Intern, Organisational Security Behaviour

ROLE DESCRIPTION SUMMARY

The Intern supports the Security Office in improving SES’s organisational culture and behaviour relating to the handling of sensitive and classified information. The role focuses on strengthening awareness, compliance, and behavioural alignment with legal and internal requirements for protected and classified information. This position is not cybersecurity‑focused; the emphasis is on human factors, organisational culture, and practical compliance behaviour around protected and classified‑information handling.

A core objective of the role is to shift security from a late‑stage control function to a proactive, design‑time organisational behaviour embedded in normal workflows. The intern will analyse current practices, identify cultural barriers, human behaviour and design approaches that make correct classified‑information handling intuitive, natural, and integrated into everyday processes — rather than perceived as an administrative burden.

The internship may optionally be combined with a Master Thesis project, depending on the candidate’s academic requirements.

PRIMARY RESPONSIBILITIES / KEY RESULT AREAS

1. Conduct research and analysis on organisational security behaviour
   1. Assess how SES personnel currently handle sensitive and classified information.
   2. Identify behavioural, cultural, or procedural gaps impacting compliance.
   3. Benchmark organisational practices against governmental and industry standards in classified‑information culture.
   4. Evaluate how and where security considerations are currently introduced too late.
2. Develop a proposal for enhancing organisational security culture
   1. Create a comprehensive plan to improve behaviour, awareness, and compliance.
   2. Ensure recommendations are practical, sustainable, and reduce perceptions that security is a nuisance.
   3. Develop approaches for embedding security considerations proactively at the earliest stages of processes, projects, and decision‑making.
   4. Align all proposals with legal, regulatory, and internal SES security frameworks.
3. Support development of awareness and communication strategies
   1. Assist in creating communication materials and behaviour‑change content.
   2. Identify effective behavioural‑change techniques to support long‑term cultural adoption.
   3. Propose communication strategies that frame security as an enabler and integral part of early planning, not a last‑minute compliance step.
4. Assist with mapping sensitive‑information handling behaviours
   1. Document information‑handling practices across departments.
   2. Identify behavioural risks related to the handling of classified material.
   3. Map how sensitive information flows across the organisation.
   4. Identify where in workflows security is currently introduced too late, and propose practical methods to bring it forward.
5. Collaborate with Security Officers and internal stakeholders
   1. Participate in interviews, surveys, and workshops under supervision.
   2. Coordinate findings with stakeholders across SES locations and departments.
   3. Present interim and final recommendations in a clear and structured manner.
6. Produce thesis‑related deliverables if applicable
   1. Prepare academic‑level research outputs if the internship is combined with a Master Thesis.
   2. Integrate academic insights with the operational goals of the Security Office.

COMPETENCIES

• Strong analytical and research skills.
• Ability to interpret regulatory and compliance requirements and translate them into practical behavioural improvements.
• Excellent communication and interpersonal skills.
• High level of discretion and professionalism when working with sensitive topics.
• Creative and pragmatic approach to problem‑solving and cultural improvement.
• Ability to collaborate effectively with colleagues across different functions and locations.

QUALIFICATIONS & EXPERIENCE

• Currently enrolled in a Master’s programme in Behavioural Science, Organisational Studies, Organisational Psychology, Information Governance, Security Studies, or a related field.
• Strong interest in organisational behaviour, human factors, or cultural transformation.
• Understanding of information‑handling principles and classification schemes is beneficial.
• Excellent written and verbal English communication skills.
• Experience with qualitative or quantitative research methods is an advantage.
• No access to classified information will be provided; access to sensitive information may be granted if required.

OTHER KEY REQUIREMENTS / COMMENTS

• Must handle SENSITIVE information in accordance with SES policies.
• Work may involve interviews or workshops with teams across SES locations.
• Deliverables must align with SES Security Office governance and legal requirements.
• The candidate must be an EU national.
• The internship may optionally be combined with a Master Thesis project.