Operational Security Supervisor

Job summary

The Home Office works to build a safe, fair and prosperous UK. We achieve this through our work on counter-terrorism, policing, crime, drugs policy, immigration and passports.

The Corporate Services Group works closely with the Home Office’s policy and operational commands to enable us together to deliver the department’s priorities. The group is comprised of different teams and professional functions, including Commercial, Communications, Finance, People, Portfolio and Project Delivery, Private Office, Security, Estates and Information.

We are recruiting 1 x SGB1 (AO) Operational Security Supervisor to work within the Physical Security Team. The successful candidates will form part of the security team and be responsible for overseeing the daily running of security on site, situated at Old Park Barracks within the Dover area. This is an important and varied role which has a considerable effect on the day-to-day operation of the Kent Region and wider business objective. Flexibility and prioritising are key requirements.

Job description

An Operational Security Supervisor is required to have good organisational skills, and the ability to maintain effective administrative processes, have good written and verbal communication skills with an eye for detail. You will need to have a positive approach to customer service with strong interpersonal skills, and the ability to build effective relationships with colleagues within an organisation. Be responsible and self-motivated in keeping up to date with Home Office standing instructions and procedures, including keeping children safe applicable to the guarding service and requesting remedial training via your line manager. Remain accountable, not only for your actions and decisions whilst on duty, but that of the teams. Always remain vigilant, reporting and reacting to any emerging situation. Make timely and effective referrals to Security Management when required. Ensure all communication with colleagues, staff and customers is clear and concise. Assist and provide guidance to all customers, staff, and internal / external stakeholders, promoting a positive and professional working relationship that proactively contributes to the work of the team and aids business delivery.

Key responsibilities

• You should be proactive with the ability to work in a fast-paced and at times highly pressured environment. Hold strong interpersonal skills, and the ability to build relationships with colleagues at every level within the organisation.
• Provide and oversee the provision of effective physical security. Ensuring the protection of Home Office buildings, staff and assets and control the entry to sites, in line with the current conditions of entry and policy.
• Enable the business to function in a safe and secure manner and in accordance with policy and guidance.
• Maintain accurate logbooks, succinctly detailing incidents, or occurrences to the Security Manager.
• Set out and manage the team's breaks and workloads for the day.
• Provide support and guidance if required to colleagues within the team
• Monitor alarm systems & CCTV.

Assist and provide guidance to all customers, staff, and internal / external stakeholders, promoting a positive and professional working relationship that proactively contributes to the work of the team and aids business delivery.

Work Pattern

Due to the business requirements of this role, it is only available on a full-time basis on a four-week rolling roster.

Uniform – All Security Officers are required to wear Uniform and PPE. This will be provided by the department and must be worn at all times.

Training

This is a diverse and exciting role, with which, full training will be provided, along with mentoring ensuring you’re fully supported within the role.

Travel

There may be an occasional requirement to travel to Home Office buildings within the Kent estate, but this is expected to be infrequent.

Person specification

Essential Criteria

• Ability to complete 12-hour shifts covering a 24hr period 365 days a year.
• You must be able and willing to wear a stab vest, uniform and other required personal protective equipment for the duration of the shift (excluding breaks).
• Ability to complete full foot patrols of internal and external areas.

Desirable Criteria

• Experience within a supervisory role, completing rosters and directing a team.
• Experience of Security and Customer Service.

Behaviours

We'll assess you against these behaviours during the selection process:

• Making Effective Decisions
• Communicating and Influencing
• Delivering at Pace
• Managing a Quality Service

We only ask for evidence of these behaviours on your application form:

• Making Effective Decisions

Benefits

In addition to your salary, a career with the Home Office offers a range of benefits, including:

• A Civil Service pension with an employer contribution of 28.97%.
• In-year reward scheme for one-off or sustained exceptional personal or team achievements.
• 25 days annual leave on appointment, rising with service to 30 days.
• Eight days of public holidays, plus one additional privilege day.

This role currently attracts Annualised Hours Allowance (AHA) of 44.37% however this can change yearly. Further information can be found on our website.

• See more of our benefits on our careers website.

