Investigation Officer - North East England

Job summary

The SIA is the organisation responsible for the regulation of private security. It is an independent, arm’s length body (ALB) of the Home Office, reporting to the Home Secretary, under the terms of the Private Security Industry Act 2001. The SIA’s purpose is protecting the public through effective regulation of the private security industry and working with partners to raise standards across the sector. Its regulatory remit covers the United Kingdom.

The SIA has two main duties: the compulsory licensing of individuals undertaking designated activities within the private security industry and the management of a voluntary Approved Contractor Scheme, which measures private security suppliers against independently assessed criteria.

SIA licensing covers security operatives undertaking designated activities in guarding, door supervision, close protection, cash and valuables in transit, public space surveillance using CCTV, vehicle immobilisation (in Northern Ireland) and key holding. Licensing ensures that private security operatives are fit and proper persons who are properly trained and qualified to do their job.

Job description

Working within the SIA’s Compliance and Inspections function, you will be responsible for conducting effective investigations, inspections, and other compliance activity, to support the SIA’s purpose of protecting the public and raising standards. Responding to circumstances of regulatory offending, where the public may be placed at risk of harm or regulatory outcomes have been undermined, you will be tasked to conduct high quality investigations and enquiries to determine the most appropriate regulatory response. This may include progressing cases towards a formal compliance outcome or other appropriate interventions such as working with partners undertaking disruption activities.

You will be responsible for building and maintaining key partnerships and productive relationships with colleagues across the organisation, the Police and other law enforcement partners, HMRC and government regulators, as well as local authorities, and the private security industry, to enable compliance strategies to be implemented to deliver regulatory outcomes.

Person specification

Essential Criteria

• Hold or work towards obtaining accreditation to College of Policing Professionalising Investigative Practice 1 (PIP1) within 12 months of joining the organisation. An equivalent qualification will be accepted. ​
• Ability to make effective decisions that are supported by accurate records and to prioritise urgent issues whilst achieving outcomes to agreed deadlines. Use of innovative approaches to problem solving and demonstrable ability to act under own initiative.​
• Ability to conduct investigations or enquiries with minimal direct supervision suggesting creative tactical solutions to issues whilst managing competing priorities and meeting challenging deadlines.​
• Excellent verbal and written communication skills and evidence of influencing and negotiation skills. Ability to present information to a proper format for a wide variety of audiences. ​
• Practical knowledge of case management in accordance with standard operating procedures, and the ability to gather and present evidence in line with procedures and legislative requirements.​
• Experience of collaborating with other teams and organisations, ability to gain the respect and confidence of partners, develop and maintain productive partnerships which deliver high quality outcomes.
• High levels of drive, determination and commitment combined with excellent team working skills. ​
• An understanding and commitment to equal opportunity and diversity issues and an ability to recognise and welcome individual diversity, both among staff and others. A commitment to health and safety practices.​
• A flexible attitude to working hours with the ability to adapt to change.

Desirable Criteria

• Experience of home working or remote working. ​
• Experience in regulatory investigations and case work.

Benefits

Alongside your salary of £36,351, Security Industry Authority contributes £10,530 towards you being a member of the Civil Service Defined Benefit Pension scheme. Find out what benefits a Civil Service Pension provides.

• A welcoming and innovative work environment.

• Continued support and development opportunities.

• Access to training for attainment of recognised qualifications.

• Flexible working arrangements.

• Annual leave entitlement will be 27.5 days, rising by one additional day for every two years of service up to a maximum of 32.5 days.

• A variety of discounts including Gymflex.

• Civil Service Pension Scheme – Employee contribution between 4.60% and 7.35% and Employer contribution between 26.60% and 30.30%.

Office attendance

Hybrid working may be available for this role.

Things you need to know

Artificial intelligence

Artificial intelligence can be a useful tool to support your application, however, all examples and statements provided must be truthful, factually accurate and taken directly from your own experience. Where plagiarism has been identified (presenting the ideas and experiences of others, or generated by artificial intelligence, as your own) applications may be withdrawn and internal candidates may be subject to disciplinary action. Please see our candidate guidance (opens in a new window) for more information on appropriate and inappropriate use.

Selection process details

The SIA does not use Success Profiles - please disregard any information below in relation to this.

After submission of the first stage of your application, you will be invited to complete two online Civil Service tests - Judgement Test and Casework Skills Test. If you successfully pass the tests, you will be invited to complete the final stage of the application.

