Cleared Careers Part 2: The Security Cleared Talent Pool

Cleared Careers Demand Snapshot 

With a raft of new Approaches to Market dropping, new SME contractors are entering the space and looking to beef up their workforces adding to the already hot competition for cleared and skilled talent. Defence and Government Departments and Agencies are all on the hunt for cleared talent to execute transformation initiatives recommended by the Defence Strategic Review (DSR) and uplift commitments triggered by the ANAO Audits into DISP and myClearance.  

We’re seeing an increase in NV1 Defence DSAPs (Designated Security Assessed Positions) and Government PoTs (Positions of Trust) being advertised across the board. Requirements for AGSVA Baseline clearances remains strong with NV2’s remaining steady and showing a slight uptick.  

Demand in the Defence Skills In Demand specialisations remains strong with Engineering, IT and Project Management the current darlings. Manufacturing, electrical and construction are on the rise too. Cleared opportunities exist across the spectrum of job roles from consultants and cleaners through to communicators and coaches.  

Demand for cleared roles continues strong in the ACT with SA and QLD on an exponential growth trajectory. NSW, VIC, TAS and WA remain steady in demand. 

Security Clearance Eligibility and Suitability  

The Protective Security Policy Framework (PSPF) governs the requisite behaviours that all clearance holders must demonstrate through both behavioural history and current life choices. Honesty, Trustworthiness, Maturity, Loyalty, Tolerance and Resilience are assessed during the AGSVA Vetting Process which involves “inquiry into, and corroboration of, a person’s background, character and personal values”. 

Before you can be nominated for vetting and sponsorship at any level however (Baseline, NV1, NV2), you must first undergo a mandatory Employment Suitability Check to satisfy the Eligibility and Suitability requirements of PSPF 12.  

Potential clearance subjects must prove both their eligibility (Australian Citizenship and checkable background) and their suitability (CV & Personal & Professional Referees) before a determination can be made as to whether a match to a DSAP or PoT (and level of clearance required) exists. 

The WorkSec Trusted Workforce clearance facilitation, sponsorship and governance services help you move through the clearance process seamlessly to secure a cleared career in government or defence. 

Roadmap to a Cleared Career 

1. Are you eligible and suitable to hold a Security Clearance?
2. Are you willing to uphold the responsibilities of a Security Clearance Holder and actively participate in protecting Australia’s sovereignty and security? 
3. Are your skills, experience and talents a match for a role in Government or Defence where you would be required to handle sensitive and/or secret data and information?
4. Or, is your role one where you are located at (or visiting) a facility where secret and sensitive information is handled or housed?
5. Are there any advertised roles that fit with the merits demonstrated in your CV? Check out Seek, LinkedIn, the Primes and Government Department websites.
6. Do you need a Security Clearance to apply for roles that are a potential match? At what level (Baseline, NV1, NV2)?
7. Average recruitment timeframes from job posting to job offer can be anywhere from 6 weeks to 4 months depending on the seniority of the role, number of applicants etc.
8. When do you need your security clearance granted by, to secure your cleared career role or contract?
9. Factor in the time requirements:
   – WorkSec ESC time requirements – approx. 5 days.
   – AGSVA Service Level Agreements (SLA) Key Performance Indicators (KPIs).
   – Your own personal circumstances. The more ‘vanilla’ your life has been so far, the quicker the vetting normally proceeds. Lots of overseas travel to government identified hot-spots, financial or legal complications, security incidents and other such things can dramatically change the timelines to a clearance granted status and the complexity of the vetting process.
10. You can apply for roles before you have a security clearance and whilst no discrimination is allowed, you may be less attractive as a candidate vis a vis someone else who has similar fit with the role but is already cleared.
11. When you have met the eligibility and suitability requirements and have a security clearance application in progress with AGSVA under WorkSec DISP sponsorship, you are already one step closer to being defence and government ready and a few steps ahead of your competition in securing your cleared career.
12. Consider the average recruitment timeframes for your industry, job type and seniority, compared to the AGSVA SLA’s for each clearance level and plan your cleared careers transition timeline from there.
    

In Summary  

A security clearance exists to match an eligible and suitable Australian Citizen to a job requirement to handle sensitive and secret data and information to protect our national security. Entering a cleared career carries with it ongoing obligations and responsibilities to your DISP Sponsor, the AGSVA, Defence and Government. 

The WorkSec Trusted Workforce for Individuals Program (TWIP) clearance facilitation, sponsorship and governance services help you move through the clearance application process seamlessly. Your dedicated WorkSec Security Officer works with you through the life of your security clearance sponsorship to ensure all security responsibilities are being delivered upon.  

High tech delivery provides you with a smooth security clearance application and ongoing sponsorship governance user experience and our high touch, no-gap-in-services ethos means you’ll get a response to any enquiry (depending on complexity) within a 24-hour period, but in most cases within the hour, 7 days a week.  

When you’re ready to get your application underway, click on the Get Started button then enter your details. Our professional Security Officers and Advisers are always available to clarify, advise and guide you through all aspects of the security clearance application and ongoing governance requirements.