Security Operations Manager – Welfare and Development (Welsh Language Level 3)

Job summary

The Senedd Security Service is responsible for maintaining the safety and security of everyone who visits or works at the Senedd, including elected officials and their staff.

As a Security Operations Manager, you will play a pivotal role in safeguarding the Senedd Estate while leading, developing, and supporting our Security Team Leaders and Security Officers. You will ensure our security operations run to the highest standards, while also providing a calm, professional and diplomatic point of contact for a wide range of staff, visitors, and stakeholders.

The Security Operations Manager is a line manager responsible for the supervision and development of Security Team Leaders and Security Officers and for ensuring the integrity and safety of the Senedd Estate is maintained. You will provide a professional customer interface, dealing diplomatically with a variety of people from different backgrounds, whether staff or visitors.

You will work as part of a team of four Security Operations Managers. While all four postholders are responsible for delivering the full range of operational duties, each role also carries a designated area of specialist focus. For this position, that specialism is Development & Welfare, where you will take the lead in driving staff development, wellbeing, and progression across the service.

Reporting to the Senior Security Manager, you will be responsible for delivering a high level of operational performance (Security and Customer Service) and will be required to provide support, direction, motivation for your Team Leaders and Security Officers. You will be expected to demonstrate a willingness to learn, along with judgement, excellent team working, interpersonal, leadership and management skills.

Job description

Team Leadership & Management

• Lead, manage and develop security team leaders, officers, and specialist roles, ensuring a supportive work ethos whilst working as an integral member of the team to ensure professional standards are met.
• Brief, deploy, and task staff in line with Senedd security policies and procedures.
• Plan, direct, and assess security operations, including special events and VIP protection.
• Prepare for incidents, ensuring staff training and readiness.
• Provide first-line management during incidents and lead evacuation procedures during emergencies.
• Deliver structured team communications, including meetings, briefings, and debriefings.
• Promote equality, diversity, and staff welfare in all security practices.

Operational Security Management and Engagement

• Liaise with the Senedd Policing Unit and partner agencies, including local businesses in Cardiff Bay.
• Gather and share intelligence relevant to Senedd operations.
• Maintain clear communication with senior management, supervisors, and staff.
• Ensure all security staff receive required training and maintain legal compliance.
• Keep teams informed of security issues, procedural changes, events, and VIP visits.
• Support senior security leadership in providing safety advice to Senedd Members and staff.
• Provide flexible management support, including evenings, nights, weekends, and out-of-hours cover.
• Produce and manage security service information, including shared diaries and inboxes.
• Provide support to other Security Operations Managers within their specialist areas.

Security Policies, Processes and Information Management

• Manage security systems (CCTV, access control, alarms) and ensure all security technology is well maintained and compliant.
• Continually assess risks, ensuring safe working practices and compliance with Health & Safety legislation.
• Audit security policies, procedures, and activities to maintain quality and continuous improvement.
• Manage administrative functions including overtime, annual leave, and excess hours.
• Deputise for the Senior Vetting Manager or Senior Security Manager and undertake additional duties as required.

Development & Welfare (Specialist Area)

• Lead on Health, Safety, Wellbeing and Welfare across the security department, including risk assessments, DSE processes and welfare initiatives.
• Manage all administrative functions for the department such as information storage, compliance and KPIs.
• Oversee staff development, training and welfare by designing long-term training strategies based on operational needs and the PDR process.
• Coordinate, assess and deliver all training requirements.
• Lead the development and delivery of security culture and protective security guidance across the estate (e.g. Operation Stay Safe).
• Work with Learning & Development to conduct regular learning needs analyses, ensuring staff skill sets meet operational requirements.
• Manage training records, budgets and compliance with mandatory training.
• Liaise closely with HR, supporting the HR Business Partner on cases and initiatives within the security function.
• Champion continuous improvement in diversity, equality and inclusion, including development and promotion of EQIAs.
• Promote a positive security culture within the department and across the wider Senedd.
• Lead on developing security guidance, SOPs, procedures and policies.
• Lead PMDRs for team leaders and oversee ongoing professional development across teams.
• Drive the development of Welsh language skills within the department, encouraging and supporting learners of all abilities.
• Oversee recruitment, retention and performance processes, including training, probation and staff development.
• Contribute to recruitment and succession planning to maintain a skilled workforce.
• Lead on procurement, management and distribution of non-technical security equipment such as uniform, body armour, flags, first aid supplies and consumables.

Person specification

Job Specific criteria:

1. Proven background in operational security management within a complex or high profile environment
2. Experience leading and developing teams, ideally within a security service.
3. Ability to deliver a high level of customer service to both internal and external stakeholders. Ability to deal diplomatically and professionally with a wide range of people, including staff, visitors, and elected Members.
4. Experience of working with confidential and sensitive information
5. Experience creating or overseeing training, development and learning programmes, understanding of staff wellbeing, welfare processes, and supportive employment practices.

Desirable Criteria:

1. Hold (or being willing to undertake) a relevant Security Qualification (e.g. BTEC Level in Security Management) or a relevant Health & Safety Qualification (e.g. NEBOSH general cert. or above)
2. Experience of writing, managing and reviewing risk assessments

Benefits

Alongside your salary of £38,930, Welsh Parliament contributes £11,278 towards you being a member of the Civil Service Defined Benefit Pension scheme. Find out what benefits a Civil Service Pension provides.

• Learning and development tailored to your role
• An environment with flexible working options
• A culture encouraging inclusion and diversity
• A Civil Service pension with an employer contribution of 28.97%

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

Details of the Selection Process:

Candidates are required to complete an application form through our recruitment portal addressing the job specific and desirable criteria.

Closing Date for applications:

06 April 2026

Your application must be submitted before midnight on the closing date.

You will be updated on your progress via the email address you first register with. Please check your Junk Mail and Spam folders to make sure you don’t miss any future correspondence.

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

Security

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.

Medical

Successful candidates will be expected to have a medical.

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 : James Attridge
• Email : james.attridge@senedd.wales.
• Telephone : 0300 200 6286

Recruitment team

• Email : jobs@senedd.wales

Further information

https://senedd.wales/work-opportunities/

Attachments

SC-068-25_JD_EN Opens in new window (pdf, 664kB)SC-068-25_JD_CY Opens in new window (pdf, 683kB)Quick Application Guidance Opens in new window (pdf, 78kB)Canllaw cyflym ar Wneud Cais Opens in new window (pdf, 79kB)