assurance of protective security arrangements across physical security, personnel security, vetting and related resilience capabilities.

Key Responsibilities include, but are not limited to:

• Act as deputy to the Head of Cyber Security on protective security matters, representing DVSA at senior governance forums and providing expert advice to Executive Team members and Directors on significant security risks and incidents.
• Act as DVSA’s senior specialist lead for physical and personnel security, leading the development and implementation of protective security strategy and controls across physical security, personnel security, vetting and resilience capabilities.
• Lead DVSA’s personnel security and vetting capability, ensuring effective end-to-end processes, proportionate decision making and alignment with organisational risk appetite.
• Manage effective working relationships with DfT, UKSV, Cabinet Office, Government Security Function and other departments to support policy implementation, operational improvement and professional practice.

Benefits

• Employer pension contribution of 28.97% of your salary.
• 25 days annual leave, increasing by 1 day each year of service (up to a maximum of 30 days annual leave).
• 8 Bank Holidays plus an additional Privilege Day to mark the King’s birthday.
• Access to the staff discount portal.
• Excellent career development opportunities and the potential to undertake professional qualifications relevant to your role paid for by the department, such as CIPD, Prince2, apprenticeships, etc.
• 24-hour Employee Assistance Programme providing free confidential help and advice for staff.

About you

To be successful in this role you will need to have the following experience:

• Leading integrated protective security arrangements across physical security, personnel security, vetting and resilience; setting direction, developing others, influencing senior stakeholders, supporting change and embedding a professional, security-minded culture.
• Identifying, assessing, treating, monitoring and reporting protective security risks, escalating risks where appetite or tolerance is exceeded, and using assurance activity to test control effectiveness.
• Experience interpreting threat, vulnerability and risk information and translating it into practical security priorities, mitigations and advice for senior leaders, operational teams and governance forums.

📅 Apply before 11:55 pm on Sunday 8th November 2026.