Vetting Clearance Officer

Job summary

UK Security Vetting (UKSV) is the single government provider of National Security Vetting, helping the government keep citizens safe and deliver essential public services by understanding and managing security risks.

As part of Cabinet Office, UKSV has a vital role in creating a unified vetting database, portable vetting options, and standardised pricing across government. Our goal is to operate as a highly efficient and customer-focused organisation.

We believe UKSV is a fantastic place to work, and we understand that maintaining a good work-life balance is essential for everyone.

When you become a part of UKSV, you also become part of a friendly, supportive, and diverse community. We’re here to help you build your confidence and enjoy your experiences both at work and beyond.

So whether you're looking to outline your career path, better manage your wellbeing, or thrive in a positive and inclusive environment, we’re here to support you every step of the way.

Vetting is a process which enables employers to identify, manage, and mitigate risks in roles with national security concerns, such as positions involving high-risk sites or classified information. It establishes trust through confidential discussions and initiates a continuous dialogue on risk management for the duration of a person's security clearance.

During vetting, individuals may be asked to provide information about their background, family, employment history, and residences. We may also inquire about any criminal convictions, and for higher clearance levels, we'll require details about financial situations and life experiences to aid in the decision making process.

Job description

United Kingdom Security Vetting (UKSV) is the main UK government provider of security clearances. One of our roles is the Vetting Clearance Officer and this role sits within our operational delivery department.

We are seeking individuals to join as a Vetting Clearance Officer (VCO). This role is integral to the security vetting process and it is an exciting time to join UKSV.

You will join a team of experienced and passionate individuals who carry out investigative interviews as part of our vetting service. You will be working in a target driven environment and must be able to adapt to change. As a VCO, your key duties will include:

• Engaging with our applicants and conducting investigative interviews;
• Producing high quality reports, making informed decisions and recommendations as to the suitability of an individual holding security clearance, taking into account any national security-related risk factors identified;
• Effectively listening to and processing sensitive information shared at interview; being supportive and, showing empathy and understanding of difficult situations without being judgemental;
• Working in a target driven environment and being adaptable to change, including being trained / upskilled and deployed to other Delivery areas, in support of the business as and when required.

Candidate Information sessions

We will be running candidate information sessions for this role to give you greater insight about the role as well as the chance to learn more about UK Security Vetting.

If you would like to join us, then please use the appropriate link below to join the call at the right time.

• Friday 24th April 1pm - 1.30pm
• Friday 1st May 1pm - 1.30pm

Person specification

Essential criteria

As Vetting Clearance Officer within UK Security Vetting, we are looking for people who have the following expertise and attributes:

• Strong interpersonal skills with the ability to build rapport and build relationships quickly;
• Ability to plan, control and lead conversations, with specific focus on capturing, understanding and articulating relevant risks;
• Analytical skills with the ability to quickly identify, assess and condense information from a variety of sources;
• Excellent verbal and written communication skills with the ability to communicate complex information in a clear and concise manner;
• Proficient use of IT including Google Suite (the role requires extensive report writing, so efficient typing skills are essential).

Desirable criteria

• Experience of working in a fast paced target driven environment;
• Previous interviewing experience;
• Previous experience in an investigative organisation.

Behaviours

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

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

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

• Managing a Quality Service

Benefits

Alongside your salary of £37,922, Cabinet Office contributes £10,986 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 which provides an attractive pension, benefits for dependants and employer contributions of 28.97%.
• A minimum of 25 days of paid annual leave, increasing by one day per year up to a maximum of 30.

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.

After submission of the first stage of your application you will be invited to complete a Verbal Reasoning Test. Those who pass this test will then be invited to complete a Civil Service Judgement Test.

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 10th May 2026. If you fail to complete the online test before the deadline your application will be withdrawn. Guidance for the test will be available when you are invited to take the test. The tests are administered online and accessed via the CS Jobs website.

If you successfully pass both tests, you will be invited to complete the final stage of the application.

