Cyber Security Manager - Hybrid

Ashdown Group; Greater London; Hybrid; GBP 70,000 - 92,000; Full time

Job summary

Ashdown Group is seeking a Cyber Security Manager to lead and strengthen the cyber security function within a large public sector organisation. The role is hybrid, based 2/3 days a week at North West London offices, balancing hands-on delivery with strategic leadership.

You will sustain and enhance cyber security posture, ensure regulatory compliance, and support major transformation initiatives, shaping governance frameworks and long-term security direction for essential services.

Qualifications

• Excellent stakeholder management and leadership skills with credibility to influence at all levels.
• Proven experience running and continuously improving a SOC, with a track record of driving detection and response capability forward.
• Hands-on expertise managing security incidents end-to-end, from initial triage through investigation, containment and coordinated response.
• Extensive practical experience across the Microsoft Security stack: MS Sentinel, Defender suite, Entra ID, Purview, Intune, Copilot for Security.
• Solid grounding in cyber security frameworks, risk management, governance and compliance.
• Ability to translate complex technical concepts for both technical and non-technical audiences.

Responsibilities

• Provide cyber security leadership and guidance to senior management and stakeholders.
• Lead and manage cyber security operations, driving forward the strategic security programme.
• Develop, implement and maintain cyber security policies, standards and procedures.
• Identify, assess and mitigate cyber risks across the organisation's technology estate.
• Manage the response to cyber security incidents, including investigations and remediation.
• Ensure ongoing regulatory compliance with government security frameworks and best practices.
• Partner with Information Governance, Data Protection, ICT and service teams.
• Champion continuous improvement in security monitoring, threat detection and staff awareness.

Skills

Stakeholder management

SOC management

Security incident response

Microsoft Security stack

Security governance & compliance

Communication to varied audiences

Tools

MS Sentinel

Defender suite

Entra ID

Purview

Intune

Copilot for Security

Job description

We are seeking a highly capable Cyber Security Manager to lead and strengthen the cyber security function within a large public sector organisation, ensuring the safeguarding of essential services, client data, and business-critical information. This is a hybrid role based 2/3 days a week at the organisations offices in North West London.

The role is split between operational delivery and strategic leadership calling for hands‑on technical skill alongside the ability to shape business decisions, governance frameworks, and long-term security direction.

You will be responsible for sustaining and enhancing cyber security posture, ensuring adherence to relevant legislation, regulations, standards, and best practice. You will play a central role in protecting the organisation’s digital estate and supporting major transformation initiatives.

Key responsibilities

• Provide cyber security leadership & guidance to senior management and key stakeholders.
• Lead and manage cyber security operations, setting and driving forward the strategic security programme.
• Develop, implement, and maintain cyber security policies, standards, and procedures.
• Identify, assess, and mitigate cyber risks across the council's technology estate.
• Manage the response to cyber security incidents, including investigations and remediation activities.
• Ensure ongoing compliance with regulatory requirements, government security frameworks, and industry best practices.
• Partner closely with Information Governance, Data Protection, ICT, and service teams
• Champion continuous improvement in security monitoring, threat detection, vulnerability management, and staff security awareness.

What you’ll need

• Excellent stakeholder management and leadership skills, with the credibility to influence at all levels.
• Proven experience running and continuously improving a SOC, with a track record of driving detection and response capability forward.
• Hands‑on expertise managing security incidents end‑to‑end, from initial triage through to investigation, containment, and coordinated response.
• Extensive, practical experience across the Microsoft Security stack, including MS Sentinel, Defender suite, Entra ID, Purview, Intune, Copilot for Security
• Solid grounding in cyber security frameworks, risk management, governance, and compliance.
• The ability to translate complex technical concepts for both technical and non-technical audiences.

This is a genuine opportunity to shape the cyber security strategy for a large, diverse organisation delivering essential services to the local community. The role is offered with a salary range of between £ 70,000 - £92,000 p.a. .D.O.E