Personnel Security - National Security Vetting Lead (Ref: 13384)

Job summary

Please refer to Job Description

Job description

Overview of Security and Information Directorate (SID)

SID is part of the Service Transformation Group. The Group oversees the building of a strategic vision for modernising and digitising our legacy systems, generating a coordinated plan across the MoJ and its agencies for transformation, and tracking delivery of this transformation.

Security and information management are fundamental building blocks of enabling the department to deliver. We have highly skilled experts working collaboratively with the department, Government Security Group, Government Knowledge and Information Management profession and other partners to enable the whole of the MoJ to function securely, lawfully and transparently.

We identify, manage, and mitigate MoJ’s security, data protection and information risks, and provide assurance against those risks. We’re also home to the Counter Fraud Centre of Expertise. Part of our mission is to up-skill the department so that security becomes second nature to our people and partners.

Team Profile

Security and Counter Fraud work as part of the Security Information Directorate to keep the MoJ and its people safe and secure. We cover:

• Group Security (including Personnel and Physical Security)
• Security Governance and Portfolio
• Counter Fraud Centre of Expertise
• The Office of the Chief Security Office

The responsibilities of the Personnel security team are:

• Deliver a high-quality National Security Vetting (NSV) service to ensure timely and accurate clearances.
• Manage personnel security risks through effective handling of cases within the NSV Aftercare process.
• Coordinate and oversee Overseas Security Travel Requests, ensuring compliance with security policy.
• Lead and develop the Insider Risk Programme, driving initiatives to identify and mitigate internal risk.
• Investigate, oversee, and continuously improve unauthorised disclosure investigations and processes.
• Advise on and enhance personnel security policies, processes, and guidance, collaborating with stakeholders to manage risks and support Ministry of Justice staff.

Summary

As Personnel Security Lead, you will be at the forefront of delivering and transforming the Ministry of Justice’s personnel security services, services that protect our people, safeguard our assets, and underpin national security. This is a leadership role with real impact: you will shape and embed an in-house National Security Vetting service, strengthen aftercare provision, and ensure our overseas security arrangements meet the highest standards.

You will work in partnership with the G7 Insider Risk Lead to deliver a proactive, integrated personnel security and insider risk capability across the Ministry of Justice. Together, you will lead a single, collaborative team, deputising for each other where necessary and building a culture of shared responsibility.

Your work will go beyond the basic service. You will lead a team dedicated to driving innovation, improving controls, and leveraging data-driven insights to enhance efficiency and resilience. From influencing policy to collaborating with stakeholders across government, you will ensure our personnel security function is proactive, agile, and aligned with strategic priorities.

Responsibilities, Activities and Duties

The job holder will be required to carry out the following responsibilities, activities, and duties:

National Security Vetting

• Lead and Oversee NSV Services. Take strategic ownership of the Ministry of Justice’s National Security Vetting (NSV) function, ensuring clearance capacity is effectively managed and all processes align with HMG and MoJ policy.
• Deliver and Embed the In-House NSV Service: Lead the seamless transition from external provision to a fully operational in-house National Security Vetting service. Drive implementation at pace while ensuring robust risk management, compliance, and operational excellence.
• Develop and Mature Aftercare Provision. Build and enhance the NSV Aftercare capability, ensuring it is fit for purpose and supports the long-term integrity of the vetting process.

Overseas security

• Shape Overseas Security Policy and Practice. Oversee MoJ’s approach to overseas travel, identifying gaps in service provision and leading improvements in policy and operational practice to meet HMG expectations.
• Deliver Trusted Security Advice. Ensure the overseas travel security service provides timely, accurate, and supportive guidance to staff, enabling safe and secure travel across global locations.
• Collaborate to Close Gaps. Work closely with stakeholders to identify and address potential gaps in service provision or policy, ensuring risks are mitigated and standards are consistently upheld.

Leadership and Continuous Improvement

• Lead and Empower a High-Performing Team. Manage a team of approximately 13 staff based across the UK. With direct line management of 1 SEO. Set clear objectives, promote collaboration, and ensure the team works as one to deliver for MoJ.
• Build Capability and Team Spirit. Champion professional development and resilience within the personnel security team, creating a strong, supportive culture and developing security professionals for the future.
• Drive Innovation and Efficiency. Identify opportunities to leverage automation and data-driven insights to improve performance, deliver cost savings, and streamline processes. Take decisive action to implement improvements.
• Integrate Insider Risk with Personnel Security. Provide expert guidance to ensure the Insider Risk Programme is fully embedded within the wider personnel security function. Champion a joined-up approach that anticipates emerging threats, drives cultural change, and strengthens MoJ’s resilience.
• Adapt to Strategic Priorities. Work collaboratively and supportively with SID senior leadership to deliver wider organisational objectives, adapting priorities and resources to meet evolving departmental and cross-government security requirements.

