Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office
Overseas Security Advisor
Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office
Total Package: £59,000
Location: London
Permanent
The Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office (FCDO) is a vibrant ministerial department that employs around 17,300 staff. Bringing together development and diplomacy, we are focussed on safeguarding the nation’s security, and championing the UK as a genuine force for good on a worldwide scale. With 270 overseas embassies and high commissions working under our umbrella, we pursue and enhance national interests, working with a huge array of international partners to develop ambitious initiatives and defend the UK’s values. Our work extends from reducing poverty and tackling terrorism to addressing global challenges, and as such, we can offer our workforce genuinely fascinating career opportunities.
Working both proactively and reactively, this is a deeply interesting role with the scope to expand your skills exponentially. Based in London, you will work with a close-knit team to deliver specialist security advice relating to diplomatic missions overseas and how these could be impacted by factors such as espionage, crime and terrorism. Travelling to multiple locations across the world (ranging from Kabul to Washington), you will conduct risk assessments, and you will determine the mitigating measures needed. Translating your findings into evidence-based reports, you will deliver astute justifications for your recommendations (including the financial and practical implications of your proposals), and you will see to it that the suggested security enhancements meet exemplary standards. As a trusted subject matter expert, you will have the chance to share expertise across the department, and your knowledge will be woven into the design, construction and renovation stages of estates projects. You will also be called on to support investigations into any security incidents.
With your work extending from high threat situations to routine operations, this is a uniquely sensitive role which will require a great deal of tact and diplomacy. As such, you will come from a similar background in the public or private security sector, and you will have operational experience of security or risk management. With well-developed skills in intelligence, risk assessment and modern security equipment, you will be highly organised with exceptional analytical capabilities. As you will be travelling for up to 100 days each year, a great deal of flexibility is required, and you will be a team player with solid leadership qualities. With the confidence to work with the most senior level stakeholders and FCDO staff, you will regularly deliver security presentations, so you will need engaging communication and presenting skills. You will also enjoy sharing knowledge with other FCDO security staff, mentoring and training them as appropriate.
This is a rare opportunity to join a team who are passionate about the work they are doing. Openings within this team do not come along often (this current vacancy has only become available due to a member of the team retiring), which speaks volumes about the sense of camaraderie that exists among our staff. And while workplace satisfaction is undeniably important, so too is your wellbeing and financial future. You will therefore have access to a generous benefits package that includes a competitive pension scheme, plus 25 days of leave. The work we undertake is challenging, stimulating and of vital importance to the FCDO’s mission, so join us and take on a role like no other.
Closing date: 1 March 2021.
