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General Information

Salary
£50,303
Working Pattern
Full Time
Vacancy Approach
Internal
Location
Manchester
Region
North West
Closing Date
07-Jul-2025
Business Unit
Security Group
Post Type
Permanent
Civil Service Grade
SEO
Number of jobs available
3
Reserve List
12 Months
Job ID
7139

Descriptions & requirements

Job description

Overview of the job

The Personnel Security Vetting team are part of Risk and Capabilities Unit (RaCU) in the Directorate of Security.

The team is responsible for evaluative decisions on the suitability of all applicants applying to join the Ministry of Justice and HMPPS Agency who are subject to security vetting.

The job role reports to the Security Vetting Delivery Lead. The team contribute to the management of corporate risk on behalf of the organisation, working closely with the Head of Risk and prevention procedures and Sopra Steria Limited (SSL). The role also affords the opportunity to build relationships with individuals and agencies across the criminal justice landscape.

The role will manage the acceptance or refusal of vetting on over 60,000 applications in the central Ministry and over 22,000 cases per annum in HMPPS.

This is a non-operational Headquarters role with line management responsibilities.

Summary

The Security Vetting Manager is one of a small team of managers who have responsibility for the day-to-day management of the Personnel Security Vetting team by supervising and managing the vetting function. They will manage effective processes to ensure robust assessments of all incoming vetting applications; identifying deadlines and prioritising accordingly, ensuring that urgent applications are allocated accordingly.

They will direct a team of Security Vetting Officers in the processing of vetting applications in accordance with protocols, procedures, relevant legislation and appropriate timescales, and provide advice and guidance to them on any points of difficulty to ensure that applications are processed in compliance with policy and other legislation, ensuring that that vetting decision outcomes are clearly recorded for all vetting applications in a disclosable format.

Responsibilities, Activities and Duties

The job holder will be required to carry out the following responsibilities, activities and duties:

•             Serve as the conduit between the strategic vision of senior management and the operational delivery by Security Vetting Officers (SVOs) and supporting roles. Ensure that senior management’s strategies and objectives are translated into actionable plans and effectively communicated to the team.

•             Manage the flow of information within the team and address issues as they arise. Ensure that key information, feedback, and any operational challenges are communicated back to senior management through the appropriate channels.

•             To act as a professional advisor to strategically manage/maintain the security clearances, vetting process and associated policies and procedures by organising appropriate resources for pre- and post-employment appointments within agreed Service Level Agreements.

•             To exercise excellent communication and interpersonal skills with the ability to negotiate and influence, to build and maintain working relationships with various stakeholders.

•             Ensure SVO’s are processing vetting decisions that are fair, consistent and defendable by working with colleagues in the Personnel Security Countermeasures who lead on assurance, acting as a point of escalation where necessary.

•             To maintain an up-to-date knowledge of policy/legislation in relation to Security Vetting and associated Counter Corruption Policies.

•             Update and maintain the centralised database of those individuals who have been excluded from any establishment in line with published Code of Practice, Data Protection, the Human Rights Act, and other current relevant legislation.

•             Extract management information from various sources to produce performance statistics for the Personnel Security Vetting Team, paying particular attention to areas requiring improvement and developing staff accordingly.

•             Lead, motivate, develop and engage a team of vetting staff, protecting and promoting workforce wellbeing to uphold professional standards, including the line management of approximately 10 Security Vetting Officers.

The duties/responsibilities listed above describe the post as it is at present and is not intended to be exhaustive. The job holder is expected to accept reasonable alterations and additional tasks of a similar level that may be necessary. Significant adjustments may require re-examination under the Job Evaluation Scheme and shall be discussed in the first instance with the job holder.

