Security Auditor (Testing and Training)

Please note, if successful, your start date would be in June / July at the earliest.  A later start may be negotiable.

Who are we?

South Western Railway (SWR) operates over 1,500 services each weekday across the network and employs more than 5,000 people. We provide easy and convenient mobility, connecting people and communities in South West London, southern counties of England, and the Isle of Wight.

Join our team and help us continue to bring people together to get the most out of life.

About the job

This role supports SWR and third party suppliers in maintaining a safe and secure railway environment by playing a critical part in South Western Railway's (SWR) security regime to deter and protect our network from hostile threats. Forming part of our compliance with the National Rail Security Programme (NRSP), this role supports front-line colleagues, contractors, tenants, and cleaning teams in delivering compliant and effective counter-terrorism practices.

Through proactive coaching, covert testing, and rigorous auditing, the role provides assurance to the Department for Transport (DfT) that our organisation is committed to maintaining a safe and secure railway environment. The role will focus on enabling all to make confident, proportionate, and defensible security decisions, in line with DfT frameworks such as HOT and WHAT while ensuring continuity of service, public confidence, and adherence to regulatory requirements.

This role ensures that colleagues and third-party vettsuppliers are confident, prepared, and capable of responding proportionately to all security risks, maintaining public confidence, and preserving the safe and continuous operation of the railway.

Your main responsibilities will be:

• Identify Threat Awareness and Risk Recognition at stations, on-trains and within depot environments, supporting SWR colleagues in managing these risks within their locations
• Support the Senior Security and Strategy Manager with the preparation of briefings and updating of training documents
• Safely plan and execute realistic covert security testing and auditing in accordance with British Transport Police (BTP) and Department for Transport (DfT) protocols. This includes:
  • Deploying test items in public and non-public areas whilst managing associated risks.
  • Performing site penetrations across office buildings, depot sites and non-public areas
• Produce clear evidence-based reports highlighting risks, vulnerabilities, and performance gaps, with recommendations for improvement, along with action plans to manage these.
• Ensure escalation procedures are clear and consistent, minimising delays and indecision.
• Ensure a proportionate response is managed and tracked formally and compliance achieved.
• Ability to identify unusual behavior and importantly, devise a training package that can be delivered to all colleagues and third-party suppliers linking in with any current transport threat assessment and relevant on-going national intelligence.
• Assess effectiveness of on-site security measures at locations, highlighting any vulnerabilities against our requirements under the NRSP for escalation and action by the Senior Security Manager.
• Carry out physical inspections of our locations in accordance with DfT and BTP Security Standards.
• Monitor and assess compliance with counter-terrorism procedures, security policies, and best practice standards.
• Deliver on site coaching and refresher training to improve security culture, or to address failures during testing.
• Train staff in the processes of how to correctly apply the procedures for unattended items, spotting suspicious behaviors and how to protect themselves and others during a terrorism incident.
• Maintain a positive relationship with the Transport Security Inspector and support them during announced inspections.
• Observe and report on overall security culture, behaviours, and attitudes, escalating concerns to the Senior Security Manager as required.
• Monitor compliance of use of station and contractor passes.
• Deliver security updates and briefings as required by the DfT
• Maintain theoretical and practical competence in the field of security auditing, including the application of relevant legislation and industry requirements.
• Deliver table top exercises for all levels of SWR, in conjunction with DfT, BTP CTSA and the Senior Security Manager, in line with current threat methodology.

You'll need:

• Excellent communication skills, both written and verbal, with the ability to influence both management peers and the behaviour of front-line employees, tailoring communication styles to a differing variety of audiences, with strong organisational skills and a keen eye for detail
• Comfortable challenging sub-standard practices in a constructive way at all levels.
• Knowledge in counter-terrorism protocols, threat assessments, and methodologies relevant to transport and being able to retain this knowledge
• Ability to translate real-world observations into actionable improvements reports.
• High degree of discretion and situational awareness.
• Must be able to obtain Counter-Terrorism Check (CTC) clearance.
• Must be able to obtain Personal Track Safety (PTS) certificate.
• Must be able to obtain Personal Track Safety (PTS) certificate.

It would be beneficial if you have:

• In-depth knowledge of H.O.T and W.H.A.T protocols inclusive of ACT for Rail.
• Previous experience in a POLSA (Police Search Advisor) role and familiarity with CT Search Principles.
• Experience or qualification in a training, testing or coaching environment and be a skilled trainer, able to develop and deliver a variety of training sessions and relevant tabletop exercises.
• Search qualified in either police or HM Forces 
• Experience in public transport, mass transit, or critical infrastructure and transport security
• Ability to develop a positive, safety and security driven culture across a diverse range teams, and always being supportive of each other
• Highly motivated and enthusiastic

About the location

This role will be based at Clapham Junction, however, it will require frequent travel around the SWR Network.

Working pattern

You will work an average of 37 hours per week across 5 days and will include early & late shifts.

The Reward

In return we offer a competitive salary and a variety of valuable benefits, including:

• Free duty and leisure travel on SWR services for employees
• Free leisure travel for spouse/partner and dependants (criteria dependent)
• 75% discount on many other train operating companies
• Full training and support with development
• Excellent pension scheme

We all belong at SWR. Our vision is to provide an inclusive environment for all colleagues, ensuring all candidates have an equal opportunity to access meaningful employment.

We value our differences such as age, gender, LGBTQIA+, ethnicity, religion, and disability. We maintain a zero tolerance towards any form of prejudice towards our colleagues, customers, and future talent.

We celebrate and encourage diversity of thought, progressive ways of working and seeing all our colleagues grow and thrive.

If you require additional support to complete your application due to a disability or neurodivergent condition, for example, dyslexia, dyspraxia, or autism, please follow the links below.  We encourage you to share any additional needs you may require so we can provide a fair and equal process for all who apply.

https://exceptionalindividuals.com/neurodiversity/

https://www.healthassured.org/blog/neurodiversity/