View Vacancy - Security Operations Manager - (54/22 PTA) - F

The British Government is an inclusive and diversity-friendly employer.  We value difference, promote equality and challenge discrimination, enhancing our organisational capability. We welcome and encourage applications from people of all backgrounds. We do not discriminate on the basis of disability, race, colour, ethnicity, gender identity, religion, sexual orientation, age, veteran status or other category protected by law. We promote family-friendly flexible working opportunities, where operational and security needs allow.
Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office (Operations and Corporate Services)
Security

Purpose of the role:

The role of the Security Operations Manager is to support the Regional Overseas Security Manager in providing security for UK diplomatic staff and their families, country based staff when at work and all those on our premises.

This includes ensuring that appropriate security measures are implemented at the British High Commission offices and that BHC buildings and assets are protected and to ensure staff are receiving and following correct security advice and procedures. The security department also ensures that staff working in the mission offices have the required security clearance to access buildings and information and maintain access control.

The role requires an individual who is flexible across all of these areas and who can demonstrate high standards of professionalism and deliver a high quality service. The jobholder will need to be willing to work flexibly to help others, take on different tasks where work pressures are heavy, cover leave absences and deal with emergencies. This can involve occasional security related calls in the evenings and weekends, for which a mobile phone and allowance is provided.

The role is ideally suited to someone who:

  • Enjoys being part of a very busy team but can work independently with little supervision.
  • Has strong administrative and IT skills including Excel.
  • Enjoys managing security situations, working to keep people safe.
  • Wants to develop experience in finance and running projects
  • Is a good communicator and people-person, who takes pride in good service.
  • It is essential for the jobholder to have a valid driving licence as driving (in a company vehicle) to locations is required.
  • Previous experience of working in a security services environment at management level or other similar management experience is essential.

Roles and Responsibilities:

  • The below roles and responsibilities are general guidelines. The role is not limited to the detail below and the responsibilities are subject to change from time to time with prior consultation if circumstances, structures, work pressures or priorities alter, or if absences need covering. This role is separate to that of the Post Security Manager however there is some overlapping work and you will also be required to understand the PSM role in order to cover these during times of absence from the office.
  • Provide thorough security briefings for new diplomatic staff spouses/partners, in county staff members and official visitors. In addition to certify CBS vetting documents on induction and assist with vetting clearances. Ensure staff and visitors are adequately trained and have attended the required security training. The ROSM leads on UKB briefings and content however there may be times when she is not available.
  • Managing and organising tasks required in the security department to support the overall objectives of the security department including report gathering, information analysis, responding to incidents, access control measures or supporting officers in official visits and events, managing contractors, tracking progress and good record keeping.
  • To visit Johannesburg weekly and Cape Town regularly (this will be decided by the ROSM depending on work demands) to check security works and check and sign off projects that are being overseen by the estates/security managers. To meet security contacts and build up strong connections in order to gather relevant security reports and information. To gather regular and relevant crime reports for areas around the Western Cape and Johannesburg where our staff live or travel to in order to help keep staff apprised of the crime situation. To meet the G4S contract managers for KPI meetings and other updates and oversee extra guarding requirements/training as needed.
  • Arrange and carry out various incident drills in line with FCDO protocol often in collaboration with the security department, guarding contractors and the health and safety teams. This includes briefing of staff in an appropriate manner as advised by the ROSM.
  • Assist in preparing for VIP level official visits to South Africa (supporting the Jo’burg and Cape Town teams - and Pretoria in absence of PSM) and work together with the visits officer to ensure all security protocols are in place to ensure the safety and security of the visit.
  • To support the budget and finance duties and work with the Post Security manager on raising acquisitions, receipting and invoicing security works and ensuring ROSM is updated and spreadsheets are kept updated. on the security budget spend
  • Assisting the ROSM in reporting and recording any breaches of security informing the ROSM/PSO at the earliest opportunity and ensure incident reporting to London is completed and escalated in a timely manner. To assist the ROAM in security vetting procedures for CBS staff. Helping to maintain post security regulations and updating vetting information on the IT systems.
  • Conducting property assessments and security equipment checks at residences and offices and ensuring anything faulty is addressed in a priority manner ensuring British High Commission high standards are met, and in compliance with Security/ Safety requirements. Organising contractors, related to property security works of for urgent repairs.  Assessing security standards at properties and completing accurate write ups and recommendations - Keeping the ROSM updated
  • Managing security related requests from staff and UKB diplomatic community whether on properties or incidents or access control, ensuring that issues are addressed in line with agreed standards and deadlines, and communicating with staff and residential occupants.
  • Security administration duties, including weekly updates with the ROSM and meetings with other team members, internal record-keeping on security items, compiling and maintaining asset registers.  Management of property information and inventories, including on the British High Commission’s IT systems.  These tasks include remote working for the British High Commission’s South Africa-wide
  • Assist the PSM in managing and supervising the team of contract guards at properties and offices to deliver consistently strong performance against a set of operating instructions. Check SOPs are in place and regularly reviewed. Ensure KPI meetings are carried out and that all supporting evident is given to the ROSM in preparation for senior level meetings
  • Meet security contacts/providers in order to provide advice on physical and procedural security matters, and about local security threats, risks and trends (covering different areas of Gauteng and Western Cape). To review accommodation (marker hotels)  and means of transport that officers require during official visits and ensure they meet FCDO  requirements. In conjunction with the ROSM, liaise with the South African Police Diplomatic Protection Branch and with the security staff at other friendly Missions, ensuring that relevant information is reported.
  • Deliver professionally other tasks and new work as delegated by the ROSM and PSOs on an ad hoc basis, often outside the above areas, in order to support the work of the British High Commission in South Africa.

