Cyber Security Lead | NHS England

NHS England; Leeds, Exeter; On-site; GBP 87,000 - 101,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

RRP payment 30% per annum

Job summary

NHS England’s Cyber Operations house the cyber security services that protect the NHS. The Security Lead oversees the SIO portfolio, driving delivery, performance and continual improvement across national cyber security services.

You will work with service owners, technical teams and NHS organisations to manage risks and enhance resilience. The role requires strong leadership, a focus on governance, and the delivery of meaningful assurance to senior stakeholders.

Responsibilities

• Lead the development, delivery, performance management and continual improvement of assigned SIO cyber security services
• Provide specialist cyber security advice, assurance and constructive challenge to support risk management and effective decision-making
• Work with service owners, technical teams and NHS organisations to identify, assess, manage and remediate cyber security risks
• Monitor service performance, risks and dependencies, producing meaningful metrics, reports and assurance updates for senior leaders and governance forums
• Manage relationships with suppliers and service providers, addressing performance issues, risks and dependencies to support effective service delivery
• Build and maintain strong relationships with stakeholders across NHS England and the wider health and care system
• Support NHS organisations to improve their cyber resilience, strengthen security practices and maximise the value of nationally provided cyber services
• Identify opportunities to improve service effectiveness, user experience and operational resilience across the SIO portfolio
• Deputise for the Head of SIO as required, providing leadership and supporting the effective management of the wider portfolio
• Line manage and develop team members, setting objectives, monitoring performance and supporting professional development
• Contribute to the delivery and improvement of wider national cyber security services, adapting to changing priorities across the portfolio

Job description

Salary: £86,556.60 - £100,578.40 Per Annum (this includes a RRP payment of 30%)

NHS England’s Cyber Operations works to strengthen cyber resilience across the NHS, supporting the safe delivery of care and maintaining public trust in the health and care system. This role sits within the Service Integration and Ownership (SIO) team, part of Cyber Operations, which oversees a portfolio of nationally provided cyber security services.

The SIO portfolio spans technical security, assurance and training services, helping NHS organisations identify and manage cyber risks, address security gaps and improve operational resilience.

As Cyber Security Lead, you will provide cyber security expertise, service leadership and assurance across the portfolio, leading the development, delivery, performance and continual improvement of assigned services. You will work closely with service owners, technical teams, suppliers and stakeholders across NHS England and the wider health and care system to manage risks, strengthen service effectiveness and support organisations in improving their cyber resilience.

The role also involves providing proportionate advice and constructive challenge, producing meaningful performance and assurance reporting, managing supplier relationships and leading team members to deliver agreed objectives. You will contribute to the wider SIO portfolio as priorities evolve, applying your cyber security knowledge, leadership skills and professional judgement to support effective national cyber security services.

As a Security Lead you will:

• Lead the development, delivery, performance management and continual improvement of assigned SIO cyber security services
• Provide specialist cyber security advice, assurance and constructive challenge to support risk management and effective decision-making
• Work with service owners, technical teams and NHS organisations to identify, assess, manage and remediate cyber security risks
• Monitor service performance, risks and dependencies, producing meaningful metrics, reports and assurance updates for senior leaders and governance forums
• Manage relationships with suppliers and service providers, addressing performance issues, risks and dependencies to support effective service delivery
• Build and maintain strong relationships with stakeholders across NHS England and the wider health and care system
• Support NHS organisations to improve their cyber resilience, strengthen security practices and maximise the value of nationally provided cyber services
• Identify opportunities to improve service effectiveness, user experience and operational resilience across the SIO portfolio
• Deputise for the Head of SIO as required, providing leadership and supporting the effective management of the wider portfolio
• Line manage and develop team members, setting objectives, monitoring performance and supporting professional development
• Contribute to the delivery and improvement of wider national cyber security services, adapting to changing priorities across the portfolio

Our staff bring expertise across clinical, operational, commissioning, technology, data science, cyber security, software engineering, education, and commercial specialisms — enabling us to design and deliver high-quality NHS services.

In March 2025,the Government announcedthat NHS England and the Department of Health and Social Care will increasingly merge functions, ultimately leading to NHS England being fully integrated into the department.

If you currently work within the NHS and if successful at interview, we will initiate an Inter Authority Transfer (IAT) via the Electronic Staff Record (ESR).This retrieves key data from your current or previous NHS employer to support onboarding, including competency status, Continuous Service Dates (CSD), and annual leave entitlement. You may opt out at any stage of the process.

Colleagues with a contractual office base are expected to spend, on average, at least 40% of their time working in our offices.

Staff recruited from outside the NHS will usually be appointed at the bottom of the pay band.

We cannot offer visa sponsorship for external candidates.

Please see the attached Job Description and Person Specification for more information about the role and responsibilities.

It is desirable for the successful candidate to hold ITIL foundation qualification or have an equivalent qualification in Service Management.

Please ensure your supporting statement includes demonstratable evidence and specific examples on how you meet the criteria for each of the key skills specified. This will be used in both the shortlisting and interview processes

Important: Please be aware there are residency requirements you need to meet:

All NHS England Cyber Security personnel must hold Security Clearance level as a minimum. To meet National Security Vetting requirements, SC clearances require 5 years continuous UK residency. In certain cases, this can be reduced to three years continuous UK residency, with additional overseas checks for the previous two years. Candidates who were posted abroad for service with HM Government, Armed Forces or within a UK government role - will still be considered.

Please make sure you meet these requirements before applying for this role. You don’t need to have SC already, however, failure to achieve the requirements for SC after offer will result in the job offer being withdrawn. For further advice please check https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/united-kingdom-security-vetting-clearance-levels/national-security-vetting-clearance-levels#security-check-sc

Please be aware that should you be successful in this position, you will be hired to the job title of Security Lead and this job title is advertised to attract the right skills needed for the role.

The post of Security Lead has been awarded a Recruitment and Retention Premia (RRP) in response to current labour market conditions. In recognition of this, the role attracts an additional monthly RRP payment equal to 30% per annum.

Please be aware that RRP is non-contractual and subject to review

This advert closes on Tuesday 24 Nov 2026

£43,954.90 - £52,928.70 per annum (this includes a RRP payment of 10%)

£59,264 - £67,818 This includes a RRP payment of 20% (Excludes HCAS). Per annum

£59,264.40 - £67,818 per Annum (this includes a RRP payment of 20%)