View Vacancy - Security Officer (DEN26-004852)

The British Government is an inclusive and diversity-friendly employer.  We value difference, promote equality and challenge discrimination, enhancing our organisational capability. We welcome and encourage applications from people of all backgrounds. We do not discriminate on the basis of disability, race, colour, ethnicity, gender identity, religion, sexual orientation, age, veteran status or other category protected by law. We promote family-friendly flexible working opportunities, where operational and security needs allow. The FCDO operates an agile workforce and to facilitate this, you may be required to undertake other duties from time to time, as we may reasonably require.
Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office (Operations and Corporate Services)
Security

Who We Are

The British Embassy in Copenhagen is part of a world-wide network, representing British political, economic and consular interests overseas. We are now seeking a reliable and professional Security Officer to support the safety, security, and smooth operation of a diplomatic environment. You will play a critical role in access control, incident response, and maintaining a calm, secure presence for staff, visitors, and high profile guests.
For this role, you will require sound judgement, discretion, and the ability to operate effectively under pressure while upholding the highest professional and ethical standards.

What you will do

As a Security Officer, you will play a vital role in maintaining a safe, secure and welcoming environment for staff, visitors and official guests. You will act as both a professional guardian of our premises and a calm, confident first point of contact for the public.

In this role, you will be expected to:

  • Control access to the embassy, including ID verification, vehicle inspections and bag screening
  • Conduct regular patrols of embassy grounds and buildings to deter, detect and report security risks
  • Monitor CCTV, alarms and security systems, responding appropriately to incidents and alerts
  • Enforce security policies, procedures and protocols with professionalism and sound judgement
  • Coordinate effectively with local police, emergency services and internal stakeholders as required
  • Respond to emergencies, including lockdowns, evacuations and first response situations
  • Act as a front‑of‑house representative, delivering a professional, courteous service at all times
  • Handle public enquiries confidently, whether face‑to‑face, by telephone or via email
  • Drive embassy vehicles when required, including supporting VIP driving details
  • Work flexibly as part of a shift rota, including day and evenings, weekends and public holidays

As our ideal candidate, you will bring:

  • Fluency in English at C1 level and spoken Danish at C1 level (written Danish not essential)
  • A minimum of 5 years’ overall work experience, including at least 2 years in military, law enforcement, or security roles
  • A full Category B driving licence and confidence driving
  • Clear verbal and written communication skills, with the ability to write accurate incident reports, liaise confidently with emergency services, and engage professionally with staff, visitors and contractors
  • Strong situational awareness, attention to detail, and the ability to follow procedures precisely while exercising sound judgement
  • Excellent interpersonal skills and the ability to work calmly and effectively as part of a security team
  • Consistently high standards of professionalism, integrity and reliability
  • Proven experience in a security or law‑enforcement environment (e.g. police, military, government or private security)
  • Practical experience of access control, patrol duties, and incident response
  • Confidence in managing visitors, including VIP or high‑profile guests, and handling challenging situations such as public demonstrations
  • The ability to remain calm and make proportionate decisions under pressure
  • A minimum of secondary school education

It will be a plus if you also bring:

  • Previous security experience in embassies or consulates, government buildings, or international organisations such as the UN, EU or NATO
  • An understanding of diplomatic protocols and international security standards
  • A valid security guard licence or other relevant professional certification
  • Emergency response training, including first aid and CPR, fire safety, and evacuation procedures
  • Familiarity with CCTV, alarm systems and access‑control technologies
  • Flexibility and willingness to work shift patterns, including day and evenings, weekends and public holidays
Communicating and Influencing, Making Effective Decisions, Working Together
10 May 2026
S1
Full-time, Permanent
40 (including 1 hour lunch break)
Europe, Eastern Europe & Central Asia
Denmark
Copenhagen
British Embassy
1
DKK
32.660
monthly
3 August 2026

What we offer: 

  • This is a full-time, permanent contract subject to a 3-month probation period; 
  • 40-hours working week (including 1 hour lunch break) on a rotating shift pattern basis covering 7-18 / 5 days per week, including occasional evening and weekend working. Candidates should therefore be comfortable with flexibility in working hours during other times of the week, according to operational needs;
  • British Embassy Copenhagen offers a wide range of training and development opportunities, and we strongly encourage a culture of learning and development. You will be able to develop your communications skills, and access wider in-house training and funding for L+D courses, in agreement with your line manager; 
  • You will be encouraged to be actively involved in the corporate life of the Embassy, contributing to wider objectives and supporting a positive working environment; 
  • Private health insurance;
  • A mix of Danish & British Public holidays.

Equal employment - We are committed to equal employment opportunity regardless of race, colour, ancestry, religion, sex, sexual orientation, age, marital status, disability or gender identity. We particularly encourage applications from candidates with protected characteristics. DBT Europe Network want to maximise the potential of everyone who chooses to work for us, regardless of their background.

Interested? 
Apply below. Please notice that this is the only way we accept applications. Uploads are not possible. 

We look forward to receiving your application. 

The successful candidate will be subject to professional background check and security clearance.

The successful candidate must have pre-existing work authorisation for Denmark to apply.

Staff recruited locally by the British Embassy in Copenhagen are subject to Terms and Conditions of Service according to local Danish employment law.

Visa/work permit requirements: candidates must currently hold the independent right to live and work in Denmark and be prepared to ensure that right remains throughout the scope of the contract.

Please note that it is your responsibility to ensure you meet the legal requirements to live and work in this country.

The start date for the position is subject to the availability of the candidate and the length of the recruitment process.   

Please note that the deadline for applications is 23:55 on the day mentioned in the above field “Application deadline”. 

We advise you to allow enough time to complete and submit your full application, since only applications completed and submitted before the deadline will be considered. 

Please be aware that the deadline for submitting applications is the time zone for the country where the vacancy has arisen. 

FCDO does not pay for travel related expense incurred in interviews (including Security Check) or accept any financial risk, including cancelation or reschedule costs. The FCDO will not meet the costs connected with relocation if offered a position. 

*Please note for more information on the Common European Framework of Reference for Languages: Learning, Teaching, Assessment levels please click on the following link CEFR.

Please bear in mind in case you are invited for an interview your language skills are going to be assessed.

Please ensure that your application is authentically written based on your own experiences. If AI tools are used, their usage must only be limited to specific tasks such as ensuring formatting consistency and keyword relevance. The core content, personal narratives, and responses to behaviour and skill-based questions must genuinely reflect your professional journey, experiences, and achievements. We place great importance on originality and individual effort throughout the application process. Any form of plagiarism will result in immediate disqualification. 

Please be aware that you will only be able to apply to vacancies for Country Based Staff roles with the British Government through this official tal.net site (operated by Oleeo). Jobs may be advertised on third party websites, however our adverts will always link back to the official tal.net site. If you complete and send an application through any other site, we will not receive it.

This opportunity is closed to applications.