Head Of Security

Employer: Eton College
Salary:£65,000 per annum


Thank you for your interest in working at Eton College. Please find attached information

about the College, the vacant position of Head of Security, together with details of the

recruitment and selection process, and pre-employment checks, should your application be

successful.

THE COLLEGE
Eton College, which was founded by Henry VI in 1440 for 70 scholars, has over the years

become a boarding school for 1300 boys. It is the largest boarding school for boys in the

United Kingdom. The school welcomes boys from all backgrounds and has 130 pupils on

merit based scholarships at any one time. Around 20% receive a range of bursarial financial

assistance averaging 67% fee remission and over 70 boys receive 100% support. This year

the School will spend £6.5m on bursaries and scholarships. This income is not from fees

paid by parents but generated from our endowment and donations received. Boys joined us

this year from 114 middle and prep schools spread throughout the UK and only 10% of boys

come from overseas.

To support this large population of boarding pupils we have 155 full time teachers of boys as

well as 100 part-time teachers, and visiting music teachers. There are over 600 other

employees including domestic staff (in the boarding houses and in the central dining hall),

technicians, grounds-men, administrative staff, security, cleaners and a large buildings

department. The college and its immediate grounds and playing fields extend over 400

acres from the north end of Eton High Street to the M4 by Slough, bound to the east by the

Thames and to the west by a railway. There are some 400 school buildings as well as the

Eton College Rowing Centre at Dorney Lake, the London 2012 Olympic venue.



Responsibilities

The Head of Security will have responsibility for the overall corporate security strategy for

the College and for the management of the Security Department. The main objective of the

role is to ensure the security of Eton College pupils, property and personnel.

The Head of Security reports to the Buildings & Facilities Director who, in turn, reports to

the Bursar. However, in addition to this line management structure, the Head of Security

will be expected to report to the senior management team and governing body on a regular

basis.

Eton College occupies a town centre location. It is not a closed site but is open at a number

of points by being crossed by a number of public roads and footpaths. There is no perimeter

wall or fence but consists of a series of independent buildings mainly fronting onto the

public road: the site is tantamount to a small town with similar characteristics and risks.

It is, first and foremost, a school with more than 1300 boys between the ages of 13 and 18,

all of whom board. It is, in effect, for two thirds of the year their home in which they live,

play and work. It is critical that the Head of Security appreciates achieving a balance

between a secure environment and one that is conducive to Eton’s educational aims

(‘promoting the best habits of independent thought and learning in the pursuit of

excellence’). It will be rare that there will be a simple solution to problems of security and

there is a desire to protect as much of the boys’ freedom as is possible.

Eton College also owns and operates the Rowing Lake at Dorney approximately 3 miles to

the West of Eton. The rowing lake itself is over 2km long and is set in 450 acres of parkland.

Although of a different character to the rest of the College, the facility is included in any

strategy for security.

In detail, the principal accountabilities of the Head of Security are:
1. Manage the in-house Security team. This comprises a team of 15 security officers, 2

supervisors and an administrative clerk. The office is manned continuously on the

basis of 12 hour shifts. The tasks include security patrols, issuing of security badges,

monitoring fire and security alarms and the issuing of keys. The security post also

operates as a reception for the Buildings Department.

2. Act as line manager to all security staff and also be responsible for training,

disciplinary issues and agreeing (in conjunction with the HR department) terms and

conditions of employment. The Head of Security takes an active part in staff

appraisals and annual reviews of salaries and is responsible for ensuring the day to

day health and safety of security staff.



3. In addition to the directly employed staff, the Head of Security is also responsible for

specialist agency staff. In particular, this includes the engagement of dog handlers to

search for explosive materials. From time to time, there is also a need to employ

agency security staff to cover for illness, holidays etc.

4. The Head of Security shall take the lead in emergency planning. These incidents may

take a variety of forms such as fire, flood, terrorism or kidnapping. The Head of

Security shall be responsible for liaising with others in devising the emergency plans

for a critical incident and shall be key in the response should such an incident

happen.

5. The Head of Security shall be the College’s main contact with the police and other

security agencies. Apart from maintaining regular contact and analysing intelligence

etc., a large part of the role will be one of public relations (as will dealing with

members of the general public).

