United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland: Operational Security Adviser (Stabilisation Unit)

Job title:Operational Security Adviser (Stabilisation Unit)

Location: London, with overseas travel

Type of contract: Fixed term full-time until 30 April 2017 (with possibility of extension)

Security clearance requirement: Applicants must already hold valid UK Security Check (SC) or Developed Vetting (DV)

Salary: £52000 per year pro rata

Application deadline: 13 December 2016

Our business:

Crown Agents provides security advice, deployments, administrative, and other support services to the UK Stabilisation Unit (SU). The SU is a cross-government unit supporting UK government efforts to tackle instability overseas. It is physically located in the Foreign and Commonwealth Office, King Charles Street, London SW1, which would be the principal place of work for this role. See www.stabilisationunit.gov.uk for more information on the SU.

This role:

We are looking for an Operational Security Adviser to join our security team. The team currently consists of two other Operational Security Advisers and a Security Desk Officer. A projected increase in workload means that we need to expand the team.

The role involves advising the SU on security arrangements for its overseas deployees, as it serves the rest of Government (particularly DFID, MOD and FCO) in its efforts to tackle instability overseas. Tasks include:

• Provide specialist security advice and support to SU activities and deployments to fragile and conflict affected environments, from planning and development through to operational delivery

• Produce risk assessments and draft submissions that can be used to inform both risk owners and deploying staff on the risks and mitigations associated with deployments to specific, often high-threat, locations

• Self-deploy, as necessary, to conduct security assessments and fact-finding in fragile and hostile environments

• Complete comprehensive written reports with clear recommendations for the mitigation of assessed threats and risks

• Deliver pre-deployment and post-deployment briefs for Stabilisation Unit deployees

• Provide security support as necessary to deployed staff, including the provision of additional advice and the staffing (where appropriate) of approvals for high risk travel in mission

• Initiate and manage information and threat warnings to deployed Stabilisation Unit staff, potentially within compressed timelines

• Provide out of hours security advice and support to the Senior Leadership Team

• Be prepared to deploy at short notice in a crisis response deployment that requires integrated security advice / management

• Assess security threats and trends affecting SU deployees

• Undertake any other advisory duties as directed by the Senior Operational Security Advisor

  Qualifications, skills and experience:

• Extensive experience of operating in hostile environments overseas

• Track record of providing security and safety advice for personnel and infrastructure against a spectrum of threats

• Experience in producing written risk assessments under time pressure that reflect the realities faced by deployed staff

• A broad understanding of international security issues, current affairs

• A proven track record of support to deployed staff in a dynamic, operationally-focused environment

• High quality written and verbal communication skills; unambiguous and succinct when dealing with complex ideas

• The intellectual rigour and proven ability to synthesise information from multiple sources to provide effective security advice and assessments

• Comfortable working to tight deadlines without sacrificing accuracy, and able to respond effectively to short notice assignments under pressure

• Able to anticipate operational safety requirements based on imperfect information and indicators – happy to embrace uncertainty and work with ambiguity

• Able to work both independently and as a team member

• A proven track record in briefing policy and operational requirements to senior management, staff and other parties concisely and effectively

• Able to be authoritative when necessary; withstanding challenge whilst sustaining effective working relationships across Whitehall and the security community

• Previous Whitehall / HMG experience would be an advantage

• A working knowledge of relevant Health and Safety legislation would be an advantage

• Experience in the preparation and delivery of security & safety training would be an advantage

Please go the below website for a copy of the job description and for instructions on how to apply for this role.

http://www.crownagents.com/jobs/permanent-vacancies/detail/operational-security-adviser-(stabilisati...