Digital Cyber Security & Compliance Specialist

Manchester University NHS Foundation Trust; Manchester; On-site; GBP 38,000 - 47,000; Full time

Job summary

A major healthcare trust in Manchester is seeking a Digital Cyber Security & Compliance Specialist to improve security measures and protect digital services. In this role, you'll monitor systems, support incident responses, and help maintain compliance with national frameworks. Ideal candidates will have a strong background in IT security, coupled with hands-on technical experience in a healthcare or large-scale environment. This permanent, full-time position offers a competitive salary and opportunities for professional development.

Qualifications

• Expert knowledge of IT security industry developments.
• Evidence of personal development in cyber security.
• Experience managing complex IT infrastructures.

Responsibilities

• Monitor security tools to detect and respond to threats.
• Assist with incident response and forensic investigations.
• Develop and maintain cyber security policies.
• Participate in security testing and compliance reviews.
• Provide specialist advice on security best practices.

Skills

Knowledge of current IT cyber security issues

Strong communications skills

Organisational skills

Ability to work under pressure

Project Management

Education

MCSE or equivalent level

Degree Level or Equivalent knowledge

Tools

Firewall technologies

VMware

Operating systems

Network security

Incident response

Job description

Manchester University NHS Foundation Trust

Digital Cyber Security & Compliance Specialist

The closing date is 29 December 2025

We're looking for a motivated and detail-focused Digital Cyber Security & Compliance Specialist to join Manchester University NHS Foundation Trust's expanding cyber team.

You'll play a key role in protecting the Trust's digital estate -- monitoring systems, analysing threats and supporting the delivery of secure, compliant digital services that underpin patient care. Working alongside senior cyber, infrastructure and operations colleagues, you'll help maintain and improve the Trust's security posture in line with national frameworks such as the Data Security and Protection Toolkit (DSPT).

This role is ideal for someone with hands‑on technical experience who is ready to build deeper expertise in cyber security within a large‑scale, high‑impact healthcare environment.

Main duties of the job

Support daily monitoring of security tools (antivirus, encryption, SIEM, firewall, vulnerability scanning) to detect and respond to potential threats.

Assist with incident response and forensic investigation, producing accurate reports and escalation where required.

Contribute to the development and maintenance of cyber security policies, procedures and awareness materials.

Participate in regular security testing, auditing and compliance reviews, tracking actions through to closure.

Help assess and document cyber risks, recording these within the Trust's assurance framework.

Support the configuration and monitoring of patching, updates and endpoint protection across the digital estate.

Provide specialist advice to colleagues and suppliers on security best practice and data protection requirements.

Keep up to date with emerging threats, vulnerabilities and technologies, sharing insights with the wider team.

Build strong working relationships with clinical, operational and technical stakeholders to ensure secure service delivery.

Contribute to training and awareness sessions promoting good security behaviour across MFT.

About us

Join Manchester University NHS Foundation Trust (MFT), the largest provider of specialist services, and our Oxford Road Campus in Manchester, the largest health academic campus in Europe – a great place to shape your career. With a workforce of over 30,000 colleagues, we work together to deliver exceptional care to more than 1 million people every year. Behind every patient cared for are people like you – keeping services running smoothly, supporting clinical teams, and helping create safe, welcoming environments for patients and our people alike.

At MFT, we believe in the power of teamwork, respect, and inclusion. Our People Plan reflects our commitment to making MFT a place where everyone feels they belong, where your ideas are heard, and your contribution is truly valued. Join us and work smarter with our digital technology and thrive in a collaborative culture that empowers you to deliver your best to ensure that your work behind the scenes creates seamless, high‑quality care and exceptional patient outcomes.

Whether you're just starting out or looking to grow, we offer clear pathways for development and a culture that supports your wellbeing, ambition, and success. Everything you do makes a real difference to the lives of others. At MFT, your role matters, your impact is real, and you're part of something bigger from day one.

