Job title: Security Vetting Specialist - 6 Month Fixed Term Contract
Division: Operations
Department: Operational Resilience
1. Salary: National (Edinburgh and Leeds) ranging from £39,100 to £48,800 and London £41,600 to £51,900 per annum (Salary offered will be based on skills and experience)
2. This role is graded as: Associate - Level 8 - Corporate
3. Your recruitment contact is Cameron Nunn via k. Applications must be submitted through our online portal. Applications sent via social media or email will not be accepted.
About the FCA and team
We regulate financial services firms in the UK, to keep financial markets fair, thriving and effective. By joining us, you’ll play a key part in protecting consumers, driving economic growth, and shaping the future of UK finance services.
Cyber and Information Resilience (C&IR) is responsible for the management of cyber security at the FCA. 'Cyber security' means the protection of the FCA's data and systems from malicious and/or accidental activity, including theft, damage and disruption, in order that the FCA can deliver its key business functions. C&IR is part of a Directorate lead by our CISO, Director of Cyber & Operational Resilience Division.
Operational Resilience is a strategic priority for the FCA due to several drivers including, the volume of change and transformation being undertaken, resilience responsibilities under SMR and the increased threat profile and market responsibility.
Role responsibilities
4. Leading and resolving all vetting-related enquiries, proactively navigating issues with clearance holders, recruiters, hiring managers and external agencies to ensure a smooth and efficient clearance process that keeps key resourcing on track
5. Supporting the end-to-end clearance decision making process by identifying risk thresholds and collaborating with FCA departments, strengthening organisational assurance and enabling confident, well-informed decisions
6. Building and maintaining strategic relationships with UKSV and other partner agencies, addressing service gaps and driving improvements that enhance the reliability and efficiency of vetting operations
7. Advising the business on vetting risk appetite, challenging potential policy breaches and creating preventative solutions that promote a secure and compliant organisational environment
8. Working closely with Risk & Compliance to elevate the visibility, understanding and importance of National Security Vetting across the organisation, fostering a stronger risk culture
9. Assessing and making decisions on Security Clearance requests, including complex and high-risk cases, providing clear risk-mitigation recommendations that safeguard the organisation through fair, consistent and robust judgement
Skills required
Minimum:
10. Proven expertise in national security vetting, including case decision-making via the UKSV Case Management System and Portal, with working knowledge of national vetting policy, compliance standards and risk-based decision-making within a regulatory environment
11. Prior experience in a role requiring a high attention to detail with excellent IT proficiency, especially across Word, Excel, Outlook and related tools
12. Demonstrable experience in a role requiring strong relationship management skills with experience of developing relationships with both internal and external stakeholders
Essential:
13. Ability to work independently, prioritise tasks, escalate issues appropriately and take responsibility for actions
14. Proven track record of working to tight deadlines while maintaining accuracy and confidentiality
15. Flexibility and willingness to take on new tasks and responsibilities
16. Adaptability to changes in the vetting case lifecycle
Benefits
17. 25 days annual leave plus bank holidays
18. Hybrid model with up to 60% remote work
19. Non-contributory pension (8–12% depending on age) and life assurance at eight times your salary
20. Private healthcare with Bupa, income protection, and 24/7 Employee Assistance
21. 35 hours of paid volunteering annually
22. A flexible benefits scheme designed around your lifestyle
For a full list of our benefits, and our recruitment process as a whole visit our benefits page.
Our values and culture
Our colleagues are the key to our success as a regulator. We are committed to fostering a diverse and inclusive culture: one that’s free from discrimination and bias, celebrates difference, and supports colleagues to deliver at their best. We believe that our differences and similarities enable us to be a better organisation – one that makes better decisions, drives innovation, and delivers better regulation.
If you require any adjustments due to a disability or condition, your recruiter is here to help - reach out for tailored support.
We welcome diverse working styles and aim to find flexible solutions that suit both the role and individual needs, including options like part-time and job sharing where applicable.
Disability confident: our hiring approach
We’re proud to be a Disability Confident Employer, and therefore, people or individuals with disabilities and long-term conditions who best meet the minimum criteria for a role will go through to the next stage of the recruitment process. In cases of high application volumes we may progress applicants whose experience most closely matches the role’s key requirements.
Useful information and timelines
Timeline:
23. Job advert close: Monday, 5th January at 23:59
24. CV Review/Shortlist: Wednesday, 7th January
25. Interviews commence: w/c 15th January
26. Your Recruiter will discuss the process in detail with you during screening for the role, therefore, please make them aware if you are going to be unavailable for any date during this time.
SC Clearance is required for this role (SC Guidance) - you will hold or will be required to obtain Security Check (SC) level vetting