Personnel Security Associate
Defence Science and Technology Laboratory
- Department
- Defence Science and Technology Laboratory
- Location
- Salisbury
- Openings
- 3 posts
- Grade
- EO
- Salary
- £28,039 to £30,633
- Closing
- 17 days left
- Profession
- Operational Delivery
- Contract
- Permanent
- Security clearance
- DV
- Working pattern
- Flexible working, Full-time, Compressed hours
Job summary
As a Personnel Security Associate, you'll play a key role in delivering a professional security vetting service, supporting colleagues, contractors and external partners. Working within a collaborative team, you'll help ensure security clearances are processed efficiently while providing excellent customer service and maintaining high standards of confidentiality.
Dstl recognises the importance of diversity and inclusion as people from diverse backgrounds bring fresh ideas. We are committed to building an inclusive working environment in which each employee fulfils their potential and maximises their contribution.
What they’re looking for
- What we're looking for
- Experience in an administrative, customer service or support role.
- Strong organisational skills and attention to detail.
- The ability to manage competing priorities and work accurately under pressure.
- Confidence using Microsoft Office applications, including Outlook, Word and Excel.
- Experience handling confidential information and maintaining accurate records.
- Why join us?
- This is an exciting opportunity to develop your career in personnel security while making a real contribution to national security. You'll join a supportive team, gain valuable experience in security vetting, and play an important role in ensuring Dstl operates in a safe and secure environment.
- Please see attached below the Job profile for full information about this role
- Important Information
- Our work in defence, security and intelligence requires our employees to be UK Nationals who are able to gain a high level of security clearance to undertake the projects we are involved in to protect us from security threats. For this reason, only UK Nationals will be able to apply for this role. If you are an international or dual-national candidate, and you think you have the skills we need, please consider applying to any of our government, security or defence partners.
- This role will require full UK security clearance and you should have resided in the UK for the past 5 years. For some roles Developed Vetting will also be required, in this case you should have resided in the UK for the past 10 years.
Behaviours you’ll be assessed on
This advert says the panel will score you against these behaviours at EO level. Each one links to worked examples.
Job description
What you'll be doing
- Managing and processing security clearance applications and reviews.
- Supporting government departments and external organisations with vetting enquiries and requests.
- Maintaining accurate records, databases and shared mailboxes.
- Providing administrative support across the wider security function.
- Delivering a responsive, professional customer service to a range of stakeholders.
- Supporting the team to meet performance targets while maintaining quality and compliance.
- Handling sensitive information with care and integrity.
Qualifications
Evidence of good standard of general education e.g. GCSEs or equivalent including
English and Mathematics at Grade C or above.
Nationality requirements
Open to UK nationals only.
This job is not open to candidates who hold a dual nationality.
Selection process
This vacancy is using Success Profiles (opens in a new window), and will assess your Behaviours and Experience.
We want you to have your best chance of success in our recruitment process, so If at any stage of the application process you would like help or assistance please contact the Dstl Recruitment Team dstlrecruitment@dstl.gov.uk and we will do all we can to support you.
Sifting will take place week commencing the 9th November with interviews will be held on 24th November 2026 at Dstl Porton Down and will consist of behavioural & technical interview.
Feedback will only be provided if you attend an interview or assessment.
Practise before you apply
Civil Service panels score every answer against the Success Profiles behaviours at EO level. Practise STAR answers and get them marked against the same framework.
3 free questions · No card needed
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