6. The Head of Security shall have responsibility for enforcing the College’s Visitor

Policy. This would include the vetting of contracting staff in accordance with Keeping

Children Safe in Education regulations.

7. Eton College naturally often hosts a number of major events where there are a large

number of visitors or members of the public. These events often involve visiting VIPs

and the Head of Security is expected to take the lead in any arrangements and to

liaise with personal protection officers. The Head of Security is naturally expected to

have the logistical skills to take the lead in the control of these events and ensure

that all aspects of security are accounted for.

8. The Head of Security is responsible for a budget of circa £¾m and the day to day

control of expenditure and for monitoring any divergence from budgets. The Head of

Security shall also take part in the financial planning process including advising on

future likely necessary expenditure on staff and equipment.

9. The College has invested heavily in technology such as a network of CCTV cameras,

fire and security alarms systems and access controls to perimeter doors, car parks

etc. This provision is only likely to increase. The Head of Security is to take a key role,

working with the advice of others, in the installation and management of these

systems.

10. The Head of Security shall be responsible for controlling access to car parks and shall

maintain a rigorous system of car parking allocation.



The postholder should possess the following knowledge, skills and qualifications,
1. Background of working at a senior level in either the police or armed forces.

2. Several years’ experience of leading a security team in a similar environment.

3. Capability to present written reports to senior management including the handling of

financial information.

4. Good knowledge of legislation relating to security work including some background

in health and safety and fire prevention.

5. Background technical knowledge of CCTV and alarm systems.

6. Ability to communicate with many different types of people and agency. This will

include giving verbal reports to the governing body. Should also be acutely aware of

reputational issues and be capable of liaising with external agencies including the

press.

7. Professional Membership of the Security Institute is desirable although not essential.

8. Understanding of and sympathy with the ethos of Eton College.



TERMS AND CONDITIONS

 Salary: in the range of £65,000 per annum, depending on skills and experience

 Hours of work: these are not fixed but will depend on the needs of the school

programme. This is a senior managerial post and as such the postholder will be

expected to arrange his or her own hours to meet the requirements of the post.

Particular flexibility will sometimes be needed on some evenings and weekends.

 Holiday: Five weeks’ paid holiday per annum, plus Bank Holidays which are also paid.

When a Bank Holiday falls during a School term there may be a requirement to work

on that day.



BENEFITS

 Pension Scheme

Employees who wish to be enrolled into the College’s Group Personal Pension Plan can

choose either to contribute 4.9% of their salary and the College will contribute 11% or to

join the auto-enrolment category where they will currently pay 1% and the College pays

1%. These auto-enrolment amounts will increase gradually over the next few years in

line with Government requirements.

 Life Assurance

Life Assurance (death in service) benefits commence upon employment and cease 31

days after leaving Eton Service. This is currently 4 times basic salary.

 Private Medical cover: this is offered through AXA PPP for the post holder (this is a

taxable benefit).

 Sports and Leisure Facilities

Employees at the College enjoy free use of the College Gym, swimming pool and tennis

courts with subsidised use of other sport facilities, together with free use of the School

Library, and free entry to College theatre and concert productions.

Head of Security August 2016

 Childcare Vouchers

The College’s Childcare Voucher Scheme is supplied by Edenred. More details are

available from the HR Department.

 Employee Assistance Programme

All employees have access to counselling services provided by Health Assured. More

information is available from the HR Department.

 Give as You Earn

The College is registered with Give as You Earn. This payroll deduction scheme enables

employees to make regular deductions directly from their salary in support of their

chosen charity or good cause.

 Induction

All new employees joining Eton will have an induction to the College which will include

Department specific, and Health & Safety requirements, and any other information

necessary for them to do their job.

 Probation

All new employees joining Eton will work through a probation period before

appointment to the post is confirmed.

RECRUITMENT PROCESS

Applicants are invited to complete an application form from the College website.

http://www.etoncollege.com/SupportStaffVacancies.aspx

Completed forms should be submitted to: recruitment@etoncollege.org.uk

Candidates should ensure that their application form provides sufficient information to

enable the college to follow their complete employment and other history since leaving

school.

Alternatively signed and completed forms may be sent to:-