Head of Security - LondonHead of SecurityFull-time 41 hours per weekMonday – Friday with occasional weekend and Bank Holiday as requiredOn-site in Bloomsbury, London - occasional work from homePermanent contract£58,162 per annumApplication deadline: 12pm (midday) on 29 April 2026 About the roleAs Head of Security, you will play a pivotal role in shaping and leading the British Museum’s Security strategy at a defining moment in our history. We are looking for a highly skilled, driven leader who can guide the organisation through some of the most exciting developments we have ever undertaken.You will oversee the full physical security function across our globalâscale estate, safeguarding our people, collections, buildings, and assets while ensuring that security is seamlessly integrated into an exceptional visitor experience. With responsibility for a 24/7 operation, you will strengthen our security culture, continuously develop our systems, and ensure we remain resilient and responsive as we evolve.Key areas of responsibilityYou are an accomplished security professional with extensive experience operating in complex, highâfootfall environments. Ambitious and forwardâthinking, you thrive on leading major change and have the confidence and authority to set security direction at a strategic level.You bring deep expertise in physical security, threat and risk management, crisis response, and operational excellence. Equally, you are a collaborative communicator who can influence at all levels and inspire a large, diverse team to deliver high performance. You understand how to balance robust protection with outstanding visitor experience; at one of the UK’s most popular visitor attractions.About youLead and evolve the Museum’s physical security strategy, systems, and standards across a 24/7 operation.Act as the organisation’s primary security expert, assessing threats, advising on major programmes and events, and developing riskâreduction plans.Inspire and develop a team of around 120 security professionals, ensuring highâquality training, strong leadership, and a culture of continuous improvement.Build and maintain trusted partnerships with internal stakeholders and external security bodies, law enforcement, and sector networks.Oversee incident management, crisis planning, and the effectiveness of technical security systems, ensuring robust compliance, reporting, and operational performance.BenefitsAt the British Museum, we believe our people are at the heart of everything we do. That's why we've designed a benefits package that goes beyond the ordinary. Our full list of benefits can be found here, but we’ve outlined some highlights below:Free exhibition entry for you and guests, exclusive private views, ICOM and reciprocal museum access.25 days’ annual leave plus bank holidays and 2.5 privilege days (and +5 days after 10 years).Discounts at onsite catering, Museum shops and local Bloomsbury partners.Social and wellbeing perks including Staff parties, social clubs, CSSC sports and leisure, and support from the Civil Service Retirement Fellowship.Peer support and allyship with five diversity networks for community. Learning and development through courses, mentoring and Athena as well as support for professional qualifications.Employee Assistance Programme available 24/7 for counselling, wellbeing support and more.Eyecare vouchers for VDU tests and contributions toward glasses.Enhanced parental leave including maternity, paternity, adoption and shared parental leave. Support for carers through Employers for Carers. Civil Service Pension Scheme with a secure, inflationâlinked defined benefit.Interestâfree loans including season ticket, rental deposit and bicycle loans.Our ValuesOur values drive everything we do, from how we handle our objects to how we work in our team to fostering a culture where everyone feels heard and empowered:Care DeeplyEmbrace the UnknownSpark CuriosityValue Many VoicesThese are a core part of how we recruit. Throughout the application, interview and selection process, we look for examples of how candidates demonstrate these behaviours in their own work and experiences. We encourage you to familiarise yourself with our values and reflect them in your application. Additional detailsIf you have any additional needs that we should be aware of to support you with your application, please provide details to bmrecruit@britishmuseum.org.*We may be able to provide visa sponsorship for this role, subject to meeting eligibility requirements. You can find out more about these here.*Supporting personal statements within the application process must demonstrate your knowledge and experience of delivering excellent customer service as well as understanding and applying health and safety and security procedures within the workplace. Interview questions will test your skills and competencies in these areas.The Museum also adheres to the HMG Baseline Personnel Security Standard (BPSS) for pre-employment screening of Civil Servants.