Cyber Security Manager (Hybrid) — SOC & Strategy

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

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.