Head of Security Operations

Salary: £100,000 - 100,000 per year

Requirements:

• We require a degree in a security-related discipline or equivalent experience.
• We require membership of a recognised professional body such as The Security Institute, Nuclear Institute, CIIS, ISACA, or World Institute for Nuclear Security (WINS).
• We require significant experience leading operational security within Defence, Critical National Infrastructure, or similarly complex environments.
• We require strong experience in security risk management, insider threat mitigation, and security culture development.
• We require exceptional stakeholder management skills with the ability to influence senior leaders and executive teams.
• We require a proven ability to build capable, engaged, and high-performing teams.
• We require the vision and determination to modernise and evolve security operations for the future.

Responsibilities:

• We lead and develop the operational security function, creating a high-performing, engaged, and future-focused team.
• We shape security strategy and ensure alignment with our organisational objectives and risk appetite.
• We interpret and apply MOD security policy and other relevant standards across a complex operational environment.
• We direct security risk assessment, mitigation planning, and assurance activities.
• We author and continuously improve security policies, processes, and standards.
• We provide security leadership for major programmes and projects, ensuring security requirements are embedded from the outset.
• We lead security investigations and support insider threat management activities in partnership with HR, government agencies, and senior stakeholders.
• We champion a strong security culture and foster shared ownership of security across the organisation.
• We represent security at executive and senior leadership forums.
• We oversee operational training activities and ensure future capability requirements are understood and delivered.
• We manage budgets, resources, and business reporting to ensure efficient and cost-effective delivery.

Technologies:

• Embedded
• Support
• Security

More:

We are AWE, based in RG7 4PR between Reading and Basingstoke, with free onsite parking. We offer a package of £95,000 to £110,000 depending on suitability, qualifications, and experience, plus a 10% bonus. We operate a 9-day working fortnight and consider flexible working requests to help our people fit work around their lifestyle. We offer a wide range of benefits, including every other Friday off, 270 hours of annual leave, a market-leading contributory pension scheme, family-friendly leave policies, professional career development funding, an Employee Assistance Programme, Occupational Health Services, life assurance, discounts, and special leave for volunteering, public service, and caring. We are looking for a security leader to help shape the future of security operations in a highly regulated, mission-critical environment, protecting nationally important assets and supporting a clear and meaningful purpose.

last updated 30 week of 2026