The final stage of your application will include -

• A Personal Statement (750 words max.) Please use your personal statement to provide a summary of your skills and achievements to show that you have the relevant experience, skills and attributes required for the role, with reference to the essential criteria in the person specification section of the job advert.
• You will also be assessed on the Managing a Quality Service behaviour at interview.

Should a large number of applications be received, an initial sift may be conducted using your personal statement. Candidates who pass the initial sift may be progressed to a full sift, or progressed straight to assessment/interview.

Should you be successful at sift, you will be invited to take part in a role-play exercise. This will be a mock interview situation where you are expected to conduct an interview with a vetting applicant. The exercise will take no longer than 30 minutes, and you will be provided with a full brief 15 minutes prior to allow you time to understand the task and prepare. This exercise will be scored against the ‘Communicating & Influencing’ behaviour.

Following the completion of the role-play exercise, you will have a standard interview where you will be asked questions about the remaining behaviours and experience elements.

Expected timeline (subject to change)

Expected sift date – WC 11th May 2026
Expected interview date/s – WC 8th and 15th June 2026
Interview location – Interviews will be held face-to-face at both locations, and if you are unable to attend on any of the specified dates, we may not be able to offer alternatives.

Reasonable adjustments

If a person with disabilities is put 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 menurecruitment.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.

Further information

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

Please note that this role requires SC clearance, which would normally need 5 years’ UK residency in the past 5 years. This is not an absolute requirement, but supplementary checks may be needed where individuals have not lived in the UK for that period. This may mean your security clearance (and therefore your appointment) will take longer or, in some cases, not be possible.

For further information on National Security Vetting please visit the Demystifying Vetting website.

A reserve list will be held for a period of 12 months, from which further appointments can be made.

Any move to Cabinet Office from another employer will mean you can no longer access childcare vouchers. This includes moves between government departments. You may however be eligible for other government schemes, including Tax Free Childcare; for further information visit the Childcare Choices website.

If successful and transferring from another Government Department a criminal record check may be carried out.

In order to process applications without delay, we will be sending a Criminal Record Check to Disclosure and Barring Service/Disclosure Scotland 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.

For further information on the Disclosure Scotland confidential checking service telephone: the Disclosure Scotland Helpline on 0870 609 6006 and ask to speak to the operations manager in confidence, or email Info@disclosurescotland.co.uk

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

Applicants who are successful at interview will be, as part of pre-employment screening, subject to a check on the Internal Fraud Database (IFD). This check will provide information about employees who have been dismissed for fraud or dishonesty offences. This check also applies to employees who resign or otherwise leave before being dismissed for fraud or dishonesty had their employment continued. Any applicant’s details held on the IFD will be refused employment.

A candidate is not eligible to apply for a role within the Civil Service if the application is made within a 5 year period following a dismissal for carrying out internal fraud against government.

Please note terms and conditions are attached. Please take time to read the document to determine how these may affect you.

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

Open to UK nationals only.

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.The Civil Service welcomes applications from people who have recently left prison or have an unspent conviction. Read more about prison leaver recruitment (opens in new window).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 : UKSV Resourcing Team
• Email : uksv-resourcingteam@cabinetoffice.gov.uk

Recruitment team

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

Further information

Appointment to the Civil Service is governed by the Civil Service Commission’s Recruitment Principles. If you feel that your application has not been treated in accordance with the Recruitment Principles, and wish to make a complaint, then in the first instance you should contact Government Recruitment Service by email at : menurecruitment.grs@cabinetoffice.gov.uk

If you are not satisfied with the response you receive, then you can contact the Civil Service Commission at info@csc.gov.uk. For further information on the Recruitment Principles and bringing a complaint to the Civil Service Commission, please visit their website at: https://civilservicecommission.independent.gov.uk.

Attachments

Cabinet Office Employee Offer Opens in new window (pdf, 302kB)Cabinet Office Terms and Conditions - External 2025-02-20 Opens in new window (docx, 83kB)HEO Vetting Clearance Officer Opens in new window (pdf, 690kB)