Security and Estates Lead

About the RoleAs a Security and Estates Lead within the UKTL Team, you'll play a critical role in safeguarding our people, facilities, and reputation. You'll lead on physical, personnel and cyber security, ensuring our security posture remains proportionate to risk and aligned with government standards, you'll also be responsible for managing our site and facilities.
This is a hands-on role where you'll design, implement, and oversee security measures across a complex environment, including secure facilities and data centre operations.
You'll lead a small team of physical/personnel security, cyber security and estates professionals and be responsible for all security and estates matters, working to the Chief Operating Officer and closely with leadership colleagues to deliver a holistic approach to risk management.
Key Responsibilities

• Overall responsibility for all security and estates matters at the UKTL facility.
• Maintain and promote a strong security culture.
• Oversee physical security standards, ensuring compliance with relevant accreditation requirements.
• Oversee Cyber Security to deliver integrated risk management.
• Build strong relationships with internal teams, contractors, and government agencies.
• Managing construction and building fit-out projects and facilities contracts.
• Monitor emerging threats and provide intelligence to inform risk strategies.
• Manage security and estates aspects of data centre facilities, ensuring resilience and continuity of operations.
• Lead investigations into vulnerabilities or procedural failings and report findings.
• Respond to incidents, including out of hours. Reasonable proximity to our site, whilst not essential, maybe an advantage.

About YouYou're an experienced security professional with a proven track record in designing and managing secure facilities and data centre environments. You combine technical expertise with strong communication skills, enabling you to influence and collaborate effectively across all levels.
Essential Skills & Attributes:

• Experience in physical security design and implementation, including data centre security.
• Ability to balance business needs with security and safety requirements.
• Membership of a relevant professional body (e.g., DISA, Security Institute) or Vocational qualification such as CSMP or ASIS CPP.
• Discretion, integrity, and sensitivity in handling confidential matters.
• Adaptable, proactive, and able to work autonomously. Experience leading security professionals.

Please note: Applications will be reviewed, and interviews conducted throughout the duration of this advert therefore we may at any time bring the closing date forward. We encourage all interested applicants to apply as soon as practical.
Flexible WorkingSuccessful applicants will be expected to attend our Birmingham office a minimum of three days per week. Our state-of-the-art facilities provide an excellent environment for collaboration, and we encourage colleagues to make the most of our on-site workspace.
We are committed to fostering a positive work-life balance and welcome applications from candidates seeking full-time, part-time, or flexible working arrangements, subject to business needs.
LocationOur site is conveniently located within easy reach of Birmingham, with excellent transport links. We are accessible by rail, with the nearest being Birmingham International station, and are also served by local bus routes. Free on-site parking is available for those travelling by car.
Why Join UKTL?At UKTL, you'll be part of a mission that has real national impact, helping to strengthen the security, resilience, and future of the UK's telecommunications networks.
We are committed to investing in our people, providing opportunities to develop your technical expertise, broaden your experience, and build a rewarding long-term career. Whether you're an experienced specialist or looking to grow your skills in a new area, you'll benefit from:

• Meaningful work that helps shape the future security of UK telecommunications.
• Access to industry-leading training, professional development, and certification opportunities.
• Hands-on experience with cutting-edge technologies across telecoms, cyber security, research, and testing.
• Collaboration with recognised experts in a highly skilled and supportive environment.
• Opportunities to work on unique projects that drive innovation and influence industry best practice.
• A culture that encourages continuous learning, knowledge sharing, and career progression.

Security ClearanceWe actively recruit citizens of all backgrounds, but the nature of our work in this specific area means that nationality, residency and security requirements are more tightly defined than others. To work in this role, you will need to have a DV clearance with no restrictions, or you must have the ability to obtain a DV clearance
SalarySalary for UKTL specialist roles is benchmarked against the external market and may include additional compensation to recognise in-demand technical expertise.
We recruit based on capability, technical excellence and potential rather than simply years of experience. As a result, candidates may be considered for different grades depending on their skills, experience and technical depth.
During the interview process, we'll discuss how your experience aligns with our grading framework and provide an indication of the salary range associated with the most appropriate level. This ensures you have a clear understanding of expectations and opportunities from an early stage.
Our technical assessment process is designed to evaluate your expertise in greater detail and will ultimately determine the grade and salary offered. We are committed to offering competitive, market-aligned reward packages that recognise the value and impact our specialists bring to UKTL.
Our BenefitsAt UKTL-NPL, we recognise that our people are key to our success. That's why we offer a comprehensive benefits package designed to support your wellbeing, career development and financial security. Benefits include:

• Competitive pension scheme with employer contributions of up to 12%.
• Life assurance providing cover of three times your annual salary.
• Generous annual leave entitlement, sick pay and shared parental leave.
• Enhanced maternity, adoption and surrogacy leave, including up to 39 weeks' full pay.
• Private GP service with confidential phone and video appointments.
• Employee Assistance Programme offering free and confidential advice and counselling.
• Group Income Protection for additional financial security during periods of long-term illness.
• Interest-free loans for season tickets, rental deposits, house purchase deposits and other qualifying purchases.
• MyLifestyle benefits platform, providing discounts across retail, supermarkets, entertainment, travel and fitness providers.
• CSSC membership offering access to additional leisure, travel and lifestyle benefits.
• Employee referral bonus scheme.
• Professional development opportunities including technical training, mentoring, coaching and leadership development.
• Support towards professional accreditation and chartered status.
• Annual salary reviews and market benchmarking to ensure competitive and fair pay.
• Access to wellbeing initiatives, employee networks, social clubs and community activities.

We are committed to helping our people thrive both professionally and personally, providing the support, flexibility and opportunities needed to build a rewarding and meaningful career.
About UsUKTL is building leading edge Telecoms testing facilities to keep our telecommunications networks safe, accelerate the roll-out of new technologies, and grow our world leading telecoms sector to maintain resiliency and security.
Successful candidates will join a state-of-the-art facility and be supporting the team conducting testing and research on the latest technologies and innovations in the industry. You will work alongside our infrastructure and Cybersecurity professionals to ensure that the UK's world class Telecoms infrastructure grows in a resilient and secure manner underpinning growth in other industry sectors.
As a trusted and independent national capability, UKTL interacts with standards bodies, Academia, and Government Departments as well as Communications Service Providers and equipment vendors.
The National Physical Laboratory (NPL) is a world-leading centre of excellence that provides cutting-edge measurement science, engineering and technology to underpin prosperity and quality of life in the UK. Find out more about what it is like working here - The measure of us - Overview
NPL and DSIT have strong commitments to diversity and equality of opportunity, and welcome applications from candidates irrespective of their background, gender, race, sexual orientation, religion, or age, providing they meet the required criteria. Applications from women, disabled and black, Asian and minority ethnic candidates in particular are encouraged. All disabled candidates (as defined by the Equality Act 2010) who satisfy the minimum criteria for the role will be guaranteed an interview under the Disability Confident Scheme.
At NPL, we believe our success is a result of the diversity and talent of our people. We strive to nurture and respect individuals to ensure everyone feels valued by treating everyone on the basis of their own individual merits and abilities regardless of their own or perceived identity, as part of our commitment to diversity & inclusion, we ensure we're creating an environment where all our colleagues feel supported and welcome.
Our values are at the heart of what we do, and they shape the way we interact, develop our people and celebrate success. To ensure everyone has an equal chance, we're always willing to make reasonable adjustments to the recruitment process.