CS Interview Coach

Protective Security Advisor

HM Land Registry

Department
HM Land Registry
Location
London, Coventry, Durham, Croydon, Gloucester, Weymouth
Openings
1 post
Grade
SEO
Salary
£47,084
Closing
14 days left
Profession
Policy, Finance, Operational Delivery
Contract
Permanent
Security clearance
SC
Working pattern
Flexible working, Full-time, Part-time
Apply on Civil Service Jobs

Job summary

We have an exciting opportunity for a Protective Security Advisor to join the Data & Register Integrity Group within the Risk, Assurance and Security Team.

This role supports the delivery of an effective, security risk‑based approach advising the business on all aspects of protective security.

A key aspect of the role is to establish and maintain the appropriate physical security posture for HM Land Registry (HMLR), providing the Head of Protective Security with assurance of the effectiveness of these controls.

As post holder, you will have input into incident management, personnel security, third party supplier assurance, information security, education and awareness and Business Continuity.

What they’re looking for

  • To be successful in this role, candidates will have NPSA or other relevant specialist training; OR equivalent professional experience.
  • You will also have previous or current experience in:
  • Physical Security
  • Personnel Security, including pre-employment checks, employment policies and processes
  • National Security Vetting and Aftercare
  • You are a current security professional with recent (AC1.1) physical/personnel security experience.
  • You have knowledge of operational risk and risk control frameworks with experience of completing operational requirements. You also understand Information security management systems and risk assessment methodologies.
  • You can demonstrate experience of effective stakeholder engagement and the ability to work collaboratively, whilst having the ability to communicate clearly and confidently with a wide range of stakeholders.
  • You also have experience of collating, interpreting and explaining information and intelligence, providing meaningful insights, management and performance information, and signposting future opportunities.
  • In addition, you can prioritise competing tasks and deliver work to agreed deadlines with a working knowledge of security controls, including technical, procedural, personnel and physical controls.
  • For more information, please see the attached Job Description and Candidate Pack.
  • Visa Sponsorship
  • Please note that we will only offer sponsorship for a skilled worker visa where a role is in a certain business critical category. This role does not meet that category, and we will not sponsor a skilled worker visa.
  • You must ensure you have the appropriate right to work in the UK before applying.

Behaviours you’ll be assessed on

This advert says the panel will score you against these behaviours at SEO level. Each one links to worked examples.

Job description

Within this role, you will support the Head of Protective Security and act as the Physical Security SME and have responsibility for providing advice and guidance to HMLR covering all aspects of physical and personnel security, including the management of physical security risks and maintenance of standards.

You will act as an intelligent customer on behalf of HMLR, requesting and monitoring delivered services from the Government Security Centres of Excellence covering physical, personnel and Security Education and Awareness.

Demonstrating strong leadership, time management, communication, influencing and persuasion skills, you will support Risk Owners’ expectations for security delivery and the management of their risks.

In addition, you will assist the Head of Protective Security and Chief Security Advisor in the implementation of HMLR Security and Resilience strategy and mission, as well as advising on physical, personnel and industry security risks.

You will also provide assurance to the Head of Protective Security on the effectiveness and maturity of HMLR defined physical, personnel and industry security controls.

Main duties include:

  • Testing and verifying the effectiveness of protective security controls in achieving the desired security outcomes, rather than focusing purely on whether the right ones are in place.
  • Contribute to the scrutiny of service specifications and supplier bids in relation to physical and personnel contractual controls during contract procurement and tendering process, provide expert advice on the impact of these bids on HMLR security and resilience.
  • Undertaking Security Assurance activities and delivering reports with evidence-based findings and recommendations for improvement in areas where assurance has been undertaken, tracking any findings and recommendations to completion.
  • Identify and share good practise whilst undertaking assurance activities.
  • Recommend to the Head of Protective Security where additional actions will support assurance activities.
  • Provide assurance that security incidents are proportionately managed after a security incident has been identified, addressed and closed, as necessary.
  • Identify and assess existing/new threats (threat actor and vectors) and security alerts and provide assurance against the current state of controls and their ongoing proportionate suitability.
  • Developing and maintaining HMLR physical security policies, process and procedures. Ensuring that these are aligned with relevant regulations, policies and standards to provide proportional, practical security,

For more information about the role and full list of main duties, please see the attached Job Description.

This role may involve occasional travel which may include some overnight stays (for which expenses will be covered), will be required for meetings, projects, supporting ISO 27001 audits and when undertaking assurance activities.

HMLR expect everyone to spend at least 60% of their working time in the office.

This role will require the successful candidate to already hold a current NSV Security Check (SC) to be transferred to HMLR on appointment.

https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/united-kingdom-security-vetting-clearance-levels/national-security-vetting-clearance-levels

Qualifications

NPSA or other specialist training; OR equivalent experience.

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)

Selection process

This vacancy is using Success Profiles (opens in a new window), and will assess your Behaviours and Experience.

To apply, please complete the online application form and attach a copy of your CV when prompted. Your CV needs to demonstrate your career history and qualifications. Your CV will be assessed against the following criteria:

  • NPSA or other specialist training OR equivalent experience.
  • Previous or current experience in Physical Security; Personnel Security and National Security Vetting and Aftercare.
  • Current security professional with recent (AC1.1) physical/personnel security experience.

The Personal Statement section (in no more than 1000 words) should be used to how you meet the following essential criteria:

  • Knowledge of operational risk and risk control frameworks
  • Experience of completing operational requirements
  • Understanding of Information security management systems and risk assessment methodologies.
  • Understanding of security controls (technical, procedural, personnel and physical).

Please review your application form before clicking ‘submit’ – once you have submitted, you will not be able to amend your application. Ensure your application form is received by the closing date for receipt of applications – this is 23:55pm on the advertised date.

The sift will take place shortly after the closing date. If successful at the shortlisting stage, you will be invited to attend an interview and pre-prepared presentation which will be held by MS Teams week commencing Monday 12 October 2026.

The blended interview will assess the essential technical skills, experience and behaviours listed in the Job Description.

Candidates may refer to notes within their interview, but they should be used as a prompt only.

HMLR is accredited to the Disability Confidence Scheme, which denotes organisations which have a positive attitude towards disabled people. DCS applicants who meet the minimum criteria at shortlisting may be invited to attend an interview.

If any candidate requires the panel to consider a reasonable adjustment or there is anything else they would like the panel to take into consideration they are asked to notify us of this at application stage where possible or during the process as soon as it becomes a requirement.

You can find more information on how we use your personal data on our website.

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 SEO level. Practise STAR answers and get them marked against the same framework.

Start practising free

3 free questions · No card needed

Similar vacancies

Interview articles for SEO roles

All articles

Browse more like this