Role Description

The Head of Security & Resilience is a crucial role for St Paul’s, responsible for the delivery of our security and crisis management strategy that ensures that our people, visitors, contractors, buildings, and collections are secure, whilst maintaining a welcoming environment to visitors and worshippers.

The Head of Security & Resilience has responsibility for the development and implementation of security standards, mitigation of risk, and assessing security provisions, both strategically and operationally. They will lead on undertaking security and resilience planning, threat and risk assessment and implementing mitigation and control measures.

The role works collaboratively with a variety of stakeholders including City of London Police, Counter Terrorism Advisors and our operational partners, Wilson James, to lead and inspire the security team at St Paul’s, ensuring delivery of our expected standards of welcome and safety for our staff, volunteers and visitors. The post holder will understand that the unique nature of St Paul’s Cathedral means that the nature of the threat against it is varied, and will proactively liaise with internal and external stakeholders to identify and mitigate risks and ensure smooth operational delivery of BAU and high profile public events.

Main Duties

Strategic

  • Further develop and maintain St Paul’s security and business resilience provision to ensure proportionate protections for this unique and iconic landmark.
  • Work closely with the Cathedral Safeguarding Officer and other colleagues in implementing and reviewing the relevant Safeguarding policies and procedures in order to support the Cathedral’s commitment to protecting the welfare of children, young people and adults who are vulnerable.
  • Develop and maintain key stakeholder relationships, including police and security agencies to ensure that intelligence regarding the Cathedral is quickly obtained and appropriately managed.
  • Work collaboratively with external and internal stakeholders to ensure that the security risks and mitigations in place are intelligence led, dynamic and have compassionate security at their core, in keeping with the Cathedral’s unique position as a place of worship and tourist attraction.
  • Oversee the effective monitoring of our approach to security through active participation in the Safety Committee.
  • Oversee the effective monitoring of our approach to collections care security procedures through active participation in the Collections Management Committee.
  • Work alongside colleagues including police and Head of Marketing and Communications to evaluate and develop our security minded communications strategy.
  • Actively lead or participate in projects including the upgrade of CCTV, Control Room and security systems.
  • Contribute to the strategic direction of the Cathedral’s outsourced security contract to ensure alignment with the Cathedral’s vision and values.
  • Work to ensure compliance with the Protect Duty and how it will apply to a Place of Worship in the Enhanced Tier.
  • Liaise with St Paul’s Cathedral School to ensure respective emergency and resilience plans are aligned.

Operational

  • Oversee development and delivery of the security strategy and operational procedures, ensuring that staff and contractors are working cooperatively, undertaking regular reviews of processes and making recommendations for change as necessary. 
  • Proactively support the Security Operations Manager to ensure that front facing Security team members are supported and familiar with their security responsibilities to ensure a seamless and security focused visitor experience.
  • Support the Security Operations Manager to ensure that staff and volunteers receive regular and up to date training.
  • Manage the outsourced security contract; monitoring service level agreements, ensuring value for money and optimum service level standards.
  • Alongside colleagues; ensure regulatory compliance with matters involving personal safety and security, including fire regulations and Safeguarding and ensure appropriate operational control systems are in place.
  • Actively contribute to significant high profile public event planning meetings.
  • Be responsible for the detailed security operations of VIP events at the Cathedral, maintaining excellent working relationships with police, Cabinet Office, Royal Household and others to maintain secure events.
  • Provide general advice and support to colleagues on all safety, security and resilience issues, and on other matters as requested. 
  • Be prepared to act as Silver Command in the event of an emergency.
  • Represent St Paul’s Cathedral at the national Cathedral Security Group meetings and other relevant forums.
  • Oversee the Safeguarding Environment Risk Register, ensuring periodic review and the delivery of mitigations.
  • Provide leadership to the Security Operations Manager and wider team, ensuring that the team has the resource to deliver against strategic priorities.
  • Carry out all the roles and responsibilities of a Head of Department.

Business Continuity

  • In liaison with internal and external stakeholders, ensure that St Paul’s is prepared to respond to emergency situations and swift recovery. Ensure that emergency plans are maintained and accessible.
  • Lead on regular table top and real time training exercises for the Cathedral team, ensuring that staff, volunteers and contractors are prepared.
  • Develop and maintain excellent working relationships with the emergency services to support collaborative working and disaster preparedness.

Financial

  • Proactively manage the departmental budget and ensure value for money.

Other

Salary 

  • £65,000 (1.0 FTE)

Location

  • St Paul’s Cathedral, London

Hours

  • Full Time (35 hrs per week), with a requirement to work weekends, bank holidays and unsocial hours from time to time.

Pension

  • Pension scheme allows for up to 7.5% employer contribution plus life assurance of four times basic salary.

Leave

  • 25 days per year plus bank holidays and other public holidays.

Appointment Conditions

  • Evidence of right to work in the UK;
  • At least two satisfactory written references (covering a minimum referencing period of the past two years);
  • A satisfactory pre-employment health questionnaire; and
  • Clearance from the Disclosure and Barring Service at the Standard level.