Please complete the online tests as soon as possible (within 24-48 hours is recommended). The closing date for the tests is 23:55 on 16th January 2026. If you fail to complete the online test before the deadline, your application will be withdrawn. Note that after passing the test, you will be required to complete the rest of the application before the closing deadline, so please allow yourself adequate time to complete the full application.

Guidance for the test will be available when you are invited to take the test. The tests are administered online and accessed via the Civil Service Jobs website.

As part of the application process, you will be asked to complete a CV and 500-word personal statement. Further details around guidance for this is listed on the application form.

Please use your personal statement (in no more than 500 words) to outline why you believe you would be an ideal candidate for this role. Please highlight your relevant skills, experience and achievements that align with the essential job requirements.

To help us assess your suitability for the role, please complete the CV incorporated into the application form by providing as much information as possible about your previous work experience and achievements.

Should we receive a large number of applications, they will be sifted on personal statement only.

Candidates who pass the initial sift may be progressed to a full sift or progressed straight to assessment/interview.

Interview details will be provided to successful candidates prior to their interview taking place.

Sift and Interview Process:

Sift will take place from 19th January 2026

Interviews will be held during week commencing 2nd February 2026.

Interviews will be held via MS Teams.

Further Information

Due to business requirements, this role is only available full-time.

A reserve list of successful candidates will be kept for a maximum of 12 months. Should another role become available within that period you may be offered this position.

New entrants are expected to join on the minimum of the pay band.

Visa sponsorship

We do not sponsor individuals via Skilled Worker Sponsorship / Tier 2 (General) work visas.

If you are invited to an interview, you will be required to bring documentation for the purposes of establishing your identity.

You will need to meet the nationality requirements for this role and obtain the necessary security clearance to take it up.

For meaningful security checks to be carried out, individuals need to have lived in the UK for a sufficient period of time.

Reasonable Adjustments

If a person with disabilities is at a substantial disadvantage compared to a non-disabled person, we have a duty to make reasonable changes to our processes.

If you need a change to be made so that you can make your application, you should:

• Contact Government Recruitment Service via sia.grs@cabinetoffice.gov.uk as soon as possible before the closing date to discuss your needs

• Complete the “Assistance Required” section in the “Additional Requirements” page of your application form to tell us what changes or help you might need further on in the recruitment process. For instance, you may need wheelchair access at interview, or if you're deaf, a language service professional

If you are experiencing accessibility problems with any attachments on this advert, please contact the email address in the ‘Contact point for applicants’ section.

Criminal Record Check

In order to process applications without delay, we will be sending a Criminal Record Check to Disclosure and Barring Service on your behalf. However, we recognise in exceptional circumstances some candidates will want to send their completed forms direct.

If you will be doing this, please advise Government Recruitment Service of your intention by emailing Pre-EmploymentChecks.grs@cabinetoffice.gov.uk stating the job reference number in the subject heading.

Feedback

Feedback will only be provided if you attend an interview or assessment.

Security

Successful candidates must undergo a criminal record check.Successful candidates must meet the security requirements before they can be appointed. The level of security needed is security check (opens in a new window).

See our vetting charter (opens in a new window).People working with government assets must complete baseline personnel security standard (opens in new window) checks.

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)

Working for the Civil Service

The Civil Service Code (opens in a new window) sets out the standards of behaviour expected of civil servants.

We recruit by merit on the basis of fair and open competition, as outlined in the Civil Service Commission's recruitment principles (opens in a new window).The Civil Service embraces diversity and promotes equal opportunities. As such, we run a Disability Confident Scheme (DCS) for candidates with disabilities who meet the minimum selection criteria.

Diversity and Inclusion

The Civil Service is committed to attract, retain and invest in talent wherever it is found. To learn more please see theCivil Service People Plan (opens in a new window) and the Civil Service Diversity and Inclusion Strategy (opens in a new window).

Apply and further information

Once this job has closed, the job advert will no longer be available. You may want to save a copy for your records.

Contact point for applicants

Job contact :

• Name : SIA Recruitment Team
• Email : Recruitment@sia.gov.uk

Recruitment team

• Email : sia.grs@cabinetoffice.gov.uk

Further information

Complaints should be submitted to recruitment@sia.gov.uk. If, after investigation by the SIA, the complainant remains dissatisfied, they may bring their complaint to the Civil Service Commission.

Attachments

2025-11-17 Pre-employment Checking - Document Requirements (V17) Opens in new window (pdf, 231kB)SIA Candidate Pack V4 - IO (North East) Opens in new window (pdf, 1128kB)