Senior Research Security Advisor/COMSO

4 weeks ago

Edinburgh, United Kingdom Australian Government Department of Defence Full time


The Role
Exciting opportunities exist for enthusiastic, motivated, high performing security professionals to join Defence Science and Technology Group (DSTG). 

Working in DSTG you will be part of a dedicated security team providing researchers and staff with security advice and capability support to enable them to deliver efficiently on Defence priorities in line with legislative and policy requirements.

You will work to promote a positive enabling security culture within a highly technical research environment by providing professional support and advice, directly contributing to enhancing Defence research through risk managed, yet innovative approaches to security.

Within the Security Operations Directorate, there are vacancies for APS 6 Senior Security Research Advisors across major DSTG sites at Fishermans Bend (VIC), Edinburgh (SA) and Fairbairn (ACT). Security advisors operate at a whole of group level but are based in regional teams to enable them to build closer engagement with key stakeholders, better understand their work programs and physical infrastructure.

As a Senior Research Security Advisor, you will be expected to contribute to the development and implementation of consistent security processes through a service delivery desk model, but also through direct divisional engagement. You will need to proactively engage with a broad range of stakeholders to monitor and discuss group and divisional security performance and ensure appropriate security understanding and compliance is maintained. This will include preparation of detailed security plans and a willingness and ability to negotiate and influence. You will need to work with divisional stakeholders to anticipate, develop and deliver solutions to complex and sensitive problems. You will be accountable for the accurate and timely delivery of complex personnel and protective security service to support divisional staff. A focus of your work for 2024-25 will be the supporting the uplift of security capability through DSTG including in coordinating the certification and accreditation of facilities. 

You will be encouraged to take on the role of COMSO or Deputy COMSO on a roster arrangement, supporting a regional approach to management of SCIFS. Responsibilities in this capacity may include managing and maintaining the accreditation and certification of a DSTG SCIF, and the protection of SCI information, managing and facilitating compartment briefs, transfers and debriefs, acting as the point-of-contact between DSTG and Australian Signals Directorate (ASD), and conducting regular audits of sensitive information as per the requirements of the Protective Security Policy Framework (PSPF).

Within the Security Strategy, Assurance and Reporting Directorate, there is a single vacancy for a Senior Security Advisor. COMSO responsibilities for this vacancy are negotiable. Your role will focus on liaising with stakeholders in relation to complex or sensitive issues and you will take the lead in developing procedures, instructions and tools to operationalise the requirements of legislative and Defence policy frameworks to the research setting. You will lead the development and customisation of education and instructional materials for staff across DSTG, but also for your security colleagues. You will be required to undertake specialist research and analysis, conduct interviews and investigations, and design and conduct assurance activities in support of the DSTG Security Strategy. You will lead and contribute to the production of high-quality reports, submissions, briefings and discussion papers related to the security function.

You will be required to work collegiately with security colleagues across the broader security function and may be required to build, coach or lead a team and be accountable for setting their work priorities, building their capability and ensuring the quality of their work.

The duties of an APS 6 Security Advisor in Defence include the following, but you will have a greater or lesser focus on each of these duties dependant on your specific responsibilities from time to time:

Prepare and conduct security training and awareness sessions to Defence personnel to support the protective security needs of Defence. Identify, research and analyse complex protective security issues, and provide recommendations and advice to stakeholders to enable the achievement of appropriate security arrangements. Understand the security risk context within the Defence environment to provide advice on complex protective security matters. Build and sustain productive and collaborative relationships with whole-of-Government stakeholders to achieve protective security objectives. Evaluate and assess activities and processes to identify and initiate innovative solutions to enable continuous improvement. Collate, research and analyse protective security issues to produce high-quality reports, submissions, briefings and discussion papers. Tailor communication style and language according to the audience’s level of knowledge, skill and experience. Accountable to lead a team, allocate work, resources and tasks, set work area priorities, develop strategies and evaluate business outcomes. Accountable for accurate completion of work within timeframes, sharing own expertise with others and guide and mentor less experienced employees. You are accountable for contributing to your own professional growth and development.
About our Team
Research Technology and Operations Division (RTO) delivers specialist capabilities to Defence Innovation Science and Technology (IS&T). RTO comprises a professional workforce of engineers, technicians, computational scientists and other staff who provide a wide range of highly specialised and unique research capability and innovative solutions delivering advanced research platforms for defence, national security and the wider IS&T ecosystem. RTO capabilities accelerate and protect Defence's science and technology advances and promote a collaborative, compliant, safe and healthy workplace.

Research Operations Branch is building a strong and professional workforce of highly qualified, trusted advisors who work with our research scientists in the provision of leading edge, safe and secure research infrastructure and business advice. We engage with broader Defence stakeholders to ensure DSTG’s I, S&T enabling capability requirements are well planned and appropriately prioritised with a strategic mindset. Research Operations also has stewardship of the delivery of DSTG’s Trials planning, coordination and support.

Our Ideal Candidate
The ideal candidate for this role;

Is passionate about a role in protective security in government, is committed to adhering to and promoting Defence values and behaviours, and is committed to Defence’s purpose to defend and protect Australia and advance its strategic interests. Has a sound knowledge of Australian Government and Defence security principles, policy and controls and understanding of Australia’s protective security environment and the important of protective security in mitigating Defence’s security risks. Is a strong and confident influencer with a willingness to work with stakeholders to address complex and sensitive issues while maintaining productive working relationships. Has a thorough understanding of security risk assessment development and management. Is able to demonstrate well developed written and verbal communication skills with the ability to interpret policy and provide advice that resonates with different stakeholder groups. Has a demonstrated ability to interpret policy, develop and deliver solutions to complex problems and be able to prioritise work, manage time and deadlines and work proactively and autonomously with limited direction. Demonstrates an understanding of security risk management, the ability to engage with risk and confidently make security risk decisions based on all available information. Is a confident leader who can grow and develop a team through coaching and a demonstration of behaviours aligned with Defence and DSTG cultural expectations.

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