Operational Technology (OT) Practice Lead

Sword Group; Aberdeen City; On-site; GBP 90,000 - 140,000; Full time

Job summary

Sword Group is seeking an Operational Technology (OT) Practice Lead to shape the technical direction, capability and growth of our OT Security practice across Critical National Infrastructure environments in the UK.

You will lead complex OT security projects, provide governance, and drive pre-sales engagement while developing people and driving long-term strategy for the OT practice. Expect collaboration with customers, teams and senior stakeholders.

Qualifications

• Proven ability to lead OT security projects in critical environments.
• Experience defining methodologies for OT security assessments and remediation.
• Strong understanding of regulatory frameworks and industry standards.

Responsibilities

• Lead delivery of complex OT security projects and consultancies across the full lifecycle.
• Provide technical leadership and governance for OT engagements to ensure fit-for-purpose solutions.
• Define standardised OT security assessment methodologies and remediation frameworks.
• Lead OT cyber risk assessments and remediation activities, balancing operational continuity with security requirements.
• Advise on OT architecture, industrial networking and secure network topologies.
• