IT Operations and Security Lead

Free-Work UK; London; Hybrid; GBP 85,000 - 95,000; Full time

Job summary

A leading financial organization in London is seeking an IT Operations and Security Lead to oversee its IT infrastructure and security operations. This hybrid role requires extensive experience in IT management, particularly within the banking or insurance sector, and offers a competitive salary range of £85K - £95K plus benefits.

Qualifications

• 10+ years of hands-on expertise in IT infrastructure and security.
• Experience in banking or insurance sectors preferred.
• Proven leadership skills and ability to drive operational excellence.

Responsibilities

• Oversee IT operations ensuring stability, security, and efficiency.
• Manage Microsoft technologies and enterprise IT systems.
• Define and enforce cloud security policies and compliance.

Skills

Microsoft 365 management

Azure management

Security frameworks and compliance

IAM expertise

Threat management

Network security

IT service management

Operational leadership

Problem-solving

Education

Bachelor's degree in IT or similar

Tools

Microsoft Azure

O365

Intune

Firewall management

Job description

Join to apply for the IT Operations and Security Lead role at Free-Work UK

Base pay range

Job Description

IT Operations Platforms and Security Lead

In summary, the client is looking to recruit an all-round individual with expert knowledge and hands-on experience in IT infrastructure coupled with security, compliance, and risk management.

You must have upwards of 10 years of hands-on expertise in IT infrastructure combined with security and risk management, ideally from within the banking or insurance sector.

The IT Operations Platforms and Security Lead is responsible for overseeing the organization’s IT operations, ensuring the stability, continuity, security, and efficiency of its technology platforms within a global commercial insurance environment.

The role involves managing Microsoft technologies (Microsoft 365, Azure, Exchange Online) and broader enterprise IT systems, networking, security, data management, and third-party platforms supporting global operations.

This position requires a proactive leader capable of driving operational excellence, managing security risks, implementing service improvements, leading transformational projects, and collaborating with stakeholders and vendors to deliver high-quality IT services.

Key responsibilities include ensuring outsourced and cloud services are robust, cost-effective, and aligned with business needs, enhancing cybersecurity, driving operational change, and ensuring compliance with relevant regulations.

Security, Compliance & Risk Management

• Define and enforce cloud security policies, identity management, and access controls.
• Oversee the adoption of zero-trust security principles.
• Manage IAM including Azure AD, MFA, Conditional Access, SSO, and PAM.
• Lead threat monitoring, detection, and response using cloud-native security solutions.
• Ensure compliance with frameworks like ISO 27001, NIST, GDPR, SOC2, FCA.
• Conduct regular security assessments, penetration tests, and vulnerability management.
• Oversee endpoint security, cloud network, and API security.
• Maintain DR and BCP plans with biannual testing.

Technical Experience

• Microsoft Azure infrastructure design and administration.
• Microsoft AD (Entra), Server, and SQL experience.
• O365 administration and design.
• Global software patching via Intune.
• Firewall management (Azure, CheckPoint, Cloudflare), DNS, VPN, WiFi, LAN design.
• Software Defined Networking (Cisco, Meraki, Versa).

Key Skills

• Microsoft 365 & Azure management.
• Security frameworks and compliance (ISO 27001, NIST, GDPR, SOC2).
• IAM expertise.
• Threat management and incident response.
• Network and infrastructure security.
• IT service management and automation.
• Operational and leadership skills, including vendor management, project leadership, and process improvement.
• Problem-solving, stakeholder engagement, resilience, and adaptability.

The client is a financial organization based in the City of London. This is a hybrid role requiring 3 days in the office. Candidates must have a Bachelor's degree in IT or similar. The salary range is £85K - £95K plus benefits.

Please send your CV in Word format along with your salary expectations and notice period.