Senior Security and Resilience Manager(UK Visa Sponsorship)

Job Description

About the Role

The University of Sussex is seeking a confident and forward-thinking Senior Security and Resilience Manager to lead the institution’s strategic approach to security, business continuity, and emergency planning.

This role sits within the Estates, Facilities and Commercial Services Division and carries university-wide responsibility. You will act as the senior authority on all security-related matters, working in close partnership with the University’s outsourced security provider to ensure that our students, staff, visitors, and physical assets remain protected.

You will:

• Provide strategic leadership on campus security and resilience.
• Develop and maintain robust policies and procedures to ensure statutory compliance.
• Lead the University’s preparedness for legislation such as the Terrorism (Protection of Premises) Bill – commonly known as Martyn’s Law
• Oversee compliance with the Prevent Duty
• Act as the institutional lead for business continuity planning (BCP), incident management, and emergency response.
• Brief senior leaders during incidents, providing calm, authoritative advice and mitigation strategies.
• Ensure all Faculties and Professional Services maintain up-to-date, practical continuity plans aligned with national best practice.
• Coordinate event safety planning, ensuring adherence to health and safety legislation
• This position requires visible leadership during both routine operations and high-pressure situations.

Key Responsibilities

Security Leadership

• Own the University’s security framework and compliance roadmap.
• Liaise with police, local authorities, and national agencies where appropriate.
• Monitor emerging threats and implement proportionate mitigation strategies.
• Ensure alignment with the Civil Contingencies Act 2004 guidance

Business Continuity & Resilience

• Design and maintain institutional business continuity frameworks.
• Support departments in developing and testing their own continuity plans.
• Lead incident response coordination and post-incident reviews.
• Champion a culture of resilience across the University.

Governance & Compliance

Ensure adherence to relevant UK legislation including:

• Prevent Duty
• Martyn’s Law (forthcoming)
• Health & Safety at Work Act guidance
• Maintain readiness for audits and inspections.
• Senior Stakeholder Engagement
• Provide regular updates to senior leadership.
• Deliver briefings during critical incidents.
• Build and maintain professional networks in the security and resilience community.

About You

You will bring substantial experience in one or more of the following areas:

• Security management
• Business continuity
• Emergency planning
• Crisis response leadership

The ideal candidate will demonstrate:

• A track record of leading organisational change within security or resilience functions.
• Experience drafting and implementing operational policies.
• Strong communication skills, with the confidence to brief senior executives.
• A calm and decisive presence during incidents.
• Knowledge of statutory frameworks affecting public institutions.
• Experience working collaboratively across complex organisations.
• A professional network within security, emergency planning, or higher education would be advantageous.

About the Division

The Estates, Facilities and Commercial Services Division plays a central role in campus life. From major infrastructure developments to day-to-day operational delivery, the team ensures a safe, welcoming, and sustainable environment.

Recent projects include:

• The East Slope student accommodation development.
• The West Slope regeneration, combining student housing, teaching spaces, and wellbeing facilities.
• Sustainability Sussex, supporting the University’s ambition to become one of the most sustainable universities globally.

Why Join Sussex?

Located beside the South Downs National Park and adjacent to Falmer Station, the University offers:

• A 150-acre green campus environment.
• Strong public transport connections.
• A cycle-to-work scheme.
• A collaborative and inclusive workplace culture.
• Competitive pension and benefits package.
• The University values diversity and welcomes applications from all backgrounds.

Sponsorship & Eligibility

This role may be eligible for Skilled Worker visa sponsorship under SOC Code 1259 (Managers and proprietors in other services not elsewhere classified). Eligibility depends on individual circumstances, including existing sponsorship status.

The role requires a satisfactory DBS check due to its security and safeguarding responsibilities.

All work must be carried out within the United Kingdom.