About ARU
ARU is a global university transforming lives through innovative, inclusive and entrepreneurial education and research. ARU holds a Gold award for the quality of its education, awarded through the Teaching Excellence Framework (TEF).
ARU's research institutes and four faculties bridge scientific, technical and creative fields. We deliver impactful research which tackles pressing issues and makes a real difference to our communities. Our academic excellence has been recognised by the UK's Higher Education funding bodies, with 16 of our research areas assessed as world leading. We are the largest provider of Nursing, Midwifery, Health and Social Care students in the East of England, and we are also among the UK's leading universities for degree apprenticeship provision, working with hundreds of employers across the UK.
About the role
The Safety & Security Department is part of the Office of the Secretary and Clerk, one of the key Professional Services that support the operation of the university. The Head of Security and Emergency Planning is responsible for both the strategic direction and the ongoing operational management of the Safety & Security Department.
You will be responsible for a Safety & Security Department consisting of over 35 staff, including Duty Managers, Safety & Security Officers, Control Room Operators and Receptionists. You will be accountable for the security provision across four campuses: Cambridge, Chelmsford, Writtle and Peterborough. The Head of Security also has responsibility for external security contracts, such as the contract that provides additional resources for university events, including graduations, along with the CCTV and Access Control contracts.
As the post holder you will also lead on Emergency Planning, where you will plan and deliver an Annual Emergency Exercise.
You will be a great communicator working with a variety of people, building strong working relationships both internally and externally. As a trusted partner you will deliver complex information sensitively and professionally to a wide and varied number of stakeholders, both internal and external.
You will be committed to continuous improvement and will look for new ways to improve the efficiency of the service. As an employer we encourage and welcome new ideas and innovations.
Applicants for this role are expected to have security knowledge as well as experience of managing a large team in a customer‑facing role.
Ideal candidates have previous relevant experience, ideally gained in an education environment, competent IT skills, a customer‑centric ethos and can demonstrate commitment to our values.
Ideal candidates also possess an innovative mindset, strong interpersonal and negotiating skills, and willingness to contribute to the collective life of the Service.
To progress further you will have a minimum of a Higher degree plus demonstrable professional experience for the role or a relevant professional/degree level qualification (Chartered where appropriate) and significant demonstrable professional experience for the role.
This role can be based at either our Chelmsford or Cambridge campus, but there is an expectation that the post holder will be visible across all campuses.
Interviews will be held week commencing 8 th December 2025.
Informal enquiries can be made to Louise Andrews - louise,andrews@aru.ac.uk
We have an agile working culture and offer an extensive range of benefits including generous holiday entitlement, occupational pension schemes, training and development opportunities, travel to work scheme and a competitive relocation package. Visit our benefits page for full details.
We are committed to safeguarding and promoting welfare of our staff and students and expect all staff and volunteers to share this commitment. Applicants should be aware that ARU will carry out online searches as part of the due diligence on short listed candidates.
This appointment is subject to an enhanced level children's and adults barred list disclosure from the Disclosure and Barring Service. Further information can be obtained from https://www.gov.uk/disclosure-barring-service-check.
We value diversity at ARU and welcome applications from all sections of the community.
We have a responsibility to ensure that all employees are eligible to live and work in the UK.
Committed to being inclusive and open to discuss flexible working.
We reserve the right to close this vacancy once we have received sufficient applications.
Guidance Notes
Please download the Job Description Person Specification for key requirements. To apply, demonstrate how your skills and experience meet the criteria.
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