Job Title:  Head of Defence & Security

Job Purpose

Key Responsibilities

• Set the department’s strategic direction, priorities, workplan and resource allocation in alignment with BELTS objectives and the Chief Operating Officer’s portfolio.
• Provide accountable oversight of defence and security business support, specialised procurement portfolios and project delivery, ensuring clear ownership, timely escalation and disciplined closure.
• Maintain senior relationships with government, defence, security, customer, principal, partner and supplier stakeholders within authorised protocols.
• Ensure customer requirements, technical inputs, sourcing activities, project commitments and delivery risks are translated into coordinated departmental plans.
• Oversee department budgets, forecasts, commercial exposures, manpower, records and performance reporting in coordination with Finance, C&P and other control functions.
• Ensure procurement and contracting activities follow the Authority Manual, C&P governance, segregation of duties, conflict-of-interest controls and applicable security requirements.
• Review significant project, sourcing, vendor, schedule, cost, quality and stakeholder risks and direct timely mitigation or escalation.
• Consistent project governance, including scope, schedule, risk, issue, dependency, decision and action tracking across the portfolio.
• Develop departmental capability, succession coverage and performance through coaching, delegation, cross-functional exposure and structured development plans.
• Provide accurate management submissions, decision papers and updates to the COO, CEO, SMT or other approving authority as required.

Required Skills and Competencies

• Strategic and commercial judgement
• Leadership, delegation and talent development
• Stakeholder and customer management
• Complex project and portfolio oversight
• Procurement, contract and governance awareness
• Risk, issue and decision management
• Clear executive communication and reporting
• Digital, data and dashboard literacy

Qualifications and Experience

• Bachelor’s degree in engineering, supply chain, project management, business, defence studies or a relevant discipline. Postgraduate qualification is preferred.
• Minimum 12 years of relevant experience, including substantial leadership responsibility in defence/security, engineering, complex procurement, projects or regulated operations.
• Relevant project management, procurement, contract, engineering or security-related certification is preferred. Ability to meet applicable background screening or security-access requirements is essential where required.

Closing Date

5th September 2026