EO Security Support Officer

• Job grade: Executive Officer
• Contract type: Permanent
• Business area: CO - Strategy, Finance and Performance - Cabinet Office Security & Resilience Team
• Type of role: Administration / Corporate Support, Operational Delivery, Security
• Working pattern: Full-time
• Number of jobs available: 1

Location

Westminster

About the job

Job summary

The Cabinet Office supports the Prime Minister and ensures the smooth running of government, from developing policy, to modernising public services. Within the Cabinet Office, the Security & Resilience (COSR) Team is the lead body for managing protective security, advising business units, and mitigating security threats across the department.

We are recruiting a dynamic EO Security Support Officer to work across our Security operations. To build departmental resilience and offer a rich learning experience, the successful candidate will rotate periodically across three high-performing and essential security teams:

• Vetting Team: Responsible for overseeing National Security Vetting (NSV) across the Cabinet Office, ensuring compliance with NSV policies and working closely with UK Security Vetting (UKSV) and the Government Security Group (GSG).
• STRAP Team (STRAPSO): Regulates and monitors access to highly sensitive intelligence material that requires specialised protective handling beyond standard government arrangements.
• Incident Management Team: Managing security incidents, assessing risks, analysing data and where necessary, escalating incidents and emerging threats to the correct team or stakeholder.

Job description

As a security Support Officer, your duties will include:

• Managing team inboxes, operational tracking systems, and taking on-call or out-of-hours responsibilities as required.
• Administering National Security Vetting (NSV) applications, transfers, and clearance processes, ensuring accuracy and complete records.
• Verifying candidate and stakeholder information to maintain the integrity of vetting databases, as well as managing the vetting aftercare and leavers' processes.
• Providing administrative control of environments, maintaining accurate security records, and managing access to secure meeting rooms and video-conferencing facilities.
• Managing user accounts, secure telephony, and access applications for classified IT systems across the Cabinet Office and No. 10.
• Delivering clear technical training, security briefings, and familiarisation sessions to colleagues of all grades.
• Supporting hardware and software projects, capturing user requirements, and tracking project delivery.
• Investigating, recording, and reporting security incidents or breaches to the wider security team with constructive recommendations.

Person specification

Essential criteria

The successful candidate will demonstrate:

• Administrative or Customer Service Experience A background in administration, customer service, compliance, or HR is highly advantageous.
• Exceptional Attention to Detail Proven ability to maintain accurate records, databases, and track operational activities carefully.
• Strong Communication Skills Excellent written and verbal skills, including the ability to write clear reports, manage professional emails, collaborate and confidently present briefings or training sessions.
• Organisation & Resilience The ability to work autonomously, manage competing tasks, adapt to changing priorities, and consistently meet deadlines within a fast-paced environment.
• Discretion & Integrity A commitment to handling highly sensitive and classified information responsibly in compliance with security and data-protection standards.
• IT Proficiency Competence with Microsoft Office applications and Google Workspace (Gmail, Drive, Docs, etc.), and the ability to learn specialised databases.

Additional information:

Cabinet Office policy is that a minimum 60% of your working time should be spent at your principal workplace. For some roles, due to their nature and the business need, this may be up to 100%. Requirements to attend other locations for official business will also count towards this level of attendance.

Behaviours

We'll assess you against these behaviours during the selection process:

• Managing a Quality Service

• Working Together

• Making Effective Decisions

• Delivering at Pace

Benefits

Alongside your salary of £35,479, Cabinet Office contributes
£10,278 towards you being a member of the Civil Service Defined Benefit Pension scheme.

Find out what benefits a Civil Service Pension provides (opens in a new window).

• Learning and development tailored to your role.
• An environment with flexible working options.
• A culture encouraging inclusion and diversity.
• A Civil Service Pension which provides an attractive pension, benefits for dependants and employer contributions of 28.97%.
• A minimum of 25 days of paid annual leave, increasing by one day per year up to a maximum of 30.

Things you need to know

Artificial intelligence

Artificial intelligence can be a useful tool to support your application, however, all examples and statements provided must be truthful, factually accurate and taken directly from your own experience. Where plagiarism has been identified (presenting the ideas and experiences of others, or generated by artificial intelligence, as your own) applications may be withdrawn and internal candidates may be subject to disciplinary action. Please see our candidate guidance (opens in a new window) for more information on appropriate and inappropriate use.

Selection process details

This vacancy is using Success Profiles (opens in a new window), and will assess your Behaviours, Strengths and Experience.

Application process

To apply, you are required to submit an online application consisting of:

• A tailored CV (maximum 2 pages of A4) outlining your employment history, Qualifications and skills. Any employment gaps within the last 2 years must be explained.
• A Personal Statement (maximum 750 words) aligned to the Essential Criteria to demonstrate your suitability for this role.

Further details around what this will entail are listed on the application form.Selection process

• **Stage 1: Informal Virtual Conversation

**Candidates successful at the sift stage will be invited to a Stage 1 informal virtual conversation via video call.

• **Stage 2: London Face-to-Face Assessment & Interview

Candidates who progress from the Stage 1 conversation will be invited to an assessment and interview in our London office. This will consist of a Written Exercise: A 30-minute bespoke written exercise. Interview:** A 40-minute interview covering some Strength-based questions and the following Success Profile behaviours.

