Job Description

Job Title: Head of Security Operations
Location: Reading area. The role could be contracted to any BAE Systems site (preferably Frimley) but on commencement will immediately be assigned to our Edgewing HQ in the Reading area. A financial support package may be available to enable this assignment if required, dependent on certain criteria being met. Due to the nature of this assignment, we envisage there will be a need for mostly on site working, however, flexible working arrangements may be possible - please speak to your recruiter about the options for this role.
Salary: 105,000 plus executive benefits
What you'll be doing:

• Lead and oversee global security operations. This will see you integrate multiple domains across physical, technical, personnel, information, cyber, incident & crisis management. Ensuring alignment with organisational goals and legal/contractual obligations.
• Establish, manage and continuously improve a global Security Operations Centre (SOC), providing 24/7 operational security capability across multiple international locations.
• Develop, implement and adapt protective security policies, controls, and threat intelligence strategies to remain proportionate to risks and responsive to evolving threats, business needs, and regulations.
• Establish highly capable and integrated security operations capabilities across sites in the UK, Italy and Japan.
• Provide expert, multi-domain security advice and guidance to the Chief Security Officer and wider Edgewing board members, partners, and stakeholders, ensuring security practices enhance rather than restrict business operations.
• Develop and drive a next generational approach to delivering security operations in a cost efficient and business enabling way.
• Lead and manage multi-disciplinary operational teams, assigning responsibilities, setting objectives, and ensuring technical, financial, and quality performance standards are met.
• Oversee the protection and management of classified information, materials, and assets, ensuring compliance with national and international legislation, government regulations, and company protocols.
• Build and maintain influential relationships with internal and external stakeholders, including government, industry, and intelligence services, to strengthen security collaboration and threat prevention.
• Monitor, assess and report on security performance and risks, managing incidents, ensuring travel security, driving threat awareness programmes, and safeguarding personnel, facilities, and assets worldwide.
• Develop skills, knowledge and experience across the operational international team to enable long term capability improvements and sustainability.
• Manage a multi million-pound investment plan for operations. Define, deliver and manage high value contracted services and resource agreements.

Your skills and experiences:
Essential

• Strong stakeholder management, with experience communicating with senior leadership (ideally including board level) across multiple functions (internally and externally, including government authorities)
• Influencing and contributing to business decisions, including the development of policy and approach
• Real world experience in delivering security operations in a high threat, high risk programme context that includes high end hostile state actors.
• Track record of developing and delivering new security and continuously improving security capabilities
• Pragmatic decision-making skills, with the ability to support the business effectively under pressure
• Proven problem-solving capabilities, applying forward and lateral thinking to complex issues
• Capacity to build trustful relationships at all levels of the organization
• Strong teamwork and people management skills with international partners or as part of an international security organisation.
• Proven ability to operate and lead operational security managing the full range of classified material.

Benefits:
As well as a competitive pension scheme, BAE Systems also offers employee share plans, an extensive range of flexible discounted health, wellbeing and lifestyle benefits, including a green car scheme, private health plans and shopping discounts - you may also be eligible for an annual incentive.
The team:
By joining Edgewing, you will have a unique opportunity to help shape the company from the ground up -- setting the foundations for generations to come, influencing how we work, and helping us build something world-class together. At Edgewing, we're united by a shared purpose to drive what's next in defence - uniting UK, Italian, and Japanese expertise to shape the future of global defence. With trust at the heart of everything we do, we empower our people to dare to go beyond, bring their best as one, and leave a mark that matters on a truly global mission, making a lasting impact through work that truly matters.
Why BAE Systems?
This is a place where you'll be able to make a real difference. You'll be part of an inclusive culture that values diversity of thought, rewards integrity, and merit, and where you'll be empowered to fulfil your potential. We welcome people from all backgrounds and want to make sure that our recruitment processes are as inclusive as possible. If you have a disability or health condition (for example dyslexia, autism, an anxiety disorder etc.) that may affect your performance in certain assessment types, please speak to your recruiter about potential reasonable adjustments.
Please be aware that many roles at BAE Systems are subject to both security and export control restrictions. These restrictions mean that factors such as your nationality, any nationalities you may have previously held, and your place of birth can restrict the roles you are eligible to perform within the organisation. All applicants must as a minimum achieve Baseline Personnel Security Standard. Many roles also require higher levels of National Security Vetting where applicants must typically have 5 to 10 years of continuous residency in the UK depending on the vetting level required for the role, to allow for meaningful security vetting checks.
Closing Date 10th October 2025
We reserve the right to close this vacancy early if we receive sufficient applications for the role. Therefore, if you are interested, please submit your application as early as possible.
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Skills Required