Physical Security Advisor / Risk assessor
Headcount: 2
Contracting Authority: GPA
Contract Length: 6 months from Start Date
Location: Hybrid: National region, will need to travel to different sites
IR35: In scope
Pay Rate to Candidate: Umbrella £550
Security Clearance: SC active
Physical Security Advisor
The Government Property Agency is the largest property holder in government, with more
than £2.1 billion in property assets and over 55% of the government’s office estate.
We are transforming the way the Civil Service works by creating great places to work,
leading the largest commercial office programme in the UK, working towards halving carbon
emissions from government offices, and achieving greater value for taxpayers. And we are
looking for innovative, solutions-focused people to join our team.
Representing the best covenant in the UK – His Majesty’s Government – we are leading
significant transformational programmes such as the Government Hubs Programme,
Whitehall Campus Programme and Net Zero Programme. We are also delivering cost-
effective property services such as asset management, lifecycle replacement and workplace
services.
Innovation and progress underpin our behaviours. We foster a culture of lifelong learning,
where curiosity and self-improvement are encouraged. Our four core values are at the heart
of everything we do. They shape our culture and guide how we work, lead and grow
together:
Striving for excellence- We always aim to deliver great results
Empowering through respect- We insist on fair treatment for all, always
Acting with integrity- We consistently do the right thing
Succeeding together- We rely on each other to achieve success
We are committed to representing the communities we serve by making Equality, Diversity,
and Inclusion (EDI) part of everything we do. Our strong emphasis on EDI is not just about
driving inclusion across our organisation, it is also about ensuring our services meet the
needs of government departments and the civil servants who use our spaces. To ensure
that we are always recruiting and retaining a diverse mix of talent, we are particularly
inviting applications from candidates who are disabled, ethnically or gender diverse, and
people who identify as being part of the LGBTQ+ community.
Join our dynamic and diverse team that leads with purpose, improving sustainability,
nurturing social value, driving inclusivity and flexibility, and kickstarting economic growth.
We are driven by purpose, and you can be part of it too: where you make a meaningful impact; where you influence; where your voice really matters; where you help to shape our future direction.
The key purpose of the GPA Physical Security Advisor is to provide physical security advice to identify and mitigate security risks in line with business needs. The GPA Physical Security Advisor will also recommend the appropriate posture of physical and tactical resources to manage sites and maintain operational preparedness for security incidents. The postholder will provide support by ensuring that GPA successfully discharges its security obligations for all client departments and associated stakeholders. The role involves the requirement to travel across the UK on a regular basis.
Key Responsibilities:
1. Provide expert advice on Physical Security
Provide Stakeholder Advice: Deliver security advice and actionable recommendations to colleagues, ensuring clients are proactively informed if impacted.
Communicate Threat and Risk: Work with client departments to identify emerging threats and risks at site level
Operational Requirements: Drive the development of Operational Requirements (OR) to accurately inform security posturing.
Providing Security Awareness: Educating GPA staff, supply chain, and stakeholders on security culture, threats, and risks.
2. Conduct risk assessments in the local environment, extracting insights to provide an informed opinion on Physical Security risks and the adequacy of controls in place
Execute Core Assessments: Act as the operational lead for executing formal Threat and Vulnerability Assessments and reviewing local security layers to formally document what controls are or are not in place and why.
Risk Register: Build, maintain, and support the mitigation of the Risk Register.
Asset Tracking: Maintain local Site Security Asset Registers to ensure clear visibility of physical infrastructure.
Infrastructure Maintenance: Manage physical security system deficiencies by tracking Work Orders (WO) for equipment faults and ensuring mitigation is in place
3. Align with relevant regulation, policy and standards to provide proportional, practical advice, tailored to the local environment, and advise on any residual risk
Policy & Procedure: Produce local Site Security Procedures in line with GPA Security Policies.
Security Management: Create the GPA Site Security Management Plan (SSMP) and review Supply Chain site documentation for alignment.
Corporate Strategy: Align activities with GPA Organisational Policies
Project Integration: Partner on new projects
4. Monitor the efficiency and effectiveness of the Physical Security processes across the organisation, and make recommendations for continual improvement
Continuous Learning: Lead post-incident reviews to capture lessons learned and author formal post-incident security reports.
Trend Analysis: Analyse incident and breach data to identify operational trends, communicating insights to drive continual improvement.
Supplier Posture: Review supply chain to ensure efficient and effective delivery of services.
Audit & Exercise Collaboration: Support the Assurance team
5. Maintain awareness of current and emerging technologies and their impact on existing security practices
Education and Awareness: Take personal responsibility to stay updated on emerging technologies, evolving security strategies, and National Authority Guidance to assess and adapt existing security practices.
We encourage applications from people from all backgrounds and aim to have a workforce that represents the communities and wider society that we serve. We pride ourselves on being an employer of choice. We champion diversity, inclusion and wellbeing and aim to create a sense of belonging in a workplace where everyone feels valued.
We are looking for someone with a security background and who can demonstrate the ability to conduct site assessments and mitigate risks identified. You should be able to communicate with multiple stakeholders and be a self-motivated individual capable of working both individually and as part of a team.
Ideally, we are looking for someone that demonstrates continual learning through an association and membership with an organisation such as the Security Institute.
Essential criteria:
SC Clearance
Experience in conducting security assessments
Experience of working in a multi-client service organisation
The ability to interpret and understand business needs of clients in order to build positive relationships
Working collaboratively in a small team environment and in a positive manner to build trust and rapport across the GPA
The ability to communicate effectively both verbally and in writing to gain support for initiatives and to enable solution implementation
To work autonomously, prioritising tasks effectively in order to meet deadlines (both internal and external) and communicating progress wherever necessary
Conversant with IT systems and the ability to analyse management information to inform decision making
Desirable criteria:
Competent in the management of clients, stakeholders and contractors
Practical experience in negotiation skills that have achieved positive outcomes
Commitment to continuous improvement
Any security related qualifications and/or membership of relevant professional bodies