This list is at present and is not intended to be exhaustive. The job holder is expected to accept reasonable alterations and additional tasks of a similar level that may be necessary.

Minimum Eligibility

• All candidates are subject to security and identity checks prior to taking up post. This post requires the successful candidate to achieve DV clearance. It is not a pre-requisite for the role but eligibility for DV clearance is.
• All external candidates are subject to a minimum of 6 months’ probation. Internal candidates are subject to probation if they have not already served a probationary period within MoJ.

Application Process

This vacancy will be assessed using Success Profiles:

The Civil Service recruits using Success Profiles. This means for each role we advertise; we consider what the candidate will need to demonstrate to be successful. This gives us the best possible chance of finding the right person for the job, drives up performance and improves diversity and inclusivity.

A Success Profile is made up of 5 elements:

• behaviours - the actions and activities that people do which result in effective performance in a job
• strengths - the things we do regularly, do well and that motivate us
• ability - the aptitude or potential to perform to the required standard
• experience - the knowledge or mastery of an activity or subject gained through involvement in or exposure to it
• technical - the demonstration of specific professional skills, knowledge or qualifications

Not all the elements are relevant to every role, and will vary depending on the profession, level and type of role.

For this role the application process is:

1) Written application

1. Changing and Improving 250 words
2. Statement of suitability against the essential/desirable skills- 750 words
3. CV

If there are a high number of applications a long sift will be completed on the answer to the changing and improving behaviour question.

2) Interview

1. 10min presentation with supporting slides
2. 2 behaviour questions- Leadership and Making effective decisions.
3. Strength based questions

Essential skills:

• Demonstrated expertise in personnel security and/or National Security Vetting.
• Excellent stakeholder engagement and relationship-building skills.
• Exceptional decision-making skills, with the ability to balance operational, strategic, and human factors in complex scenarios.
• Experience leading or delivering a quality service with high throughput.
• Proven leadership experience, including managing multi-disciplinary, nationally dispersed teams
• Strong risk management capability, including assessing, mitigating, and communicating security risks effectively.
• Excellent decision-making skills, with an ability to clearly articulate and justify your decisions.
• Experience in implementing large scale change.

Desirable skills:

• Experience in developing and implementing overseas security policy and operational practices, including risk assessments for international travel.
• Experience in developing and influencing security policy at departmental or cross-government level.
• Knowledge and experience of insider risk assessment and mitigation.
• Knowledge and experience of improving compliance with the Government Security Groups Personnel Security standards.
• Knowledge or experience of how to reduce insider risks through personnel security measures such as aftercare and or security education and awareness.

Person specification

Please refer to Job Description

Behaviours

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

• Changing and Improving
• Leadership
• Making Effective Decisions

Benefits

Alongside your salary of £58,511, Ministry of Justice contributes £16,950 towards you being a member of the Civil Service Defined Benefit Pension scheme. Find out what benefits a Civil Service Pension provides.

• Access to learning and development
• A working environment that supports a range of flexible working options to enhance your work life balance
• A working culture which encourages inclusion and diversity
• A Civil Service pension with an employer contribution of 28.97%
• Annual Leave
• Public Holidays
• Season Ticket Advance

For more information about the recruitment process, benefits and allowances and answers to general queries, please click the below link which will direct you to our Candidate Information Page.

Link: https://justicejobs.tal.net/vx/candidate/cms/About%20the%20MOJ

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, Strengths and Experience.https://justicejobs.tal.net/vx/candidate/cms/About%20the%20MOJ

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 developed vetting (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 : SSCL Recruitment Enquiries Team
• Email : moj-recruitment-vetting-enquiries@resourcing.soprasteria.co.uk
• Telephone : 0345 241 5359

Recruitment team

• Email : moj-recruitment-vetting-enquiries@resourcing.soprasteria.co.uk

Further information

Appointment to the Civil Service is governed by the Civil Service Commission’s Recruitment Principles. If you feel a department has breached the requirement of the Recruitment Principles and would like to raise this, please contact SSCL (Moj-recruitment-vetting-enquiries@gov.sscl.com) in the first instance. If the role has been advertised externally (outside of the Civil Service) and you are not satisfied with the response, you may bring your complaint to the Commission. For further information on bringing a complaint to the Civil Service Commission please visit their web pages: http://civilservicecommission.independent.gov.uk/civil-service-recruitm…

https://jobs.justice.gov.uk/careers/JobDetail/13384?entityId=13384