Job responsibilities

To find out more about the key responsibilities and the specific skills and experience you'll need, look at the Job Description & Person Specification attachments under the Supporting Documents heading. So that you're even more equipped to make an informed decision to apply to us, you'll need to take time to read the Candidate Essentials Guide that sits with the Job Description and Person Specification. This document provides you with details about the Trust, our benefits and outlines how we care for you as you care for others. Most importantly, it also contains critical information you'll need to be aware of before you submit an application form.

Use of Artificial Intelligence (AI) in your application

Here at Manchester University NHS Foundation Trust, we're proud to be here for you for our patients, our communities and each other. As part of our commitment to fairness, transparency and personal integrity, we ask all applicants to ensure that their job applications reflect their own experiences, skills and motivations. While AI tools can support spelling, grammar or formatting, we expect that the content of your application, especially personal statements and responses to role‑specific questions, is written by you. This helps us get to know the real you and ensures that our recruitment process remains equitable and meaningful for everyone. Thank you for helping us uphold the values that make our Trust a place where people belong, grow and thrive. We look forward to receiving your application.

Diversity Matters

MFT is committed to promoting equality of opportunity, celebrating and valuing diversity and eliminating any form of unlawful discrimination across our workforce, ensuring our people are truly representative of the communities we serve. All individuals regardless of age, disability, gender reassignment, marriage and civil partnership, pregnancy and maternity, race, religion or belief, sex and sexual orientation are encouraged to apply for this post. As an inclusive employer, we are here to support you. If you have any special requirements to help you with your application, please contact the manager named below.

Person Specification

Qualifications

• MCSE or equivalent level and Degree Level (or) Equivalent knowledge skills and experience
• Evidence of Personal Development
• Expert knowledge of IT security industry and developments.

Knowledge and Experience

• Knowledge of current IT cyber security issues
• Management of a complex IT Infrastructure within the NHS or large enterprise level organisation.
• Good knowledge of security standards, legislation and best practice
• Knowledge of:
  • Network security
  • Operating systems and application security
  • Access control methodology
  • Physical security in an IT environment
  • Incident response
  • Risk assessment
• Up to date knowledge of technical applications
• Ability to think ahead and anticipate problems, issues and solutions
• Active Directory Management
• Anti‑Virus infrastructure
• Windows 2003/8/12 Server knowledge
• Experience developing and managing best‑of‑breed enterprise IT security appliances
• Work under pressure with time restrictions
• Disaster recovery and Business Continuity knowledge
• Firewall technologies knowledge
• SAN Technologies
• VMware knowledge

Skills

• Specialist technical knowledge of security Issues and products so that complex security issues can be quickly diagnosed and resolved.
• Capacity to undertake complex risk assessments
• Organisational skills
• Strong communications skills, verbally and written.
• Report writing and procedure /policy development
• Good time management.
• Capacity to communicate complex matters to non technical persons
• Ability to organise self and others and to work on own initiative
• Ability to work to deadlines, prioritise tasks and manage in a busy pressurised climate.
• Ability to prioritise and plan use of resources
• Ability to communicate complex information to all levels of staff
• Project Management
• Business Change Management

Knowledge

• In Depth Knowledge of the laws as it applies to IT Security and recommended standards as applied by appropriate bodies e.g. NHSDigital
• Knowledge across many of the below areas:
  • IT desktop applications
  • Operating systems
  • Networking
  • Computer technology
  • Database technology
  • Security
  • Virtualisation
  • Citrix
  • SAN Technologies
  • Microsoft Server and Supporting Services
• Knowledge of current NHS Information Technology issues, standards and procedures

Disclosure and Barring Service Check

This post is subject to the Rehabilitation of Offenders Act (Exceptions Order) 1975 and as such it will be necessary for a submission for Disclosure to be made to the Disclosure and Barring Service (formerly known as CRB) to check for any previous criminal convictions.

Manchester University NHS Foundation Trust

Address

Manchester University NHS Foundation Trust

Salary

£38,682 to £46,580 a year per annum (pro rata)

Contract

Permanent

Working pattern

Full-time

Reference number

349-COR-7612333-RL4

Job locations

Manchester University NHS Foundation Trust