*Please note you can be based in either Hampshire or Gloucestershire*

We are partnering with a growing specialist engineering and advanced manufacturing businesses to appoint an experienced Security Manager into a newly created leadership position. Operating at the forefront of advanced manufacturing, the organisation supports customers across defence, aerospace and other highly regulated sectors. As the business continues to develop, it is investing in its infrastructure, capabilities and security arrangements to meet increasingly sophisticated customer and Government requirements.

The Role

This is a broad, hands-on security leadership position encompassing physical and protective security, personnel security, Government security compliance, information assurance and cyber security oversight. Rather than simply maintaining an established security function, you will have the opportunity to assess existing arrangements, identify priorities and develop a comprehensive, risk-based security programme. Working closely with senior executives, operational leaders and technical teams, you will help the organisation strengthen its security maturity, meet its defence-sector obligations and establish a consistent approach across its operations.

Your remit will include:

• Security Strategy & Governance: Developing the security framework, policies, risk assessments and improvement programmes across multiple facilities.

• Government & Defence Security: Acting as Security Controller, overseeing compliance with UK Government security requirements, JSP 440, contractual obligations and classified information handling.

• Physical & Personnel Security: Leading protective security improvements, access control, personnel vetting, security investigations and site security operations.

• Cyber & Information Assurance: Working alongside IT teams to oversee cyber security assurance, Cyber Essentials Plus, ISO 27001-related activity and the protection of sensitive information.

• Security Leadership: Advising senior stakeholders, managing security personnel and suppliers, coordinating audits and developing a positive security culture.

About You

We are interested in speaking with established security professionals who have developed their expertise within defence, aerospace, Government, nuclear or similarly regulated environments. You will bring a broad understanding of security management, combining knowledge of Government security requirements with practical experience of physical security, personnel vetting, information protection and security assurance. Ideally, you will have experience acting as a Security Controller or in a comparable position, with familiarity with JSP 440, UK Security Vetting and the security expectations placed on defence contractors. Experience of Cyber Essentials Plus, ISO 27001, Government security inspections or Facility Security Clearance (formerly List X) environments would be particularly valuable.

Above all, we are looking for someone who can combine technical credibility with commercial judgement. You will be comfortable engaging with senior leadership while remaining sufficiently hands-on to implement improvements and influence security practices throughout the organisation. Eligibility to obtain UK Security Clearance (SC) is essential. Existing clearance is advantageous.

Why This Opportunity?

What makes this appointment particularly interesting is the opportunity to create something with a lasting impact.  You will join an ambitious, established manufacturing group at an important stage of its development, with the autonomy to influence how security is structured, managed and embedded across the business. With investment in facilities, an expanding portfolio of specialist manufacturing capabilities and increasing exposure to defence-related work, the role offers both immediate challenges and genuine longer-term development potential.

This is an opportunity for an experienced security professional who enjoys building capability, solving complex problems and seeing the tangible results of their work. The role requires regular travel between facilities in Gloucestershire and Hampshire, with the primary base location to be agreed.

For a confidential discussion, please contact enteles Search or submit your CV for consideration.