Closing date: 4th May 2026, 11:59pm
Grade: 9
Salary: £57,186 - £60,912
Today terrorism is a constant threat within the United Kingdom. By joining Counter Terrorism Policing (CTP) you can directly contribute to keeping the UK safe and help us tackle the threat.
The West Midlands Counter Terrorism Unit (CTPWM) forms part of a national network of specialist services and UK police forces, helping protect the public against terrorist activity.
We’re looking for an enthusiastic and experienced Security and Vetting professional to join CTPWM as the National Security and Vetting Manager - Deputy Head of the IT and Security portfolio. This unique role provides a varied and rewarding challenge, leading the CTPWM National Security Vetting Unit and the Departmental Security Team.
As National Security and Vetting Manager you will have responsibility for managing the delivery of an outstanding National Security Vetting service. You will lead the Vetting Team in ensuring the completion of all national security vetting checks. This will require close and effective relationships with internal and external CTU stakeholders. In addition, you will also lead on physical and personal security for the West Midlands region, ensuring that a high security culture and accreditation is maintained.
This role acts as the Deputy to the Head of IT, Security & Vetting for the CTPWM and will support the strategic delivery of IT, Information Management, Security and Vetting. The post holder will report directly into the Head of IT, Security & Vetting but will be expected to work without direct supervision as a decision maker and ‘subject matter expert’ regarding physical and personnel security requirements.
This role is based in our modern offices near to the Birmingham International Airport with occasional travel across other West Midlands Police and national CTP sites. You’ll work Monday to Friday, between the core hours of 0700 – 1800.
The Role
National Security Vetting Manager Responsibilities
Have strategic oversight for National Security Vetting within CTPWM, providing advice and guidance through management reports, briefings and performance information making clear recommendations on change wherever necessary.
- To be the senior decision maker in granting, refusing or withdrawing national security vetting clearances for all West Midlands Police, Warwickshire Police and the National Police Vetting Service in complex cases, ensuring that vetting decisions are proportionate, made with diversity and inclusion at its heart, and within a culture where value for money is a key driver.
- To determine Future Demand Forecast for all National Security Vetting requirements, negotiating force and CTU requirements with the National Agency United Kingdom Security Vetting (UKSV), confirming the expenditure levels and creating appropriate budget heads.
Lead delivery of a robust vetting service that provides stakeholder confidence in that sensitive information is securely handled and that risk, threat and vulnerabilities are identified and mitigated.
- To undertake vulnerability interviews with officers and staff holding National Security Vetting clearances where concerns and vulnerabilities are identified through new applications or reviews.
- To lead on all appeals where National Security Vetting has been withdrawn or refused.
- Oversee day to day operational delivery ensuring that officers, staff and partners have suitable National Security vetting clearance to support operational delivery.
- To be responsible for development and review of force policy and procedures ensuring that the Vetting team are efficient and effective utilising Lean Systems thinking and identifying best practice.
CT Security Manager Responsibilities
- To have responsibility for physical security compliance across the regional CT estate against national CT standards.
- Provide assurance, on behalf of the CT Head, that local and national security policies and procedures are consistently applied and local mechanisms are in place to continually monitor compliance.
- To provide ‘subject matter expertise’ regarding physical and personnel security requirements.
- Implement a routine of continuous horizon scanning and monitoring activity to identify and address personnel and physical security vulnerabilities.
- Complete physical security reviews and audits of regional CTU estates, authorising physical security improvements that comply with National policy.
- Ensure that all regional CT estate is accredited by partners with any recommendations & observations made by them addressed through an improvement plan.
- Ensuring that identified security vulnerabilities are assessed and mitigated consistently and within appropriate time frames.
- To be the ‘Regional Authorised Approver’ for CTPWM, reviewing access to sensitive and GSC SECRET systems.
Skills and competencies
Essential
To have worked in a senior position within an enforcement/security environment.
Be able to demonstrate knowledge and experience of the management of complex issues.
Evidence of proactive change management and delivery of service.
- Ability to motivate, engage, persuade, influence and communicate – including the ability to manage and influence senior stakeholders.
- Ability to produce written reports to a high standard and communicate findings to senior leadership.
- Evidence ability to make decisions and problem solve complex issues.
- Ability to develop and produce security policies in response to identified changes to security threats.
- Knowledge of the Government Security Classification Scheme, Freedom of Information, General Data Protection Regulation.
- Must have a working knowledge of IT hardware and software; and be able to advise on the security of databases – information management issues.
- Demonstrate effective communication both in writing and orally and the ability to exercise initiative within the security and vetting field.
Demonstrate flexibility and ability to work under pressure to meet deadlines, using their own initiative to prioritise workloads and progress issues.
Due to the sensitivities of the role and access to GSC Secret material the role requires the holder to have/complete Developed Vetting (DV) clearance.
Desirable
- Have a comprehensive understanding of CTP structures.
- Thorough understanding of all Force and National Security Vetting policies and various levels of clearance.
- The role holder will be accredited as a member of the professional body with the Security Institute.
- Proficient in Microsoft Office suite of applications.
- To hold a full valid UK Driving Licence.
Security Clearance
This post requires British nationality (some dual nationalities may be ineligible) and a Developed Vetting clearance.
You will need to undergo additional security clearance checks, with the offer of employment being conditional on obtaining all of the necessary security clearances.
There are limitations on travelling to a small number of countries once in post.
Diversity & Inclusion
We maximise the potential of people from all backgrounds through a culture of fairness and inclusion to deliver the best service for our communities, whilst protecting them from harm.
Counter Terrorism Policing is always working to build upon our diverse workforce to reflect the country we serve. An inclusive culture enables us to do things differently, working in ways that meet individuals’ needs, flexing working patterns to ensure work-life balance is healthy so that we deliver the best for the organisation.
We are a Disability Confident Leader - the highest level an organisation can achieve under the scheme run by the Department of Work and Pensions. As part of our commitment we operate a Disability Confident Interview Scheme - all candidates who declare a disability and meet the essential criteria for the role will be offered an interview.
It is important to note that there may be occasions where it is not practicable or appropriate to interview all disabled people who meet the essential criteria for the job. For example, in certain recruitment situations such as high-volume, seasonal and high-peak times, the employer may wish to limit the overall numbers of interviews offered to both disabled people and non-disabled people. In these circumstances, the employer could select the candidates who best meet the essential criteria for the job, as they would do for non-disabled applicants.
Advertisement Closing Date
We reserve the right to close this advertisement early if the maximum volume of applications has been reached. Candidates with unsubmitted applications will not be informed prior to the advert closing.
Please do not attach a CV/covering letter as these will not be used during the application process.