The role requires the officer to take occasional calls in the evenings and weekends to respond to occasional security crisis. A mobile phone is provided and an allowance over and above salary is paid for this.

During visits to Johannesburg and Cape Town of UK Government staff, including VIP visits and when events are staged, travel and evening / weekend working will occasionally be required.

The jobholder must be able to drive given site visits etc.  A company vehicle is used for such journeys.

Resources managed (staff and expenditure):

Oversight of two estates / security officers

Oversee works funded by the British High Commission security budget, including researching quotes, assessing these and ensuring costs offer good value for money. Supervision of the G4S and Rapid Response contracts. Financial processes are managed effectively on the IT system and budgetary information is recorded, reported and maintained accurately.

  • Strong computer literacy
  • Administration skills including budget management
  • Experience with senior level visits and events management
  • Project management experience including dealing with external contractors
  • Excellent communication and  networking skills
  • Resilient with evidence of being able to work under pressure in emergency situations
  • Valid Driver’s licence.  The jobholder must be able to drive

              

  • Experience in security management or working within a diplomatic mission in a management capacity.
  • Working under pressure and reactive to urgent situations.
Changing and Improving, Making Effective Decisions, Managing a Quality Service, Delivering at Pace, Communicating and Influencing, Developing Self and Others
2 December 2022
Executive Officer (EO)
Permanent
36.5 hours
Africa
South Africa
Pretoria
British High Commission
1
R 311,972.32 per annum plus an additional 10% of your gross salary as an on-call allowance
2 February 2022

Learning and development opportunities (and any specific training courses to be completed):

Full training is provided to the successful applicant for all job-related skills.  The British High Commission also offers a huge range of learning and development opportunities, including financial support through study grants.

The position is based in Pretoria covering Johannesburg weekly and Cape Town regularly.

The British High Commission pays in full for the Key Care Plus option on Discovery Health for staff including spouses/partners and dependants.

  • Once you have successfully completed your probation the British High Commission will contribute 9% of your monthly salary to a Provident Fund.
  • Annual leave entitlement of 25 days
  • Working hours per week of 36.5
  • Applications are also welcome from nationals from UK, US, CAN, AUS ,NZ missions that have the right to work and live in South Africa.
  • Candidates without the relevant essential experience will not be considered.
  • Please complete the application form in full as the information provided is used during screening.
  • Please check your application carefully before you submit, as no changes can be made once submitted.
  • The British High Commission will never request any payment or fees to apply for a position.
  • Employees recruited locally by the British High Commission in Pretoria are subject to Terms and Conditions of Service according to local employment law in South Africa.
  • All candidates must be legally able to work and reside in the country of the vacancy with the correct visa/work permit status or demonstrate eligibility to obtain the relevant permit. 
  • The responsibility lies on the successful candidate to:
  • Obtain the relevant permit
  • Pay fees for the permit
  • Make arrangements to relocate
  • Meet the costs to relocate 
  • The British High Commission do not sponsor visas/work permits except where it may be local practice to do so. 
  • Employees who are not liable to pay local income tax on their Mission salary may have their salaries reduced by the equivalent local income tax amount.
  • Information about the Civil Service Success Profiles can be found on this link: https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/success-profiles. Please note:  AA=A1, AO=A2, EO=B3, HEO=C4, SEO=C5
  • Reference checking and security clearances will be conducted on successful candidates.
  • Appointable candidates who were unsuccessful may be placed on a ‘reserve list’.  If during the reserve period of 6/12 months the same or a largely similar role becomes available, that role may be offered to the second or subsequent candidate”.
Please be aware that you will only be able to apply to vacancies for Country Based Staff roles with the British Government through this official tal.net site (operated by Oleeo). Jobs may be advertised on third party websites, however our adverts will always link back to the official tal.net site. If you complete and send an application through any other site, we will not receive it.

This opportunity is closed to applications.