Behaviours:

• Managing a Quality Service (Lead Behaviour): Deliver professional, prompt, and accurate customer-focused security services.
• Working Together: Collaborate actively within and across teams, building inclusive relationships.
• Making Effective Decisions: Analyse and evaluate key security information to make sound, timely choices.
• Delivering at Pace: Maintain focus and energy to deliver high-quality work to agreed timelines.

Further details regarding the exercise and interview will be provided to candidates invited to Stage 2.

Expected timeline (subject to change)

Expected sift date – week commencing 02/11/2026

Expected interview date/s – week commencing 16/11/2026

Interview location - Your interview will either be conducted face to face or by video. You will be notified of the location if you are selected for interview.

Reasonable Adjustment

If a person with disabilities is put at a substantial disadvantage compared to a non-disabled person, we have a duty to make reasonable changes to our processes.

If you need a change to be made so that you can make your application, you should:

Contact Government Recruitment Service via Cabinetofficerecruitment.grs@cabinetoffice.gov.uk as soon as possible before the closing date to discuss your needs.

Complete the ‘Assistance required’ section in the ‘Additional requirements’ page of your application form to tell us what changes or help you might need further on in the recruitment process. For instance, you may need wheelchair access at interview, or if you’re deaf, a Language Service Professional.

Further information

Please note applicants must hold UK nationality as a minimum. Dual nationals may apply.

This role requires DV clearance. DV clearance would normally need minimum 7 years UK residency in the past 10 years. This is not an absolute requirement, but supplementary checks may be needed where individuals have not lived in the UK for that period. This may mean your security clearance (and therefore your appointment) will take longer or, in some cases, not be possible.

For further information on National Security Vetting please visit the Demystifying Vetting website.

If you are experiencing accessibility problems with any attachments on this advert, please contact the email address in the 'contact point for applicants' section.

Please note terms and conditions are attached. Please take time to read the document to determine how these may affect you.

Any move to Cabinet Office from another employer will mean you can no longer access childcare vouchers. This includes moves between government departments. You may however be eligible for other government schemes, including Tax Free Childcare. Determine your eligibility at: .

A reserve list will be held for a period of 12 months, from which further appointments can be made.

If successful and transferring from another Government Department a criminal record check may be carried out.

In order to process applications without delay, we will be sending a Criminal Record Check to Disclosure and Barring Service on your behalf.

However, we recognise in exceptional circumstances some candidates will want to send their completed forms direct. If you will be doing this, please advise Government Recruitment Service of your intention by emailing Pre-EmploymentChecks.grs@cabinetoffice.gov.uk stating the job reference number in the subject heading.

Applicants who are successful at interview will be, as part of pre-employment screening, subject to a check on the Internal Fraud Database (IFD). This check will provide information about employees who have been dismissed for fraud or dishonesty offences. This check also applies to employees who resign or otherwise leave before being dismissed for fraud or dishonesty had their employment continued. Any applicant’s details held on the IFD will be refused employment.

A candidate is not eligible to apply for a role within the Civil Service if the application is made within a 5 year period following a dismissal for carrying out internal fraud against government.

This role is full time only. Applicants who wish to work an alternative pattern are welcome to apply however your preferred working pattern may not be available and you should discuss this with the vacancy holder before applying.

New entrants are expected to join on the minimum of the pay band.

Feedback

Feedback will only be provided if you attend an interview or assessment.

Security

Successful candidates must undergo a basic (or equivalent) criminal record check.

Successful candidates must meet the security requirements before they can be appointed. The level of security needed is developed vetting (opens in a new window).

See our vetting charter (opens in a new window).

People working with government assets must complete baseline personnel security standard (opens in new window) checks.

Nationality requirements

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)

• 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)

Working for the Civil Service

The Civil Service Code (opens in a new window) 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 (opens in a new window).

The Civil Service embraces diversity and promotes equal opportunities. As such, we run a Disability Confident Scheme (DCS) for candidates with disabilities who meet the minimum selection criteria.

The Civil Service also offers a Redeployment Interview Scheme to civil servants who are at risk of redundancy, and who meet the minimum requirements for the advertised vacancy.

Diversity and 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 (opens in a new window)
and the

Civil Service Diversity and Inclusion Strategy (opens in a new window).

Apply and further information

This vacancy is part of the Great Place to Work for Veterans (opens in a new window) initiative.

Once this job has closed, the job advert will no longer be available.
You may want to save a copy for your records.

Contact point for applicants

Job contact :

• Name : Vaishali
• Email : VettingTeam@cabinetoffice.gov.uk

Recruitment team

• Email : cabinetofficerecruitment.grs@cabinetoffice.gov.uk

Further information

Appointment to the Civil Service is governed by the Civil Service Commission’s Recruitment Principles. If you feel that your application has not been treated in accordance with the Recruitment Principles, and wish to make a complaint, then in the first instance you should contact Government Recruitment Service by email at : cabinetofficerecruitment.grs@cabinetoffice.gov.uk

If you are not satisfied with the response you receive, then you can contact the Civil Service Commission at info@csc.gov.uk. For further information on the Recruitment Principles and bringing a complaint to the Civil Service Commission, please visit their website at: https://civilservicecommission.independent.gov.uk/.

Attachments

Cabinet Office Terms and Conditions - External 2025-02-20 Opens in new window (docx, 94kB) Cabinet Office Employee Offer Opens in new window (pdf, 302kB)

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