The Home Office works to build a safe, fair and prosperous UK. We achieve this through our work on counter-terrorism, policing, fire, crime, drugs policy, immigration and passports.
Corporate and Delivery Directorate works closely with the Home Office’s policy and operational commands to enable us together to deliver the department’s priorities. The directorate is comprised of different teams and professional functions, including Commercial, Finance, People, Portfolio and Project Delivery, Security, Estates and Information and Digital, Data and Technology.
The successful candidate will form part of a Security Team responsible for providing effective operational security to ensure the security of Home Office buildings, staff and assets are maintained at all times.
This is an important role covering a variety of tasks which has a considerable effect on the day to day operation of a variety of Stakeholders within the Home Office.
There are many reactive tasks associated with the post, therefore flexibility and an ability to prioritise are key skills required for this role.
This role requires good communication skills and the ability to build relationships with other teams and colleagues across Government. You will need to be proactive in your approach to work, making effective decisions, managing information and contributing to the smooth running of the Organisation.
Security Officers are required to be able to read and absorb information, implementing what has been read, ensuring it is followed and use available information to brief colleagues and plan ahead. Security Officers require effective IT skills, including a good knowledge of Microsoft Word, Excel and Outlook.
In particular, in this role you will have the opportunity to:
Key responsibilities will include:
Working Pattern
Due to the business requirements of this role, it is only available on a full-time basis.
Successful candidates will need to be able to attend for all shifts including early starts, late night finishes, . These shifts may be outside of public transport operating hours.
This is an Annualised Hours position which attracts allowances for the following:
Training
Full training will be provided and you will be mentored and supported in this role.
Travel
As part of your terms and conditions, you may be required to travel to other locations nationwide within the Home Office Security remit to fulfil business needs.
Uniform
Driving Licence
Due to the nature of the work and the geographical area, driving is a key requirement for this role. Applicants must have a full valid UK manual/automatic driving licence.
Essential criteria
Desirable criteria
We’ll assess you against these behaviours during the selection process:
We only ask for evidence of these behaviours on your application form:
In addition to your salary, a career with the Home Office offers a range of benefits, including:
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.
As part of the application process, you will be asked to complete:
Your CV should consist of your career history, qualifications and skills/experience, including any key achievements in each role. Your CV will be scored against the experience required for the role as noted within 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 Behaviours), you are encouraged to visit Civil Service Careers website.
2. Sift – week commencing 12th May 2025.
The sift will be held on the CV, Personal Statement and Behaviour – Making Effective Decisions.
Should a high volume of applications be received, an initial sift will be conducted on the Personal Statement. Candidates who pass the initial sift will then be progressed to a full sift that will consist of the CV and the Behaviour Making Effective Decisions.
3. Interview – week commencing 26th May 2025.
If you are successful at sift stage, you will be invited to an interview that will be behaviours-based questions,(as listed in the job advert).
The interview will take place in person, further details will follow.
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.
Location preferences
Successful candidates will be allocated a specific location, on a shift working basis, based on business needs.
Shifts
Successful candidates will need to be able to attend for all shifts including early starts, late night finishes, and overnight shifts. These shifts may be outside of public transport operating hours.
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 not guarantee that being held on a reserve list will lead to a job offer. Further information can be found on our website.
Reserve lists will be held for each location. Candidates will be appointed in merit order by location.
Appearance
This is a uniformed post and as such requires the highest standards.
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. Further details are included in the Notes to Candidates.
Further information
If you are invited to an interview, you will be required to bring documentation for the purposes of establishing your identity.
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.
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. Learn more on our website. Security Checks – Home Office Careers
For further information on National Security Vetting please visit the Demystifying Vetting website.
Visa sponsorship
We do not sponsor individuals via Skilled Worker Sponsorship / Tier 2 (General) work visas.
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:
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.
See our vetting charter .
We recruit by merit on the basis of fair and open competition, as outlined in the Civil Service Commission’s recruitment principles .
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