About this role
Help shape a safer, more resilient university community
The University is seeking an exceptional leader to take on the newly created role of Protective Security and Community Resilience Manager.
This is a unique opportunity to influence institutional strategy, leading the University's approach to protective security, organisational resilience and community engagement. Working as part of the Student and Campus Life senior management team, you will play a key role in ensuring that our students, staff and visitors benefit from a safe, inclusive and resilient environment.
The role sits at the forefront of emerging national priorities, including the University's response to the Terrorism (Protection of Premises) Act 2025 (Martyn's Law), while helping to build strong partnerships across local communities, public agencies and the higher education sector.
What you'll be doing
You will lead the University's strategic approach to protective security and community resilience, ensuring we are prepared for current and emerging challenges while fostering a safe, inclusive and connected environment for students, staff, visitors and our wider communities.
Working closely with senior leaders across the institution, you will shape policy, influence decision-making and drive the delivery of key strategic priorities, including the University's response to the Terrorism (Protection of Premises) Act 2025 (Martyn's Law).
A significant part of the role is building and maintaining positive relationships with local communities and key external partners. You'll lead the University's community liaison and engagement activity, working collaboratively with residents, community groups, police, local authorities, landlords and agents, emergency services and sector networks to strengthen trust, address shared challenges and ensure community considerations are embedded within institutional planning and decision-making.
You will also lead the development of frameworks and initiatives that enhance organisational resilience, public safety and community wellbeing, ensuring the University is well positioned to respond to changing risks and external pressures.
Through horizon scanning and partnership working, you'll identify emerging risks, opportunities and best practice, translating these into practical strategies, governance arrangements and improvement programmes that strengthen both organisational preparedness and community resilience.
As a trusted advisor to senior leaders, you'll provide expert guidance on security, resilience, risk and compliance matters, championing a culture of collaboration, continuous improvement, shared responsibility and proactive planning across the University and its communities.
This role offers a rare opportunity to make a lasting impact, shaping how the University protects its people, works alongside its neighbours and partners, and responds confidently to an increasingly complex external environment.
About you
We're looking for an experienced strategic leader with substantial expertise in security, resilience, risk management, public safety or a related discipline.
You will bring:
- Significant experience operating within a large, complex organisation.
- A proven record of developing and delivering organisational strategies, governance frameworks and assurance arrangements.
- Experience of leading major compliance, resilience or transformation programmes through influence and partnership working.
- The credibility and confidence to advise senior leaders and shape strategic decision-making.
- Outstanding stakeholder management and relationship-building skills.
- Exceptional communication, influencing and analytical abilities.
- A commitment to collaborative leadership, continuous improvement and inclusive practice.
A degree-level qualification or equivalent professional qualification is essential, alongside evidence of continuing professional development. Professional qualifications in security management, resilience, risk management or related fields would be advantageous.
Why join us?
This is an exciting opportunity to help shape the future of protective security and resilience within a leading university. You will have the chance to:
- Influence strategic decision-making across the institution.
- Lead on a high-profile and evolving agenda with significant societal impact.
- Build meaningful partnerships across the public sector and local communities.
- Drive innovation and best practice in security, resilience and organisational preparedness.
- Make a lasting contribution to the safety, wellbeing and experience of our university community.
Where you will be working
UWE Bristol is a campus-based University, with vibrant campus communities that are central to student life.
In this role, you’ll be based at our modern Frenchay Campus where we’ve invested in state-of-the-art facilities designed to help both staff and students succeed.
This role is primarily campus-based with some flexibility for hybrid working, subject to business need. Occasional work outside standard office hours may be required to support operational priorities and engagement with campus support teams.
Why UWE Bristol?
We are one of the largest providers of Higher Education in the South West with 38,000 students and 4,000 staff from right across the globe. Based in vibrant Bristol, our ambitions are to make a positive difference to our planet, transforming futures through actions and solving real world challenges.
We offer a wide range of employee benefits including progressive pay rates, very generous annual leave and career average pension schemes as well as retail savings, onsite nursery and opportunities for training and personal development.
We also provide a tailored professional programme to support our academic colleagues in delivering the highest in professional teaching standards.
Add your individuality to ours
UWE Bristol recognises the power of a truly diverse university community.
We’re part of a vibrant, multicultural city and welcome talented people from all backgrounds. Diversity is our strength, enhancing creativity, decision‑making, and problem‑solving. Join our supportive community and thrive.
We particularly encourage applications from global majority candidates as we are currently under-represented in this area, however all appointments are made strictly on individual merit.
As a Disability Confident employer, we encourage applications from disabled or neurodivergent candidates.
Further information
If you would like to speak to us to find out more about this role, please contact Marianne Reed on 0117 328 7625 or email: [email protected]
Interviews are scheduled to take place at our Frenchay Campus w/c 21 or 28 September.
This is a full-time, permanent post
This post is available on a job share basis for applicants wishing to work part time.
Salary offers are made in line with the University’s salary assessment guidelines, reflecting your relevant skills and experience in parity with colleagues.
Right to Work in the UK
If offered a role, you will need to provide valid documentation confirming your right to work in the UK before employment begins. Unfortunately, this role is not eligible for Skilled Worker visa sponsorship.
Guidance on acceptable documents is available via the Home Office Right to Work Checklist.
Please review our Skilled Worker Guidance and UK Government website to assess your eligibility. If you do not qualify you may wish to explore other visa options.
Please note that UWE Bristol does not cover any visa or health surcharge costs.
Next Steps
Apply now
If you are a strategic, collaborative and forward-thinking professional with the vision to strengthen organisational resilience and help create a safer, more connected university community, we would love to hear from you.
Join us and help shape a resilient future for our students, staff, visitors and communities.
We’d love to hear from you - if this role excites you, please complete our application form as soon as possible and tell us how your skills and experience meet the criteria listed in the Person Specification, using clear and relevant examples wherever possible.
We’ll keep you informed of the outcome by email once shortlisting is complete.
