As the living, growing home of our national story, The National Archives is already a special place to work. We're an institution nearly 200 years old with a collection spanning 1,000 years of history. But it's where we go next that makes things really interesting.
In our strategic vision: Archives for Everyone, we set ourselves the challenge of becoming the 21st Century national archive - a different kind of cultural and heritage institution: Inclusive, Entrepreneurial, Disruptive. We won't become this overnight. It will take time, focus, effort and daring.
That's where you come in. Because we can't do this without you.
Job Overview
Salary: £36,178
Contract type: Permanent
Band: E/HEO
Closing date: Monday 19th January 2026 at midnight
We are looking for a security manager to oversee the invigilation of our document reading rooms and line manage our Reader Invigilation Team. The successful applicant will have a recognised security qualification with demonstrable experience of supervising security or invigilation teams.
As a custodian of the nation's history, this person will be a team player with outstanding interpersonal skills, the ability to stay calm under pressure and have experience of delivering excellent customer service. They will also be a highly motivated, adaptable, and well organised individual, with a diligent and methodical approach.
Working collaboratively with the Front of House Team, they will be operating in a busy environment and will also act as an ambassador for The National Archives when welcoming visitors and users of our services.
If this sounds like you, join us here in beautiful Kew, just 10 minutes' walk from the Overground and Underground stations. Staff can expect a range of benefits including a Civil Service Pension, discounts at local businesses, wellbeing resources and we also have an on-site gym, restaurant and staff bar.
The standard working pattern for this role will be Tuesday-Saturday, with some later starts e.g. working 11am-7pm, and the possibility of occasional overtime.
• Interview: Interviews will be held on-site at The National Archives in Kew
• Personal Statement: We ask all applicants to submit work history details and a personal statement, not exceeding 1200 words.
Selection for interview will be based on the 'essential' requirements in the job description below so please ensure that your statement demonstrates in detail how you meet these requirements.
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 visit the Civil Service Careers website where you can find further information on the use of AI in the application guidance section.
Sponsorship: We are unable to offer sponsorship for this role.
Job Description
Role and Responsibilities
* Ensure Reader Invigilation Officers are fully conversant with their responsibilities and requirements as stipulated in the Security Operations Manual.
* Periodic analysis and audit of security systems and procedures to drive a process of continuous improvement.
* Management of Information Security administration.
* Report issues and faults to the Estates and Facilities team, following up when required. Act as the point of contact for contractors carrying out checks and repairs. Confirm works have been completed satisfactorily, to standard, and on time.
* Effective stakeholder engagement: liaising with Document Services Managers and Collection Care colleagues to maintain and review standards.
* Delivering customer service excellence ensuring customers are efficiently assisted in a courteous and friendly manner that is helpful and responsive to our customers' needs.
* Liaising with the Enquiry Service Manager regarding issues that may impact on operational deliveries.
* Ensure all Security Officers are trained and kept up to date on evacuation procedures.
* Supporting the security staff during emergency evacuations and securing the main point of entry and egress. Assume responsibility for the evacuation of the first and second floor reading rooms.
* Appropriate rosters are devised for the various duties - overseeing and assisting the Supervisor with this where necessary. All requests for annual leave are managed and controlled, ensuring that there is adequate cover to maintain services at all times.
* Represent the Reader Invigilation team at senior management meetings and other meetings as required.
* Performance reviews and appraisals are carried out with all staff as required.
* Performance and attendance issues are addressed at the correct time in accordance with our policies and procedures.
* Investigating and responding to all customer complaints, comments, and suggestions, implementing corrective actions when required.
* Identify training and development requirements for the Supervisor and Officers within the Reader Invigilation Team, ensuring that they all have a training and development plan that is reviewed and actioned as required.
Person Specification
Essential:
* Works well as part of a team and is capable of leading, managing, and motivating staff
* Experience in a security management or customer facing management role
* A sound working knowledge of security best practice and legislation affecting the security role.
* Current SIA CCTV Operator Licence, or willingness to obtain same
* Excellent communication, influencing, negotiating and engagement skills.
* Sound judgement and decision-making skills with a 'hands on' problem solving approach, able to remain calm under pressure and take control of incidents.
* Basic IT skills with a working knowledge of the range of MS office packages
Desirable:
* Familiarity with public services practices
* Knowledge of the Cabinet Office Security Policy Framework Document
Other Requirements
* This role requires on site presence and is not suitable for home working.
* The working pattern for a full-time position is Tuesday – Saturday and includes some late shifts (10:50-19:02) on a Tuesday/Thursday.
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 and the Civil Service
D&I Strategy.
Benefits
Generous benefits package, including pension, sports and social club facilities, onsite gym, discounted rates at our on-site cafe and opportunities for training and development. Annual leave entitlement of 22 days per calendar year (rising to 25 after the first year, and incrementally to 30 days after six years) and 10½ days public and privilege holidays per annum.
Any move to The National Archives 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 (opens in new window)
Reasonable adjustments
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 The National Archives via as soon as possible before the closing date to discuss your needs
* Complete the 'Reasonable Adjustments' section 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
Feedback will only be provided if you attend an interview or assessment.
Security
Successful candidates must pass a disclosure and barring security check.
People working with government assets must complete basic personnel security standard checks (opens in new window)
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 new window)
Working for the Civil Service
The Civil Service Code (opens in 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 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.
This vacancy is part of the Great Place to Work for Veterans initiative. (opens in new window)
Contact point for applicants:
* Name: The National Archives Recruitment Team
* Email:
Further information
If you feel your application has not been treated in accordance with the Recruitment Principles and you wish to make a complaint, in the first instance, you should contact The National Archives via email: If you are not satisfied with the response you receive from the Department, you can contact the Civil Service Commission at (opens in new window)