Head of Cyber Security - CSOC Innovation & Improvements

National health service; Poltimore; On-site; GBP 90,000 - 120,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

RRP 30% pay uplift

Job summary

NHS England seeks a Head of Cyber Security Innovation & Improvement to ensure cyber resilient architecture across systems, overseeing CSOC functions such as Protective Monitoring, Threat Operations, Incident Management and Engineering.

You will lead the Innovation and Improvement team, coordinate complex incidents, and drive CSOC improvements while reporting to senior stakeholders and maintaining disaster recovery and business continuity plans.

Qualifications

• Masters degree in Cyber Security or equivalent.
• Extensive knowledge of Information Security Operations Centre (ISOC) modules and processes.
• Strong leadership and cross-team collaboration capabilities.

Responsibilities

• Lead cross-team initiatives and interactions between Engineering, Security Ops and Threat Ops within CSOC.
• Line manage the Innovation and Improvement team.
• Coordinate complex incidents and investigations across the NHS during large-scale events.
• Identify CSOC improvement activities to support service delivery.
• Provide specialist knowledge in Threat Operations, Protective Monitoring, Security Engineering and Incident Management.

Skills

Leadership

Cyber security operations

Incident management

SIEM knowledge

Education

Masters degree in Cyber Security

Job description

Job summary

Job summary The Head of Cyber Security Innovation & Improvement is focussed on ensuring that the NHS's systems operate from a cyber resilient architecture, looking at people, processes and technology. The role is part of a small team that supports all functions (Protective Monitoring, Threat Operations, Incident Management and Engineering) within the Cyber Security Operations Centre (CSOC) with the delivery of technical and innovative solutions and the implementation of processes to support day to day output and services to the health sector. Cyber Operations purpose is to support safe care and build public trust by building NHS England's cyber resilience and enabling the wider health system to be cyber resilient, supporting Transformation Directorate's purpose of delivering the best care and outcomes for the NHS. Please be aware that should you be successful in this position, you will be hired to the job title of Head of Security (Lead) and this job title is advertised to attract the right skills needed for the role. The post of Head 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.

Main duties of the job

• Leadership and management of cross-team initiatives and interactions between teams including the Engineering, Security Ops, and Threat Ops functions within the CSOC.
• Line Management of the Innovation and Improvement team.
• Contribution to the management of complex incidents and investigations, co-ordinating activity during large scale incidents across the NHS.
• Identification and leading on the implementation of CSOC improvement activities that support the successful delivery of CSOC services.
• Providing specialist knowledge and expertise in a diverse range of cyber security areas related to Threat Operations, Protective Monitoring, Security Engineering and Incident Management.
• Keeping up to date with the latest security and technology trends, to include researching and evaluating emerging cyber security threats, and mitigations.
• Using advanced analytic tools to help analyse emerging threat patterns and vulnerabilities.
• Presenting to senior leaders.
• Maintaining the CSOC's Disaster Recovery and Business Continuity plans and for coordinating when enacted.
• Manage the CSOC's Lessons Learned process and post incident activities.
• Representing the CSOC at organisational Risk Governance meetings.
• Act as a cyber subject matter expert for external improvement programmes.
• Develop and maintain stakeholder relationships across the health sector, X-Gov and suppliers.

About us

NHS England has a wide range of statutory functions, responsibilities and regulatory powers. These are focused on supporting the wider NHS to deliver high quality care, as well as doing those things that are best done once for the whole NHS.

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 announced that 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 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 dont need to have SC already, however, failure to achieve the requirements for SC after offer will result in the job offer being withdrawn.

You can find further details about the role, including key responsibilities and accountabilities, alongside the organisational structure and person specification in the attached Job Description and other supporting documents.

Job responsibilities

Cyber Operations sub-directorate consists of four operational areas:

• Cyber Security Operations Unit
• Cyber Delivery Unit
• Cyber Improvement Programme
• Chief Information Security Office Function

Person Specification Knowledge Essential

• Knowledge Essential Extensive knowledge of modules, processes and technologies of Information Security Operation Centre (ISOC); ability to detect, response and utilise related platform and applications to perform cyber security initiatives.
• Highly developed specialist understanding of the value of innovation and ability to develop new ideas and initiatives that improve the performance of the organisation.
• Detailed knowledge of concept, procedures and processes of Security Information and Event Management (SIEM); ability to utilise related applications to protect organizational networks from cyber risks.
• Extensive knowledge of techniques, roles, and responsibilities in providing technical or business guidance to clients, both internal and external; ability to apply this knowledge appropriately to diverse situations.
• Demonstrable knowledge of technologies, methods and tools of forensics investigations for IT security violations or potential threats; ability to identify, uncover and evaluate violations, warning reports, suspected incidents and insidious events.
• Qualifications Essential Masters level degree in Cyber Security, or a relevant subject, or equivalent level of experience.

Person Specification Knowledge Essential

• Knowledge Essential Extensive knowledge of modules, processes and technologies of Information Security Operation Centre (ISOC); ability to detect, response and utilise related platform and applications to perform cyber security initiatives.
• Highly developed specialist understanding of the value of innovation and ability to develop new ideas and initiatives that improve the performance of the organisation.
• Detailed knowledge of concept, procedures and processes of Security Information and Event Management (SIEM); ability to utilise related applications to protect organizational networks from cyber risks.
• Extensive knowledge of techniques, roles, and responsibilities in providing technical or business guidance to clients, both internal and external; ability to apply this knowledge appropriately to diverse situations.
• Demonstrable knowledge of technologies, methods and tools of forensics investigations for IT security violations or potential threats; ability to identify, uncover and evaluate violations, warning reports, suspected incidents and insidious events.
• Qualifications Essential Masters level degree in Cyber Security, or a relevant subject, or equivalent level of experience.

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.