National Security Manager
| Posting date: | 08 May 2025 |
|---|---|
| Salary: | £40,415 to £44,480 per year |
| Hours: | Full time |
| Closing date: | 25 May 2025 |
| Location: | CF10 1EP |
| Company: | Government Recruitment Service |
| Job type: | Permanent |
| Job reference: | 404070/1 |
Summary
Space is a part of everyday life. Satellites underpin our national economy, from agriculture and banking to aviation and shipping, and support our national security. Space science provides critical data to understand and address global challenges such as climate change, while missions to explore our solar system unite nations and advance humanity’s horizons.
We support a thriving space sector in the UK, which generates an annual income of £18.9 billion and employs 52,028 people across the country.
Through our portfolio of programmes and projects, we encourage the development of national space capabilities and are an early-stage investor in space research and development. We also promote the UK space sector’s interests and achievements; make connections to join up industry and academia; and represent the UK in international space programmes.
We have a powerful global voice, partnering with institutions across the world, including the European Space Agency.
More information about the Agency is available here: https://www.gov.uk/government/organisations/uk-space-agency
To discover more please watch this film https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZbZZ-o0IkVU
Our Inclusive Environment
We have an inclusive culture to make UK Space Agency a brilliant place to work where our people feel valued, have a voice and can be their authentic selves. We value difference and diversity, not only because we believe it is the right thing to do, but because it will help us be more innovative and make better decisions.
We offer first-class flexible working benefits, excellent employee well-being support and a great pension. We are fortunate to have a range of excellent staff networks and are proud to be a Disability Confident Leader employer. We will support talented people from all backgrounds to build a career and thrive.
We actively welcome applications from anyone who shares our commitment to inclusion.
Do you want to work in a high-profile domain helping to ensure that the UK Space sector is secure and resilient, able to respond to threats and continue to deliver its services? Do you want to work in a dynamic team with real responsibility to deliver on a key agenda item for the government? Do you want to engage with major stakeholders across government, industry and academia to bring a wide range of expertise into the Space sector? If so, we look forward to receiving your application.
If successful you will be joining a supportive team with a wide range of skills and experience. We will support you to further develop your skills and experience through the role and formal training. In turn you will support the other members of the team and Agency in their development.
The UK Space Agency (UKSA) Space Security and Resilience team is recruiting a National Security Assessments Manager. We are looking for someone who can demonstrate strong interpersonal skills, efficient organisational and excellent communication skills. You will be leading on the management of the National Security assessments for licence applications, Investment Security reviews and grant and funding applications within the UK Space Agency.
License applications are made under both the Outer Space Act 1986 (OSA) and Space Industry Act 2018 (SIA). These Acts present the UK legislation for launching or procuring the launch of a space object, operating a space object, any activity in outer space and regulating space and sub orbital activities, respectively.
The Investment Security Act ensures that any major change in ownership or investment in key UK companies can be reviewed and potentially blocked or have condition imposed to ensure this does not risk damaging the interests of the UK.
The UK Space Agency provides funding and grants to businesses and universities, and these must be assessed to ensure the funding companies and individuals involved will be working in the best interests of the UK.
The postholder will be required to liaise with colleagues within the UK Space Agency, other government departments, agencies and subject matter experts (including the Department for Science, Innovation and Technology, Department for Transport, Ministry of Defence, National Protective Security Authority and National Cyber Security Centre) for their advice and input, whilst being mindful of any time pressures, and develop their findings and recommendations for the commissioning groups.
Key responsibilities
- Lead and co-ordinate National Security assessments of license applications under the Outer Space Act and the Space Industries Act, consulting other government departments, agencies and SMEs for their input into individual National Security assessments where appropriate, ensuring a full review is undertaken with due regard to tight deadlines and external pressures for resolution;
- Lead liaison between the Agency and the Government’s Investment Security Unit, taking a leading role in assessing which business investment or ownership transactions may have national security implications. You will ensure that the appropriate internal frameworks are in place to maximise collaborative x-Agency input where necessary.
This will include :
- Triaging notifications
- Providing sectoral expertise and breaking down this expertise into digestible briefings
- Creating sector vulnerability and economic assessments
- Assessing the impact of individual transactions on the wider sector and on national security
- Shaping investment security case decisions and mitigations
- Working closely x-HMG to share input on casework and representing the Agency in x-HMG case meetings;
- Undertaking due diligence on all grants and funding applications across the UK Space Agency. This will include conducting intelligence searches through various routes and tools and presenting recommendations to the grant or funding manager;
- Continue to plan and undertake development of the National Security assessment programme. This includes reviewing, developing, and negotiating current and new processes, cross departmental/Agency agreements and relevant documentation used to carry out National Security assessments including between stakeholders;
- Work with stakeholders from across HMG, Civil Aviation Authority, subject matter experts, engineers, project and program leads and applicants;
- Escalate considerations to Ministers, senior leaders and/or legal advisors for awareness, advice or decisions when required;
- Act as Subject Matter Expert for the National Security assessment, keeping abreast of security threats/risks and National security concerns relating to the civil use of Space. Input into wider discussions on National Security, export control, CNI, investment security, industry guidance and work of the wider team on Space security and resilience.
Proud member of the Disability Confident employer scheme