British High Commission Security Officer Jobs in Cape Town – South Africa
Main Purpose of Job:
The British High Commission to South Africa oversees the UK Government’s operations in South Africa across the following locations:
• The British High Commission Pretoria (BHC)
• The UK Visas & Immigration Office in Pretoria
• The UK Department for Business and Trade in Johannesburg (DBT)
• The British Consulate General Cape Town
Its Security Team is based largely in Pretoria and is overall responsible for delivering property and security services to support the work of the Mission in the above locations.
The Security Officer will work under the supervision of a Security Operations Manager who reports to head of department, the Regional Oversees Security Manager (ROSM). The security officer will help manage security work and support security services for British Consulate Cape Town staff and Diplomatic families, and for UK Government visitors to Cape Town.
The position will take on a role to provide accurate security advice and support to diplomatic families, staff, and official visitors, to review security risks and implement mitigating measures to these risks, and to oversee physical security works and installations. It also includes supporting and planning for large events and supporting high-level visits that includes engagement with relevant security departments.
The Security Officer plays a crucial role in:
Preparing our residential properties for occupation by our staff, which requires forward-planning, attention to detail and strong organisational and time-management skills
Providing a professional service to our office staff and occupants of residential properties, for which a thorough awareness of the security environment, customer service and good communications skills are essential
Managing the work of contractors which are engaged to deliver property and security services, maintenance and other security works, which requires planning and project management skills.
The role is ideally suited to an individual who:
Understands the security profession and can manage situations to help ensure people, buildings and assets are kept safe and secure.
Enjoys managing an operation and who takes pride in it running smoothly.
Is a good team player who can confidently engage with security contacts and network in order to provide essential security advice to staff.
Has strong administrative skills, is a good planner, has lots of initiative and wants to develop experience in security management work,
has some finance and procurement planning and projects management experience.
Is a good communicator and people-person, who takes pride in providing good customer service and enjoys working in a busy team yet can work proactively and with drive independently.
It is essential for the jobholder to have a valid driving licence as driving (in a company vehicle) to sites is required.
Experience of working in a security organisation or security services delivery team at a management level would be desired though having the skills and qualities outlined above are the key attributes for the successful jobholder. Evidence of good organisational, administrative, customer service and experience in dealing with contractors and/or other externals will also be required.
Roles and Responsibilities / what will the job holder be expected to achieve:
The below roles and responsibilities are general guidelines. The role is not limited to the detail below and the responsibilities are subject to change from time to time with prior consultation if circumstances, structures, work pressures or priorities alter, or if absences need covering.
Meeting and greeting new diplomatic and some visiting staff and providing security briefings. Ensure all staff have been briefed at the various level of briefing required. Maintain a log of briefings.
Keep up to date with current affairs that may have an impact on security of the staff and buildings and ensure up to date messaging is sent out. Keep security managers updated.
Responding to incidents affecting staff and liaise with emergency services and other authorities/security providers to ensure staff receive help as soon as possible. Keep the ROSM and others updated.
Plan and provide security support for high-level visitors with the support of the security managers. Carry out reconnaissance visits to vulnerable areas with security support in place. Manage convoys of official vehicles and ensure good communications are in place throughout visits.
Establish a strong security network with diplomatic and other organisations that provide security in Cape Town and other areas.
Planning security support and measures for events at the main residence and other locations. Working alongside other teams within the mission.
Conducting security assessments for new properties, hotels and other accommodation as informed by the ROSM or Security Operations Manager, against periodic reviews or in response to issues arising, ensuring British High Commission standards are met, compliance with Health & Safety requirements, and a high standard of customer service for staff and residential occupants.
Maintaining security features such as alarms, electric fences, CCTV, access control and other security measures used at the offices and residences to a high standard. Planning regular service reviews with contractors. Ensuring staff follow security policies and protocols.
Testing the contracted guards and security companies on periodic security incident responses. Be an active member in the crisis team, post security committees and other committees that require security input.
Organising work to deliver security works in offices and properties including planning / scheduling of work tracking progress and record keeping.
Raising requisitions orders and receipting funds on the British High Commission’s IT systems, dealing with financial issues and budgeting requirements and researching and assessing works quotes and costs.
Using experience / knowledge to observe and highlight any estate or security concerns, including accompanying security contractors, related to property inspections and maintenance around generators, electrical, plumbing, security equipment and other similar issues. Assess security standards at properties and offices and report on these to managers.
Provide advice on physical and procedural security matters, and about local security threats, risks and trends (covering different areas of Western Cape, and its facilities, eg, hotels, places to visit etc.), to staff, UK Government visitors to Cape Town and to managers based in Pretoria. / BC premises. Support visits to Cape Town by UK Government representatives, including VIPs, in particular security considerations for the logistical and public-facing elements of such visits.
Liaising with landlords as required to ensure security standards are met. Reporting on these to managers based in Pretoria.
Provide a strong contribution with the security department in Pretoria and other teams in the British Consulate in Cape Town, especially related to learning and development, teamwork, collaboration and support to others, respect to colleagues, and diversity and inclusion.
Deliver professionally other security tasks and new work as delegated by managers on an ad hoc basis, often outside the above areas, to support the work of the British High Commission in South Africa.
Essential qualifications, skills and experience
Strong computer literacy
Multi-tasking, planning, communication with customers and time-management skills
Valid Driver’s licence. The jobholder must be able to drive
Administration experience, including dealing with external contractors and being able to deliver proactively on their own initiative
Fluent in written and spoken English
Desirable qualifications, skills and experience
Experience in property management / facilities management / working in the security sector
Budgetary experience
Full training will be provided to the successful candidate if they do not have this experience
How to Apply
For more information and job application details, see; British High Commission Security Officer Jobs in Cape Town – South Africa
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