Lead Security Operations Engineer - Security Operations Centre (SOC)

Ofsted; Birmingham; Hybrid; GBP 46,000; Full time

Job summary

Ofsted is seeking a Lead Security Operations Engineer to manage their Security Operation Centre (SOC). The successful candidate will oversee cyber security incidents and lead the implementation of security measures, contributing to a supportive team focused on flexibility and inclusivity. This position offers an attractive package including a competitive salary, pension contributions, and additional benefits.

Benefits

Civil Service Pension Scheme

32.5 days annual leave + 8 bank holidays

Flexible working hours

Qualifications

• Minimum 5 years’ experience in IT with an emphasis on infrastructure, networks, and cyber security operations.
• Knowledge and strong hands-on experience in a SOC environment.
• Experience building use cases and managing security incidents.

Responsibilities

• Manage Ofsted's Security Operation Centre (SOC).
• Monitor technology and information estate, mitigate and remediate incursions.
• Lead the response to all cyber security incidents.

Skills

Analytical Skills

Problem Solving

Experience in SOC

Education

Security-related certifications

Tools

Microsoft Azure Sentinel

Job description

Lead Security Operations Engineer - Security Operations Centre (SOC)

Ofsted Birmingham, England, United Kingdom

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Lead Security Operations Engineer - Security Operations Centre (SOC)

Ofsted Birmingham, England, United Kingdom

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23 Stephenson Street, Birmingham or Piccadilly Gate, Manchester

Job Summary

We are hiring a Lead Security Operations Engineer – Security Operations Centre (SOC) to join our Technology Team.

Reporting to the Principal Cloud and Security Operations Engineer, the postholder will be responsible for the day-to-day management of Ofsted’s Security Operation Centre (SOC).

The successful candidate will monitor the organisations technology and information estate, whilst containing, mitigating and remediating any incursions. Additionally, they will lead the identification, analysis and response to all cyber security incidents within Ofsted, undertake threat hunting and maintain incident response processes.

This is a fantastic opportunity to further your experience in Ofsted’s well-established team. The post holder will work with high-achieving professionals at all levels, surrounded by a friendly and supportive team. They will have access to amazing benefits, such as flexible working hours, the Civil Service Pension Scheme, and 32.5 days annual leave + 8 bank holidays. We offer a hybrid working model, so you may also choose to spend a proportion of time working from home.

Job Description

Please refer to the job specification for further information.

Please refer to the job specification for further information.

Person specification

Please refer to the job specification for further information.

Qualifications

Security-related certifications (e.g., CompTIA Security+, SSCP, CEH, CISSP) or a minimum of 5 years’ experience in IT, with a strong emphasis on infrastructure, networks, and cyber security operations.

Behaviours

We'll assess you against these behaviours during the selection process:

• Delivering at Pace
• Making Effective Decisions
• Managing a Quality Service
• Communicating and Influencing
  
  

Technical skills

We'll assess you against these technical skills during the selection process:

• Knowledge and strong hands-on experience working in a SOC environment using Microsoft Azure Sentinel to monitor, triage, and respond to security alerts and incidents.
• Experience building and maintaining use cases, analytic rules, and automated playbooks in Sentinel.
• Proven experience in triaging alerts, managing security incidents, and escalating issues appropriately in a structured SOC environment.
• Strong analytical and problem-solving skills.
  
  

Alongside your salary of £45,040, Office for Standards in Education, Children's Services and Skills contributes £13,048 towards you being a member of the Civil Service Defined Benefit Pension scheme. Find out what benefits a Civil Service Pension provides.

Full details of the benefits available can be found in our Ofsted Offer brochure.

Ofsted is devoted to equality, diversity and inclusion. Within our Ofsted Strategy 2023-2027 we have stated that we will improve the representation of under-represented groups across the organisation and publish our progress on this annually. We are always looking to expand on our diverse workforce by recruiting candidates from varied backgrounds and differing experiences. We are proud to be a Disability Confident – Leader, we continually engage with our 5 staff networks for protected characteristics, and highlight the work of our Equalities, Diversity and Inclusion (EDI) Group. We ensure all candidates are treated with fair and open competition, with all appointments being made on merit and we use our Disability Confident Scheme (DCS) to provide assurance to all candidates of this.

Selection process details

This vacancy is using Success Profiles (opens in a new window), and will assess your Behaviours, Experience and Technical skills.

Application And Shortlisting

The selection panel will assess your application based on your evidence you have provided against the essential criteria as set out in the person specification.

You will also be asked to provide information within the “Employer/Activity History” section of the application form. This information is equivalent to the information you would provide on a CV setting out your career history (this will be used in the sifting process).

Assessment and Interview

Candidates who pass the benchmark at the shortlisting stage will be invited to an assessment and interview where they will be assessed against a mixture of the Civil Service behaviours and the experience/technical skills set out in section 3 of the job specification.

The most suitable candidates will be invited to attend an assessment and interview via Microsoft Teams on week commencing Monday 14 July 2025.

Feedback will only be provided if you attend an interview or assessment.

This vacancy is using Success Profiles (opens in a new window), and will assess your Behaviours, Experience and Technical skills.

Security

Successful candidates must undergo a criminal record check.

People working with government assets must complete baseline personnel security standard (opens in new window) checks.

Successful candidates must undergo a criminal record check.

People working with government assets must complete baseline personnel security standard (opens in new window) checks.

Nationality requirements

This Job Is Broadly Open To The Following Groups

• UK nationals
• nationals of the Republic of Ireland
• nationals of Commonwealth countries who have the right to work in the UK
• nationals of the EU, Switzerland, Norway, Iceland or Liechtenstein and family members of those nationalities with settled or pre-settled status under the European Union Settlement Scheme (EUSS) (opens in a new window)
• nationals of the EU, Switzerland, Norway, Iceland or Liechtenstein and family members of those nationalities who have made a valid application for settled or pre-settled status under the European Union Settlement Scheme (EUSS)
• individuals with limited leave to remain or indefinite leave to remain who were eligible to apply for EUSS on or before 31 December 2020
• Turkish nationals, and certain family members of Turkish nationals, who have accrued the right to work in the Civil Service
  
  

Further information on nationality requirements (opens in a new window)

Working for the Civil Service

The Civil Service Code (opens in a new window) sets out the standards of behaviour expected of civil servants.

We recruit by merit on the basis of fair and open competition, as outlined in the Civil Service Commission's recruitment principles (opens in a new window).

The Civil Service embraces diversity and promotes equal opportunities. As such, we run a Disability Confident Scheme (DCS) for candidates with disabilities who meet the minimum selection criteria.

The Civil Service also offers a Redeployment Interview Scheme to civil servants who are at risk of redundancy, and who meet the minimum requirements for the advertised vacancy.

The Civil Service Code (opens in a new window) sets out the standards of behaviour expected of civil servants.

We recruit by merit on the basis of fair and open competition, as outlined in the Civil Service Commission's recruitment principles (opens in a new window).

The Civil Service embraces diversity and promotes equal opportunities. As such, we run a Disability Confident Scheme (DCS) for candidates with disabilities who meet the minimum selection criteria.

The Civil Service also offers a Redeployment Interview Scheme to civil servants who are at risk of redundancy, and who meet the minimum requirements for the advertised vacancy.

Diversity and Inclusion

The Civil Service is committed to attract, retain and invest in talent wherever it is found. To learn more please see the Civil Service People Plan (opens in a new window) and the Civil Service Diversity and Inclusion Strategy (opens in a new window).

This vacancy is part of the Great Place to Work for Veterans (opens in a new window) initiative.

Once this job has closed, the job advert will no longer be available. You may want to save a copy for your records.

Contact point for applicants

Job Contact

• Name : People Services Delivery
• Email : [e-mail]
• Telephone : [phone]
  
  

Recruitment team

• Email : [e-mail]
  
  

Further information

If you feel your application has not been treated in accordance with the Recruitment Principles, and you wish to make a complaint, you should email Ofsted recruitment at [e-mail] in the first instance. If you are not satisfied with the response you receive from the Department, you can contact the Civil Service Commission at: https://civilservicecommission.independent.gov.uk/recrutiment/

Seniority level

• Seniority level

  Mid-Senior level

Employment type

• Employment type

  Full-time

Job function

• Job function

  Engineering and Information Technology

• Industries

  Government Administration

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