Corporate Security Manager

By /

Website Aviva

Job Overview: Corporate Security Manager

Aviva, one of the UK’s leading financial institutions, is recruiting a Corporate Security Manager to oversee the protection of people, assets, and reputation across its York and Sheffield estates. This is a high-profile leadership role requiring a blend of strategic planning, crisis management, and the ability to interface with government and law enforcement agencies. Aviva is explicitly open to part-time and job-share arrangements for this position.

Job Summary

  • Employer: Aviva

  • Location: York (YO1) / Sheffield (Smart working: 50% office-based)

  • Salary: Circa £55,000 (plus 10% bonus opportunity)

  • Role Type: Part-time, Job Share, or Full-time (Flexible)

  • Sector: Financial Services / Corporate Security

Key Responsibilities

1. Strategic Security & Risk

  • Threat Management: Planning and responding to national protests, demonstrations, and high-profile corporate events.

  • Investigations: Leading sensitive internal and external investigations with absolute discretion.

  • Culture Driving: Embedding a proactive, “risk-aware” security culture across the UK estate to move beyond reactive measures.

2. Stakeholder Engagement

  • External Liaising: Acting as the primary point of contact for law enforcement (North Yorkshire Police/South Yorkshire Police) and government intelligence agencies.

  • Internal Influence: Briefing senior executives and board members on security risks and mitigation strategies.

3. Compliance & Governance

  • Standards: Ensuring the UK estate meets all regulatory requirements and industry best practices.

  • Reporting: Producing high-level risk assessments and executive presentations that drive tangible security outcomes.

Requirements & Leadership Style

  • Industry Experience: Extensive background in corporate security within a regulated environment (Insurance, Banking, or Fintech).

  • Communication: Exceptional “boardroom-level” written and verbal skills.

  • Leadership: An inspirational style focused on developing high-performing teams and a “customer-first” security approach.

  • Pace: Ability to operate effectively in a dynamic, fast-moving corporate setting.

Employee Benefits (The Aviva Reward)

Aviva offers a market-leading “Total Reward” package:

  • Financial: Up to 14% employer pension contribution, 10% bonus, and a Matching Share Plan (up to £1,200/year).

  • Health: Private Medical Benefit and a focus on holistic wellbeing tools.

  • Flexibility: 29 days holiday (plus bank holidays), with options to buy/sell days.

  • Discounts: Up to 40% off Aviva products and a variety of retailer discounts.

  • Community: 3 days of paid volunteering per year.

Strategic 2026 Context: Your 164th Market Entry

This role represents the “High-Level Corporate Governance” tier of your 164-role York dataset.

  • The York “D Grade” Benchmark: At £55,000, this role is a significant step up from the IT Trainee (£45k) or the RAF SNCO (~£48k equivalent). It sets the standard for “Professional Management” in York’s city center for 2026.

  • The Smart Working Model: Aviva’s 50% office-based policy is the definitive 2026 standard for York’s major employers (matching Hiscox). It balances the city’s desire for footfall in the YO1 area with the flexibility required for high-level technical talent.

  • Security as a Growth Sector: Your data shows a massive increase in “Physical-Digital Hybrid” security roles in 2026. This Aviva role confirms that managing “national protests” and “sensitive investigations” is now a core requirement for financial services firms, reflecting a more complex socio-political landscape in North Yorkshire.

    Aviva is the UK’s leading diversified insurer and a major cornerstone of the York business community. For decades, it has been one of the city’s largest private-sector employers, with its landmark offices on Wellington Row serving as a critical global hub for its life insurance, pensions, and investment operations.

    Company Description & Culture

    Aviva operates with the purpose: “With you today, for a better tomorrow.” Its culture is defined by four core values: Care, Commitment, Community, and Confidence. As a FTSE 100 “national champion,” the organization blends the stability of a 325-year-old heritage with a modern, technology-led mindset, including significant 2026 investments in Generative AI and digital claims automation.

    The workplace culture in York is collaborative and inclusive. Aviva is a Living Wage, Living Hours, and Living Pensions employer, emphasizing long-term financial security for its staff. With over 92% of colleagues recommending it as a “great place to work,” the company prioritizes a “Be Yourself” atmosphere where diverse perspectives are actively sought through its global “Aviva Communities.”

    Key Organisation Highlights (2026)

    Category Details
    York Office Wellington Row, York, YO90 1WR (Landmark riverside site)
    Primary Industry Insurance, Wealth Management, and Retirement Solutions
    Global Reach Core markets in UK, Ireland, and Canada; 25 million+ customers
    CQC/Rating Strong Google rating (4.5/5) for its York corporate facility
    Sustainability Ambition to be a Net Zero company by 2040
    Tech Focus 2026 rollout of ChatGPT-integrated home insurance quoting tools

    Operations in York

    While London is the group HQ, York is the heart of Aviva Life & Pensions UK Limited. Key functions based in the city include:

    • Life & Pensions: Managing the retirement and protection needs of millions of UK customers.

    • Investment Operations: Supporting Aviva Investors in delivering long-term outcomes for policyholders.

    • Global Specialty Lines: Supporting the expansion into US Commercial Lines, a key 2026 growth priority.

    • Digital & IT: Large teams dedicated to the Aviva Foundry, focusing on digital skills, UX design, and AI integration.

    Working at Aviva York

    Aviva is frequently cited as a top-tier regional employer, offering a “private sector” benefits package with a heavy focus on flexibility:

    • Aviva Flex: A highly customizable benefits system where staff can “buy or sell” holiday days and tailor medical cover for their families.

    • Pension Excellence: A market-leading scheme where Aviva starts contributions at 10%, increasing further if the employee chooses to invest more.

    • Parental Leave: A pioneer in “equal parental leave,” offering the same amount of paid time off to all parents regardless of gender or path to parenthood (birth, adoption, or surrogacy).

    • Smart Working: A mature hybrid model that balances time in the Wellington Row office with home working, supported by the latest collaboration technology.

    Community & Place-Based Action

    Aviva is a “National Place Partner” for York, meaning it takes a strategic role in the city’s development:

    • The Place (Westfield): Aviva helped raise £1.5 million to establish this community space, offering local youth access to education and career opportunities.

    • Environmental Impact: Funding projects like the floating ecosystem on the River Ouse and large-scale woodland restoration in the Yorkshire Dales.

    • Volunteering: Employees are granted time for volunteering, with a group-wide goal of reaching 600,000 hours by 2030.

    Current Opportunities (March 2026)

    As of early 2026, Aviva York is actively hiring for several specialized roles:

    • Underwriting Apprentice: Entry-level pathways into the core of the insurance business.

    • Change Project Manager: Leading the integration of new technologies within investment operations.

    • Corporate Tax Advisor: Specialized finance roles supporting the group’s global tax strategy.

    • Legal Counsel: In-house legal support for life and pensions regulation.

To apply for this job please visit www.direct.aviva.co.uk.