Work With Us
Our People
About Us
Portsmouth Historic Quarter is the charity responsible for the conservation, development and interpretation of a remarkable collection of historic buildings, boats, and spaces within Portsmouth Historic Dockyard, as well as at Priddy’s Hard in Gosport.
Working within one of the UK’s most significant maritime heritage sites, we conserve the historic environment and bring the sites to life through regeneration, events and exhibitions, operational historic vessels, cultural programming, and partnerships that connect our heritage with the life of Portsmouth and Gosport today.
As an organisation we are ambitious and collaborative. We work with community organisations, businesses and local government partners in Portsmouth and Gosport to support economic, community and cultural development in these areas. At a national level we are an active member of the Heritage Alliance, contributing to consultations on issues that impact the heritage sector. We are also a member of the National Historic Ships Shipshape Network and recently were part of the UK Shipbuilding Skills Task Force that made recommendations to Government on skill requirements in the UK shipbuilding industry.
Every individual working for the Trust has the opportunity to make a direct, measurable contribution to the achievement and advancement of our strategic aims. We approach our work with passion, creativity and diligence. Join our team and work in an environment rich in heritage and culture, with people who really care about what they do.
As an employer we are committed to:
- Paying our employees competitive salaries – we are a Real Living wage employer
- Investing in the development of our people
- Supporting flexible working
- Providing benefits that support good health and financial security in the present and the future
- Making it fun!
Current Vacancies
Salary: £45,000
Full-time: regular weekend and some out-of-hours work
Site-Based: Portsmouth Historic Dockyard
About the Role
We are looking for an experienced security manager to lead and develop the security, safety and incident management functions for Portsmouth Historic Quarter at Portsmouth Historic Dockyard.
This is a key operational leadership role, responsible for ensuring that our visitors, employees, volunteers, contractors, tenants and assets are protected within a safe, secure and welcoming environment. You will provide both strategic and operational leadership, developing our security arrangements, strengthening emergency preparedness and helping to embed a positive culture of security and vigilance across the organisation and the site.
A significant part of the role will be leading our approach to protective security and counter-terrorism preparedness, ensuring that we meet relevant statutory and regulatory requirements while maintaining a positive visitor experience.
Leading and supporting our Security Duty Managers, you will set high operational standards and ensure employees, volunteers, contractors and other stakeholders understand their role in keeping the site safe and secure. You will work closely with colleagues across the organisation to ensure security considerations are incorporated into events, projects and operational planning.
This is a visible, hands-on leadership role requiring flexibility to respond to the operational needs of a busy visitor attraction. The role includes regular weekend working and some working outside normal office hours.
About You
You will be an experienced security professional with significant experience in a security management or comparable operational security role, combining responsibility for day-to-day security delivery with the development and improvement of security arrangements. You will have strong knowledge of security management, risk assessment and proportionate mitigation, together with a good understanding of relevant legislation, regulatory requirements and industry best practice.
You will bring practical experience of developing and reviewing security policies, procedures and emergency plans; undertaking security risk assessments; leading responses to incidents, emergencies or major events; and overseeing physical security arrangements. Experience of managing and developing staff and working collaboratively with external agencies and stakeholders will also be important.
Your leadership style will be visible, calm and confident. You will be proactive and vigilant but equally understand that effective security in a visitor attraction must be proportionate and support a positive, welcoming visitor experience.
Experience within a heritage site, visitor attraction, cultural venue, events environment or similarly complex public-facing operation would be advantageous.
As an organisation we are committed to the principles of equity, diversity and inclusion, and to implementing these through our work. We expect our colleagues to have a commitment to this too.
How to apply: Please read the full job description and person specification for the role before applying. A CV and a brief covering note can be sent to recruitment@portsmouthhq.org with the title “Head of Security” in the subject box.
Closing date: 23 October 2026
Salary: £35,000
Full-time: combining weekday and weekend working
Site-Based: Portsmouth Historic Dockyard
About the Role
We are looking for two Security Duty Managers to take responsibility for the day-to-day operational security of our visitor site, helping us provide a safe, secure and welcoming environment for visitors, staff, volunteers and tenants.
Acting as the senior operational point of contact during your shift, you will oversee our visitor entrances and security screening arrangements, supervise and support our team of Welcome Hosts, monitor activity across the site and respond to operational issues as they arise.
A key part of the role will be leading our response to incidents and emergencies. You will act as Incident Controller when required, coordinating the response to situations including security incidents, accidents, safeguarding concerns, anti-social behaviour, suspicious activity and other emergencies. You will also lead evacuations and lockdown procedures and help ensure that our emergency arrangements are understood, tested and effective.
Alongside your security responsibilities, you will play an important role in the visitor experience. We are looking for someone who understands that effective security and excellent customer service go hand in hand and who can maintain high standards while ensuring visitors continue to receive a positive and welcoming experience.
The role includes regular weekend working and requires flexibility to work outside normal office hours.
About You
You will have experience of working in operational security or duty management within a public-facing environment, together with experience of supervising or coordinating staff. Comfortable taking responsibility, you will be able to assess situations quickly, prioritise risks and make calm, proportionate decisions, including when working under pressure.
You will have a good understanding of operational security, emergency response procedures and health and safety within a public-facing environment. You will also bring strong customer-service and communication skills, with the confidence to deal professionally and assertively with challenging or sensitive situations while providing clear direction to your team.
We are looking for someone who is calm, resilient, dependable and vigilant, with a visible and approachable management style. Experience within a visitor attraction, heritage site, events venue or similar publicly accessible environment would be particularly valuable, as would experience of security screening or access control.
You must hold a full UK driving licence and have access to your own vehicle for work purposes. You will also need to be willing and able to undertake and maintain an appropriate First Aid qualification and undertake training for an SIA Door Supervisor licence if you do not already hold these qualifications.
As an organisation we are committed to the principles of equity, diversity and inclusion, and to implementing these through our work. We expect our colleagues to have a commitment to this too.
How to apply: Please read the full job description and person specification for the role before applying. A CV and a brief covering note can be sent to recruitment@portsmouthhq.org with the title “Security Duty Manager” in the subject box.
Closing date: 23 October 2026
Information for applicants
Don’t meet every single requirement? Studies show that women and people of colour are less likely to apply for roles unless they meet every single criterion. We are committed to building a diverse, inclusive and equitable workplace. So, if you like the look of this role but your past experience does not align perfectly with everything in the job description, we would still like to hear from you. You may be just the right person for this or other roles.
Our working environment is one where diversity is valued and equity of opportunity is promoted.
We are committed to protecting the privacy and security of job applicant’s personal information. Our applicant privacy notice describes how we collect and use personal information during the recruitment process in accordance with the General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR).