Behaviours

•             Leadership

•             Working Together

•             Developing Self and Others

•             Changing and Improving

•             Seeing the Big Picture

Ability

•             Take charge of people, situations and decisions

•             Establishing mutual respect and building relationships with others

•             Consider other people’s views and bring a fresh perspective whatever the situation or context

•             Flexible and versatile, acts as an advocate for change

•             Consider the wider factors and long term implications of decisions

Experience

Previous line management

Hours of Work(Unsocial Hours) Allowances

37 hour working week

Additional Information

Working Arrangements & Further Information

The MoJ offers Hybrid Working arrangements where business need allows. This is an informal, non-contractual form of flexible working that blends working from your base location, different MoJ sites and / or from home (please be aware that this role can only be worked in the UK and not overseas). Some roles will not be suitable for Hybrid Working. Similarly, Hybrid Working will not suit everyone’s circumstances. Arrangements will be discussed and agreed with the successful candidate(s) and subject to regular review.

For nationally advertised roles, the successful candidate(s) will be appointed to a MoJ office location, which may include their nearest Justice Collaboration Centre or Justice Satellite Office. This will be discussed and agreed on the completion of pre-employment checks.

Some of MoJ’s terms and conditions of service are changing as part of Civil Service reform. The changes will apply to staff joining MoJ who are new to the Civil Service. Staff joining MoJ from other civil service employers will transfer onto the new MoJ terms if they are already on 'modernised' terms in their current post or onto 'unmodernised' MoJ terms if they are on 'unmodernised' terms at their current post. Details will be available if an offer is made.

Standard full time working hours are 37 hours per week excluding breaks which are unpaid. HMPPS welcomes part-time, flexible and job-sharing working patterns, where they meet the demands of the role and business needs. All applications for part-time, flexible and job-sharing working patterns will be considered in accordance with the HMPPS’ Flexible Working policy.

If you are a current NPS employee, this vacancy may be available on a Loan basis for up to 2 years. Applications are invited from suitable qualified staff.

The Loan/Secondment is subject to the approval of the selected candidate's Business Unit, which should be obtained before confirmation of appointment.

Benefits

Annual Leave

-The holiday year runs from 1 March. If you work a non standard work pattern your leave entitlement may be expressed in either hours or days as appropriate. Leave entitlement is calculated on a pro-rata basis and you will be advised of your actual entitlement on appointment. If you were appointed internally and your leave was previously calculated in days, this will continue to be the case.

Bank, Public and Privilege Holidays

-You are entitled to 9 days (66 hours 36 minutes) in recognition of bank, public and privilege holidays.

Pension

-The Civil Service offers a choice of two pension schemes, giving you the flexibility to choose the pension that suits you best.

Work Life Balance

HM Prison & Probation Service  (HMPPS) is keen to encourage alternative working arrangements. Work life balance provides greater opportunities for staff to work more flexibly wherever managers and establishments can accommodate requests to do so. HMPPS offers flexible working subject to completion of a satisfactory probationary period and NVQ

Season Ticket Advance

-After two months’ service, you’ll be eligible to apply for a season ticket advance to purchase a quarterly or longer-period season ticket for travel between home and your place of work

Childcare Vouchers

For any moves across the Civil Service may have implications on your ability to carry on claiming childcare vouchers

Training

HMPPS is committed to staff development and offers a range of training and development opportunities, including areas such as Equality and Diversity, Dealing with Challenging Behaviour, Suicide Prevention and Anti Bullying Programmes

-There are opportunities to access promotion programmes and HMPPS provides a variety of training appropriate to individual posts

-All staff receive security and diversity training and an individual induction programme into their new roles

Eligibility

-All candidates are subject to security and identity checks prior to taking up post

-All external candidates are subject to 6 months probation. Internal candidates are subject to probation if they have not already served a probationary period within HMPPS

-All staff are required to declare whether they are a member of a group or organisation which the HMPPS considers to be racist

Working for the Civil Service

The Civil Service Code sets out the standards of behaviour expected of civil servants.

We recruit by merit on the basis of fair and open competition, as outlined in the Civil Service Commission's recruitment principles. Should you feel that the recruitment process has breached the recruitment principles you are able to raise a formal complaint in the following order

As a Disability Confident employer, MoJ are committed to providing everyone with the opportunity to demonstrate their skills, talent and abilities, by making adjustments throughout all elements of the recruitment process and in the workplace. MoJ are able to offer an interview to disabled candidates who meet the minimum selection criteria, except in a limited number of campaigns.