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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

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

This gives us the best possible chance of finding the right person for the job, drives up performance and improves diversity and inclusivity.

We will endeavour to conduct the selection process in line with the dates indicated below, but cannot guarantee that these will not, where necessary, be revised.

• Application – by 20th November 2026

As part of the application process, you will be asked to complete:

• CV.
• Personal Statement (maximum 500 words)
• Evidence of the Behaviour, Making Effective Decisions (maximum of 250 words per Behaviour).

Your CV should consist of your career history, qualifications and skills/experience including any key achievements in each role. Your CV will be scored against the experience required for the role as noted within the essential criteria.

The Personal Statement should be aligned to and demonstrate how you meet the skills and experience set out in the essential criteria, detailed in the job description.

For guidance and information on how to construct your application (CV, Personal Statement and Behaviours), you are encouraged to visit Civil Service Careers website.

2. Sift – from 24th November 2026.

The sift will be held on the Personal Statement, Lead Behaviour, Making Effective Decisions and CV as listed in the advert.

Should a high volume of applications be received, an initial sift will be conducted on the Personal Statement. Candidates who pass the initial sift will then be progressed to a full sift that will consist of all the remaining elements submitted CV / Lead Behaviour.Candidates who fail to meet the minimum pass score for the initial sift will not have their remaining submitted elements scored and will only receive a sift score for that assessed at the initial sift.

3. Interview – from 15th December 2026.

If you are successful at sift stage, you will be invited to an interview that will be Behaviours based questions.

The interview will take place online via Teams.

For guidance and information on what to expect and how to prepare for an interview, you are encouraged to visit Civil Service Careers.

Problems during the application process

If you experience problems accessing this advert, or you think you’ve made a mistake on an initial application, please contact hocandidates.grs@cabinetoffice.gov.uk, including the vacancy reference, at least two working days before the vacancy closes. Further information can be found on our website.

Do not create or attempt to submit another application, online test or use a different Civil Service Jobs account to proceed as this would be in violation of the candidate declaration.

Location Preferences

You will only be able to select a single location preference so please ensure this is a location that you are prepared to travel to. If you are offered a role at your preferred location and you decline, your application will be withdrawn.

Reserve List

A reserve list may be held for a period of up to 12 months from which further appointments may be made. There is not guarantee that being held on a reserve list will lead to a job offer. Further information can be foundon our website.

Reserve lists will be held for each location. Candidates will be appointed in merit order by location.

Breaking Tied Scores

The behaviours have been ranked in order of importance to enable us to differentiate between candidates with tied interview scores.

Standards

All Civil Servants are expected to comply with the Civil Service Code, and its core values of integrity, honesty, objectivity and impartiality.

Additional Security Checks

As well as successfully obtaining UK Security Vetting clearance, candidates will be subject to a range of additional checks. The range of checks carried out will depend on whether you are a current Home Office employee, existing civil servant or an external new entrant as well as the role requirements. Further details are included in the Notes to Candidates.

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 HOrecruitment.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.

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.

Working Pattern

This role is full time only. Applicants who wish to work an alternative pattern are welcome to apply however your preferred working pattern may not be available and you should discuss this with the vacancy holder before applying.

Feedback

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

Security

Successful candidates must undergo a basic (or equivalent) 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.The Civil Service also offers a Redeployment Interview Scheme to civil servants who are at risk of redundancy, and who meet the minimum requirements for the advertised vacancy.

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

This vacancy is part of the Great Place to Work for Veterans (opens in a new window) initiative.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 : Home Office Resourcing Centre – Corporate Enablers
• Email : HORCCampaignTeamCorporateEnablers@homeoffice.gov.uk

Recruitment team

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

Further information

If you feel that your application has not been treated in accordance with the Civil Service Recruitment Principles. and you wish to make a complaint, then contact the Government Recruitment Service via HOrecruitment.grs@cabinetoffice.gov.uk. If you are not satisfied with the response that you receive, then you can contact the Civil Service Commission.

Attachments

2025-11-01 Pre-employment Checking - Document Requirements (V17) Opens in new window (pdf, 642kB)candidate_information_v18_July_2026 (1) Opens in new window (pdf, 8MB)