Job Title: Security Specialist
Salary: Competitive + Benefits
Location: Walsall, West Midlands
Overview
Motivated by purpose, thrive in operational environments, and want to make a real impact on the security and resilience of essential services? This role offers a unique opportunity. As a Security Specialist with South Staffs Water, you’ll help protect some of the UK’s most critical water assets, ensuring our sites remain secure, compliant, and resilient against evolving threats. Whether you’re already in the water sector or bring transferable experience from another regulated or critical infrastructure environment, this is a chance to step into a role where your expertise truly matters.
The Role
We’re looking for a Security Specialist to support the protection and resilience of our operational sites across the South Staffs and Cambridge regions. You’ll ensure compliance with government and regulatory security requirements, manage security risks and audits (including CNI), and provide expert advice across operational, IT, and OT environments. Working within our Security & Resilience team, you’ll play a vital role in maintaining the safety, continuity, and integrity of our water services.
Responsibilities
* Ensure all company sites meet required government and DEFRA security standards.
* Complete Security Risk Assessments and Operational Requirement Documents across all sites, including CNI locations.
* Manage and deliver recommendations from security audits and surveys.
* Oversee site access control, authorised access, alarms, and key management.
* Support compliance with the Security Emergency Measures Directive (SEMD) and the Civil Contingencies Act 2004.
* Participate in and deliver security exercises.
* Work closely with IT and OT teams to support delivery of NIS Regulations.
* Act as a point of contact for security advice across the business.
* Liaise with Local Resilience Forums (LRFs) and attend relevant meetings and sub‑groups.
* Manage security maintenance contractors, ensuring safe, effective, and cost‑efficient delivery.
* Support annual DWI security reporting.
* Coordinate security clearance processes and ensure clearances remain valid.
Essential
* Diploma in Emergency Planning & Management, Security, or related discipline OR proven experience in a security, emergency planning, or resilience role.
* Experience contributing to or managing projects.
* Broad understanding of operational environments and processes.
* Good knowledge of SEMD and the Civil Contingencies Act 2004.
* Ability to develop plans and strategies to manage incidents and security risks.
* Strong IT skills and confidence using data and security systems.
* Full, valid UK driving licence.
Desirable
* Degree in Emergency Planning, Security, or related discipline.
* Experience within the water sector, utilities, or other critical national infrastructure.
* Exposure to IT/OT security environments or regulated frameworks such as NIS.
* Experience working with external regulators or emergency response organisations.
Benefits
* A competitive salary plus benefits.
* 25 days holiday + bank holidays.
* Company pension with employer contributions.
* 24‑hour helpline providing free and confidential advice to you and your family on financial, legal, marital, and health matters.
* Eyecare vouchers – via Specsavers.
* Employee Assistance Programme (EAP).
* 24/7 remote GP access.
J-18808-Ljbffr