You will be able to request reasonable adjustments to the recruitment process within the application form. If you need additional help completing the application form, please contact the TBS Recruitment Enquiries Team.

For more information on applying for a role as a candidate with a disability or long-term condition, please watch our animated videos.

Diversity & Inclusion

The Civil Service is committed to attract, retain and invest in talent wherever it is found. To learn more please see the Civil Service People Plan and the Civil Service Diversity and Inclusion Strategy.

A Great Place to Work for Veterans

The "Making the Civil Service a Great Place to work for veterans" initiative includes a guaranteed interview scheme to those who meet the minimum criteria to provide eligible former members of the Armed Forces with opportunities to secure rewarding jobs. Allowing veterans to continue to serve their country, and to bring highly skilled individuals with a broad range of experience into the Civil Service in an environment, which recognises and values your previous service in the Armed Forces.
For further details about the initiative and eligibility requirements visit: https://www.gov.uk/government/news/making-the-civil-service-a-great-place-to-work-for-veterans

Redeployment Interview Scheme

Civil Service departments are expected to explore redeployment opportunities before making an individual redundant. The MoJ is committed, as part of the Redeployment Interview Scheme, to providing opportunities to those who are 'at risk of redundancy'.

MoJ is able to offer an interview to eligible candidates who meet the minimum selection criteria, except in a limited number of campaigns. Candidates will not be eligible for the Redeployment Interview Scheme if they are applying on promotion.

Civil Service Nationality Rules

This job is broadly open to the following groups:

  • UK nationals
  • nationals of the Republic of Ireland
  • nationals of Commonwealth countries who have the right to work in the UK
  • nationals of the EU, Switzerland, Norway, Iceland or Liechtenstein and family members of those nationalities with settled or pre-settled status under the European Union Settlement Scheme (EUSS) (opens in a new window) https://www.gov.uk/settled-status-eu-citizens-families
  • nationals of the EU, Switzerland, Norway, Iceland or Liechtenstein and family members of those nationalities who have made a valid application for settled or pre-settled status under the European Union Settlement Scheme (EUSS)
  • individuals with limited leave to remain or indefinite leave to remain who were eligible to apply for EUSS on or before 31 December 2020
  • Turkish nationals, and certain family members of Turkish nationals, who have accrued the right to work in the Civil Service

Further information on nationality requirements (opens in a new window) https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/nationality-rules

Reserve list

A reserve list may be held for up to 12 months from which further appointments may be made for the same or similar roles.

Contact Information
Candidates can contact Matt Halligan via email: Matt.Halligan@justice.gov.uk for further  information / discussion in advance of applying.

MoJ:

If you require any assistance please call 0345 241 5359 (Monday to Friday 8am - 6pm) or e mail moj-recruitment-vetting-enquiries@resourcing.soprasteria.co.uk

Please quote the job reference 7139

HMPPS

If you require any assistance please call 0345 241 5358 (Monday to Friday 8am - 6pm) or e mail moj-recruitment-vetting-enquiries@resourcing.soprasteria.co.uk

Please quote the job reference 7139

Application form stage assessments

Behaviours
A sift based on the lead behaviour, Leadership, may be held if a large number of applications are received. If a large number of applications remain after the initial sift, your application will be progressed to a full sift, where all behaviours will then be considered.
Behaviours Application Form Question Word Limit
250
Changing and Improving
Developing Self and Others
Leadership
Experience
We will assess your experience for this role via the following methods
Statement of Suitability
Evidence of Experience
Statement of Suitability

Interview stage assessments

Interview Dates
To be confirmed
Behaviours
Changing and Improving
Developing Self and Others
Leadership
Strengths
Strengths will be assessed but these are not shared in advance. To learn more about Strengths and how they are assessed please click here.
Use of Artificial Intelligence (Al)
You must ensure that any evidence submitted as part of your application, including your CV, statement of suitability and behaviour examples, are truthful and factually accurate. Please note that plagiarism can include presenting the ideas and experiences of others, or generated by artificial intelligence, as your own.
Level of security checks required
Security Clearance (SC)