Deputy Director for Business Standards and Approvals

The SIA exists to protect the public through effective regulation of the private security industry. We are a high performing regulator, working collaboratively with industry, enforcement agencies, Government, and the devolved administrations to raise standards across the security industry sector. We have an important role, contributing to public protection through the effective regulation of certain private security activities across the UK, licensing over 450,000 security personnel and raising standards of private security.

You will join us at a time of exciting change and increased public interest in us and our work especially in relation to our relationships with security businesses and the potential for new requirements to raise standards in the industry Our Approved Contractor Scheme (ACS) is a voluntary quality assurance scheme for the private security industry that has been in existence for some 20 years. It has served the security industry, buyers of security and the public well, but recognising that the demands of public protection have changed over the last two decades, we're currently designing a new scheme to replace it; the Business Approvals Scheme or BAS.

This exciting role is responsible for the leadership and management of our Business Standards function and specifically, the ACS. However, you will also be responsible for designing and implementing the new BAS, requiring you to run an existing operation whilst leading the design and implementation of the new scheme, taking the industry and external stakeholders with you. This is a visible role in which you will be required to operate with impact across a dynamic public safety and protective security landscape. Debate about introducing stronger regulation of security businesses in the form of business licensing is ongoing. Depending on how the debate evolves, there is the potential for you to lead our response.

A senior leader in a commensurate industry sector/role, we are open minded regarding your background, equally interested in industry standards, regulation and security industry experience. Regardless of the nature of your experience, you will be able to develop internal capability and lead colleagues to illicit outstanding operational performance, equally comfortable making judgements in complex casework as leading conversations that influence the future of business standards and licensing.

This is both an exceptional career opportunity and an exciting time to be part of the SIA, particularly as we prepare to become the independent regulator for Martyn's Law. If you have the necessary skills, expertise, and experience, share our passion for making a real difference to public safety, and will embrace our values and culture, we look forward to hearing from you.

For an informal discussion about the role, contact our recruitment partners, GatenbySanderson: Russell Brandon at

To apply for this post please click apply on website.

Closing date: 9:00am, Monday 15 December 2025