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Job summary

The SIA is the organisation responsible for the regulation of private security. It is an independent, arm’s length body (ALB) of the Home Office, reporting to the Home Secretary, under the terms of the Private Security Industry Act 2001. The SIA’s purpose is protecting the public through effective regulation of the private security industry and working with partners to raise standards across the sector. Its regulatory remit covers the whole of the United Kingdom.

The SIA has two main duties: the compulsory licensing of individuals undertaking designated activities within the private security industry and the management of a voluntary Approved Contractor Scheme, which measures private security suppliers against independently assessed criteria.

SIA licensing covers security operatives who are in guarding, door supervision, close protection, cash and valuables in transit, and public space surveillance using CCTV, vehicle immobilisation (in Northern Ireland) and key holding. Licensing ensures that private security operatives are fit and proper persons who are properly trained and qualified to do their job.

Job description

Do you have the leadership skills, operational expertise and strategic vision to shape compliance standards across a critical national industry?

We are seeking an exceptional Head of Compliance and Inspections to lead a nationally dispersed team responsible for delivering intelligence-led compliance, inspection and investigatory activity across the UK. This is a high-profile leadership opportunity for an experienced regulatory, compliance, enforcement or inspection professional who is passionate about protecting the public, improving standards and driving organisational performance.

Reporting to the Deputy Director of Compliance and Inspections, you will lead the delivery and development of a national compliance function that sits at the heart of our regulatory strategy. Working across regional teams and alongside law enforcement, government departments, local authorities and industry stakeholders, you will ensure that non-compliance is prevented, identified and addressed through proportionate and effective interventions.

This is a role with genuine impact. You will shape how compliance activity is deployed across the UK, oversee complex investigatory and regulatory casework, and ensure resources are targeted against the areas of greatest risk, threat and harm. You will also play a key role in influencing industry behaviours, strengthening public confidence and supporting better outcomes across the private security sector.

As a visible senior leader, you will inspire and develop a geographically dispersed workforce, fostering a culture of accountability, continuous improvement and high performance. You will use insight, data and operational intelligence to drive decision-making, while building strong relationships with partners across policing, government and industry.

We're looking for someone who brings significant senior leadership experience within a compliance, inspection, enforcement or regulatory environment. You will have a proven track record of leading risk-based operational activity, managing complex teams and delivering results in challenging and resource-constrained settings. Strong stakeholder engagement skills, sound judgement and the ability to influence at senior levels are essential.

In return, you'll join an organisation with a clear public protection mission and the opportunity to make a lasting difference at a national level. You'll work alongside dedicated professionals who are committed to raising standards, promoting compliance and delivering regulatory excellence.

This is a remote-based role with travel across the UK, including occasional evening, weekend and overnight working.

If you are an experienced leader ready to drive innovation, strengthen compliance outcomes and help shape the future of regulation, we would love to hear from you.

Person specification

Essential

• Significant senior leadership experience in compliance, inspection, enforcement or regulatory environments.
• Proven experience leading risk-based, intelligence-led operational activity.
• Strong understanding of investigation, inspection and regulatory casework.
• Experience managing geographically dispersed teams.
• Excellent stakeholder engagement and influencing skills at senior levels.
• Strong analytical and decision-making capability.
• Ability to deliver high performance in complex, resource-constrained environments.
• Excellent written and verbal communication skills, including the ability to explain complex information, in a variety of media and the ability to build rapport with internal and external stakeholders.

Desirable

• Knowledge of Private Security Industry Act (2001) and other legislation relevant to investigatory activity.
• Audit and/or assessment experience.

Benefits

Alongside your salary of £70,001, Security Industry Authority contributes £20,279 towards you being a member of the Civil Service Defined Benefit Pension scheme. Find out what benefits a Civil Service Pension provides (opens in a new window).

• A welcoming and innovative work environment.

• Continued support and development opportunities.

• Access to training for attainment of recognised qualifications.

• Flexible working arrangements.

• Annual leave entitlement will be 27.5 days, rising by one additional day for every two years of service up to a maximum of 32.5 days.

• A variety of discounts including Gymflex.

• Civil Service Pension Scheme – employee contribution between 4.60% and 7.35% and employer contribution between 26.60% and 30.30%.

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

The SIA does not use Success Profiles - please disregard any information below in relation to this.

As part of the application process, you will be asked to complete a CV and 500-word personal statement.

Further details around guidance for this is listed on the application form.

If you fail to submit all aspects of the application before the deadline of 23:55 on 26th July 2026, your application will be withdrawn.

Please use your personal statement (in no more than 500 words) to outline why you believe you would be an ideal candidate for this role. Please highlight your relevant skills, experience and achievements that align with the essential job requirements.

To help us assess your suitability for the role, please complete the CV incorporated into the application form by providing as much information as possible about your previous work experience and achievements.

Should we receive a large number of applications, they will be sifted on personal statement only.

Candidates who pass the initial sift may be progressed to a full sift or progressed straight to assessment/interview.

Interview details will be provided to successful candidates prior to their interview taking place.

Sift and Interview Process:

Sift will take place from 27th July.

Interviews will be held on 12th August.

Interviews will be held in person at our London office.

Further Information

A reserve list of successful candidates will be kept for a maximum of 12 months. Should another role become available within that period you may be offered this position.

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

Visa sponsorship

We do not sponsor individuals via Skilled Worker Sponsorship / Tier 2 (General) work visas.

If you are invited to an interview, you will be required to bring documentation for the purposes of establishing your identity.

You will need to meet the nationality requirements for this role and obtain the necessary security clearance to take it up.

For meaningful security checks to be carried out, individuals need to have lived in the UK for a sufficient period of time.

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 sia.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.

Criminal Record Check

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

National Security vetting

Please note: in addition to the standard pre-employment checks for appointment into the Civil Service, all candidates must also obtain National Security Vetting at Security Check (SC) clearance level for this vacancy. You will normally need to meet the minimum UK residency period as determined by the level of vetting being undertaken, which for SC is 5 years UK residency prior to your vetting application. If you have any questions about this residency requirement, please speak to the vacancy holder for this post.

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

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.

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 : SIA Recruitment Team
• Email : sia.grs@cabinetoffice.gov.uk

Recruitment team

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

Further information

Complaints should be submitted to recruitment@sia.gov.uk . If, after investigation by the SIA, the complainant remains dissatisfied, they may bring their complaint to the Civil Service Commission.

Attachments

Head of Compliance and Inspections JD Opens in new window (pdf, 191kB)2025-11-17 Pre-employment Checking - Document Requirements (V17) (1) Opens in new window (pdf, 231kB)