Security & Contract Support Manager

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 Chief Operating Officer Group works closely with the Home Office’s policy and operational commands to enable us together to deliver the department’s priorities.

Home Office Security plays a vital role in safeguarding our people, buildings, and assets. We deliver operational security services across the Home Office estate, including manned guarding, CCTV monitoring, and access control, supported by a 24/7 Security Control Room.

Job description

As a Security & Contract Support Manager, you will lead a team of security officers to ensure the safety and integrity of Home Office sites. You will oversee day-to-day operations, manage staff performance, and ensure resources are deployed effectively and within budget. You will also support the management of external security contract staff, ensuring service delivery meets agreed standards and operational requirements across assigned estates and support the national contract delivery and response. This will include travel to other estates across the country and remotely liaising with Security teams and senior business leads across these locations reporting to the Home Office Security Contract Manager.

This is a dynamic role requiring strong leadership, operational oversight, and a proactive approach to continuous improvement in both internal security practices and contractor supplier performance as part of a large and growing contract.

Key Responsibilities

• Ensure 100% adherence to contract terms, including staffing levels, vetting, and training requirements.
• Submit quarterly contractor performance reports to SEO/senior management, including incident trends and service quality metrics/and maintain a log of all escalations and resolutions with contractors.
• Report 100% of serious incidents or breaches to senior management within 24 hours, ensure incidents are responded to and dealt with, as per agreed processes, including de-briefing teams, attending wash-up meetings and close working with Senior Managers and NSO / Emergency Services.
• Achieve ≥98% of contracted service level targets (e.g. [Core] guard coverage, response times). Ensure corrective actions are implemented within 10 working days of any service failure.
• Conduct monthly review meetings with contract suppliers and internal; senior business & external stakeholders, maintain regular contact with senior business leads across assigned locations, record and follow up on all action points from supplier meetings within 5 working days.
• Monitor and report on contract spend against contract budget monthly, as per the time scales set out in the agreed billing and invoicing process. Ensure compliance with HMT Green Book and Contract Commercial playbooks.
• Maintain up-to-date contract documentation and audit trails for all decisions and communications, financial information / data is recorded accurately and within the required timeframes, set out in the Contract finance management process and security and training logs.
• Oversee day-to-day security operations across the estate and other sites, providing operational support to senior management, security teams, and incident management. Conduct regular performance and attendance reviews and manage rotas and resources efficiently. Proving other business functions as directed by senior management team and business needs.

Working Pattern

• Due to the business requirements of this role, it is only available on a full-time basis and you will be required to attend the office.

This Annualised Hours role includes allowances for the following:

• Flexibility and Predictability (as shifts may change at short notice).
• Rostered shifts between 06:00 and 21:00, Monday to Friday.
• Premium hours may include weekend and public holiday work.
• On‑call duties, with a work mobile provided and payment at standard on‑call rates; may require attending site.
• A small amount of overtime may be included in weekly shifts but can be withdrawn with one month’s notice.
• All allowances are voluntary, not guaranteed, and may change based on business needs.

Travel

Occasional travel within the UK may be required. Travel costs incurred for business need will be reimbursed in line with Home Office travel policy.

Person specification

Essential Criteria

• Strong leadership and people management skills.
• Ability to manage budgets, contracts, and resources effectively.
• Excellent communication and stakeholder engagement skills.
• Commitment to continuous improvement and high standards of service.
• Travel to complete site visits will be required. Clean driving licence.
• Ability to use IT programmes to present information and data using various programmes.
• Willingness to complete Contract Management / Finance & Project training.

Desirable Criteria

• Proven experience in contract management and physical security operations.
• Knowledge of security systems, policies, and emergency procedures.

Behaviours

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

• Managing a Quality Service
• Making Effective Decisions
• Leadership
• Communicating and Influencing
• Working Together

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

• Managing a Quality Service

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 27.39% of salary £38,419, which equates to an additional £10,522.96 (Total Up to: £48,941.96) per annum based on salary minimum. Further information can be found on our website.
• See more of our benefits on our careers website.

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.

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.

1. Application – by 22nd February 2026.

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

• CV
• Personal Statement (maximum 750 words).
• Evidence of the Behaviour Managing a Quality Service (maximum of 250 words).

Your CV should consist of your career history and skills/experience, including any key achievements in each role. Your CV will be used to provide further context on your personal statement and scored against 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 Behaviour), you are encouraged to visit Civil Service Careers website.

2. Sift – commencing from 26th February 2026.

The sift will be held on the CV, Personal Statement and Behaviour - Managing a Quality Service.

Should a high volume of applications be received, an initial sift will be conducted on the Personal Statement and CV. Candidates who pass the initial sift will then be progressed to a full sift that will consist of all the remaining elements submitted Lead Behaviour - Managing a Quality Service.

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 – commencing from 25th March 2026.

If you are successful at sift stage, you will be invited to an interview that will be:

• Behaviour (as listed in the job advert) based questions.

Interviews will be on Teams. Candidates will be required to have access to:

• A laptop (personal or work) with a working webcam.
• Good internet connection.
• A laptop (personal or work) with a working webcam
• Good internet connection.

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.

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 no guarantee that being held on a reserve list will lead to a job offer. Further information can be found on our website.

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. The level of Criminal Record Check required for this role is Basic. Further details are included in the Notes to Candidates.

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.

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.

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.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 : HORC Campaign Team - (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

2025-11-17 Pre-employment Checking - Document Requirements (V17) Opens in new window (pdf, 231kB)candidate_information_v16_January_2026 Opens in new window (pdf, 429kB)