Chief Information Security Officer

FCDO Services; Tathall End, Peacehaven; Hybrid; GBP 75,000 - 82,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Free shuttle bus between MK and Hansl?

Excellent benefits

Civil Service Pension

Job summary

FCDO Services seeks a Chief Information Security Officer to provide strategic leadership for information and cyber security across the organisation. You will ensure security objectives support priorities, enable digital transformation and strengthen resilience.

You will develop and communicate the Information Security and Cyber Assurance Vision and Strategy, uniting teams to deliver this strategy with a risk-based approach.

Qualifications

• Experience as Deputy CISO or Head of Cyber Security or equivalent.
• Experience in incident response, SOC, security architecture, vulnerability and compliance, governance or risk.
• Significant technical experience in cloud and mobile technologies and enterprise level architectures.
• Professional qualification such as CISSP, NCSC Certified Professional or Level 6 equivalent, or Certified CISO like CISA, CISM or CRISC.

Responsibilities

• Provide strategic leadership for information and cyber security across FCDO Services.
• Develop and communicate Information Security and Cyber Assurance Vision and Strategy.
• Own cyber and information security risk across the organisation – governance and assurance as enabling approach.
• Enable safe and secure innovation and delivery of information security initiatives.

Skills

Incident response

SOC

Security architecture

Governance & risk

Cloud technologies

Mobile technologies

Enterprise architecture

Education

CISSP / CISM / CRISC certification

Tools

Cloud platforms

Security monitoring tools

Job description

Chief Information Security Officer

Salary: £75,055 - £82,400 plus a location allowance of £1,750 and excellent benefits

Contract type: Permanent

Working pattern: Full-time

Location: Based in Hanslope Park, Milton Keynes with the flexibility of hybrid working depending on business need

Free shuttle bus is available between central Milton Keynes and Hanslope Park

At FCDO Services we protect the UK’s interests at home and overseas. We design and construct secure government buildings and courier diplomatic packages worldwide, safeguard government tech and a whole lot more. Our work is as varied and vital as it gets, but we never lose sight of our people. Their skills, aspirations and growth mean as much as the global mission we’re on. In our world, it all matters.

Our Digital, Data and Technology team are at the forefront of digital innovation. They provide best-in-class solutions for our clients, helping to shape and support a data driven future for UK government. Whether it’s creating bespoke, secure software, offering programme and application support or moving an entire embassy’s servers to a Cloud platform. No matter the task, they are on hand to support. Now, you’ve got the opportunity to join them.

• Providing innovation to government partners.
• Delivering best-in-class solutions.
• Working at the cutting-edge of technology
• It all matters.

Drive operational security and digital transformation

As Chief Information Security Officer, you’ll provide strategic leadership for information and cyber security across FCDO Services. You’ll ensure that security objectives support organisational priorities, enable digital transformation and strengthen operational resilience.

Playing a key role in developing and communicating FCDO Services’ Information Security and Cyber Assurance Vision and Strategy, you’ll bring different teams together to establish shared direction for delivering this new strategy.

Leading our Information and Cyber Security functions, you’ll ensure we develop, maintain and continually improve a comprehensive, risk-based security capability that protects the confidentiality, integrity and availability of information, systems and services. Covering both project and service delivery and live-service security monitoring, you’ll own cyber and information security risk across the organisation – promoting governance and assurance as an enabling approach.

Enabling FCDO Services to innovate safely and securely, you’ll create and own the delivery of Information Security initiatives to ensure the organisation and its products are capable of protection against the latest vulnerabilities and cyber threats.

Extend your expertise, working to defend the UK’s global interests

To succeed in this role, you should be able to drive cyber and information security and assurance across a variety of business areas, projects and programmes.

You’ll bring a broad range of experience gained in a Deputy CISO, Head of Cyber Security or equivalent role. This could include working in incident response, SOC, security architecture, vulnerability and compliance, governance or risk. Preferably, you’ll have experience of working in both the public and private sectors, but this isn’t essential.

You’ll also bring significant technical experience in cloud and mobile technologies and enterprise level architectures, along with knowledge of how different products and services may impact business security risks.

As well as working with different technical teams to deliver complex solutions, you should be able to translate cyber and information security issues into meaningful language for non-specialist audiences across the business. You should also have a professional qualification such as CISSP, NCSC Certified Professional or Level 6 equivalent qualification, or a Certified CISO qualification like CISA, CISM or CRISC.

Discover the support you need to grow your career further

Working with us you’ll help keep people, information, and assets safe around the world. It’s a role you can feel proud of; and we aim to make every part of your career just as rewarding. That’s why when you join us, expect to receive a competitive salary, good holiday entitlement and a Civil Service Pension. Along with this, you’ll also have access to training and other development opportunities to help grow your career with us. Our offices have an on-site gym, nursery, café, and restaurant, and we offer interest-free loans on season tickets and bikes to help you get there. It's a great set of benefits made to support all you do, and all you need.

Want to see your future team’s work in action? Step into our Virtual Embassy and select a guide to take you round to see how we deliver for government customers and how you could help.

Every single colleague must be security cleared before joining us. If you’re successful in your application, we’ll ask you to undergo our vetting process to achieve Developed Vetting (DV) clearance. You can find out more about vetting on our website.

Closing date: Apply before 11:55 pm on Sunday 18th October 2026.

It takes a diverse team to protect a diverse world

The vital work we do takes an incredible community of colleagues, with different skills, backgrounds, cultures and identities. We support every individual, so that you always know you’re welcome and valued. It’s what makes us a Disability Confident employer. And why we’re recognised as a ‘Carer Confident’ workplace. And it’s how you know you’re joining an inspiring, inclusive organisation