Office for National Statistics
Protective Security Advisor
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Locations
The locations for this role are Newport and Titchfield (Fareham).
This role requires regular attendance at an ONS office, with a minimum of 2 days per week worked on site. The post holder will be expected to work in the office on a regular basis to undertake in-person activities.
The induction process for the role will be conducted in person.
Job Summary
The Office for National Statistics (ONS) is the UK’s largest producer of official statistics, covering a range of key economic, social and demographic topics. These include measuring changes in the value of the UK economy, estimating the size, geographic distribution and characteristics of the population, and providing indicators of price inflation, employment, earnings, crime and migration.
The last few years have seen an extensive overhaul of security and information management to meet the challenges of corporate and statistics transformation in technology, methods and practice, the Digital Economy Act and organisational risk appetite. The capability is evolving and expanding to address changes in threat and business direction.
Security and Information Management Directorate (SaIM) operates six key services across ONS: security risk advice and management; knowledge and information management (KIM); protective security and business resilience operations; security compliance and audit; cyber security; and Security Culture.
Job Description
This Protective Security Advisor role forms part of the ONS Security Advisory Team within the Security and Information Management Division. It reports primarily to the Protective Security Lead who reports to the Protective Security & Business Resilience operations Principal. The Protective Security Officer plays a frontline role in safeguarding ONS people, sites and information through the delivery of high-quality protective security support. The role focuses primarily on protective security, including risk assessments, site assurance, access control measures, search and screening support, and organizational security culture improvements.
Alongside this primary function, they will contribute to integrated Business Continuity and Crisis Management activity when required, recognizing the interconnected nature of physical threats, operational resilience, and ONS’s readiness for major programs such as the 2031 Census.
Responsibilities
- Support the delivery of physical security threat and risk assessments (SRAs) across the ONS estate, including new and expanding sites.
- Support the delivery of travel risk assessments across the ONS estate.
- Assist in the delivery, management, and maintenance of the physical and personal security training and briefings, both physical and personal, of ONS colleagues.
- Assist in effectively managing all site/offsite security incidents.
- Support delivery and audit of physical penetration testing cycles and improvement actions.
- Conduct floor walking, routine checks, and engagement activity to identify poor security behaviors and reinforce positive practice. Provide tailored advice to staff on protective security measures and secure use of physical assets.
- Contribute to Census 2031 physical security requirements, including: site readiness and resilience for 2027 Test and 2029 Rehearsal, ensuring secure environments for staff processing and operational hubs, supporting field force protective measures (e.g., entry protocols, lone-working escalation, ID checks).
Person Specification
Essential Criteria
- Self-directing and proactive to ensure work is progressed.
- Strong understanding of protective security principles and risk management.
- Ability to identify, assess, report, and, where appropriate, treat physical vulnerabilities and behavioral security concerns.
- Effective communication and confidence engaging staff across all levels to reinforce physical security expectations.
- Good organizational skills and ability to support record keeping, audits, and assurance activity in a high-demand environment.
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Behaviours
We'll assess you against these behaviors during the selection process:
- Seeing the Big Picture
- Delivering at Pace
- Working Together
Compensation
Alongside your salary of £28,138, Office for National Statistics contributes £8,151 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).
Benefits
The Office for National Statistics is part of the Civil Service, and as such, we share a number of key benefits with other departments, while also having our own unique offerings to support our valued colleagues across the organization.
Inclusion & Accessibility
At ONS, we are always looking to attract the very best people from the widest possible talent pool, and we are proud to be an inclusive, equal opportunities employer. As a Disability Confident Leader, we’re committed to ensuring that all candidates are treated fairly throughout the recruitment process.
As part of our application process, you will be prompted to provide details of any reasonable adjustments to our recruitment process that you need. If you would like to discuss any reasonable adjustments before applying, please contact the recruitment team in the first instance.
If you would like an accessible version of any of the attachments or recruitment documents below or linked to in this advert, please contact the recruitment team, who will be happy to assist.
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.
Security Clearance
For ONS, the requirement for SC clearance is to have been present in the UK for 3 consecutive years immediately prior to applying, and the department will consider eligibility by exception on a case-by-case basis. You will be asked to provide information regarding your UK residency during your application, and failure to provide this will result in your application being rejected.
If you are unsure that you meet the eligibility above, please read the information available on Gov.uk on this link or contact the recruitment email on the advert before applying to discuss, as failure to meet the residency requirements will result in your security clearance application being rejected and any offer of employment being withdrawn.
At the point of SC application, you will need to provide or give access to the following evidence:
- Departmental or company records (personnel files, staff reports, sick leave reports, and security records)
- UK criminal records covering both spent and unspent criminal records
- Your credit and financial history with a credit reference agency
- Security Services records
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Please note, we will reach out to you once the advert has closed to confirm eligibility for this role, this will be via an email. Please check your junk emails for any correspondence.
Visa Sponsorship
ONS are unable to offer visa sponsorship for this role. Applicants are expected to hold a valid right to work in the UK when employment commences. If you are applying on a time-limited visa, this will need to be valid for at least 18 months at the point of application.
To work at the ONS, candidates must meet both UK right to work and security clearance requirements (where applicable).
If you are unsure whether you meet the appropriate right to work or security clearance eligibility criteria, please refer to the guidance on Gov.uk or contact the recruitment email provided in the advert before applying. Failure to meet these requirements will result in your application being rejected and employment offers being withdrawn.
Application Process
Number of Stages: 2 stage process
Stage 1: Application
The assessment process at the application stage will be based on your work history, CV, skills, experience, and personal statement. It is important that your application is tailored to highlight the skills, knowledge, and experience relevant to the role.
A personal statement is required at the application stage, the maximum word count allowed is 1250, which should not be exceeded. You should provide evidence for each essential skill criterion listed in the person specification. As these criteria are scored, it is advisable to give clear examples for each one, including the impact of your actions, ideally utilizing the STAR technique (Situation, Task, Action, Result).
Please note that Success Profiles Behaviour examples are not required at this stage of the application process.
In instances where a high number of applications are received, the sift pass mark may be adjusted, and candidates will be invited to interview based on merit order, i.e., those with the highest scores.
When a high volume of applications are received, the sift pass mark may be adjusted. Candidates will be invited to interview based on their merit order, with those achieving the highest scores being prioritized. Applicants who score below the adjusted pass mark but still pass will be placed on hold and may be invited to interview at a later date.
Stage 2: Interview
If invited to interview, you will be assessed using techniques aligned with the Civil Service Success Profiles framework, covering all behaviors listed in the job advert and any required technical skills.
Interviews will be via Microsoft Teams.
A reserve list may be held for a period up to 12 months from which further appointments may be made.
Important Dates
- Eligibility Security Clearance checks from 07/08 - 14/08. Please be aware that we will be sending you an email with a form to fill out.
- Sift will be conducted from 17/08/2026.
- Interviews will be conducted from 27/08/2026.
For the full terms and conditions of the post, please see the attachment.
Please note that all campaigns may be subject to withdrawal at any stage if the internal resource position changes.
Feedback will only be provided if you attend an interview or assessment.
Security
Successful candidates must undergo a criminal record check
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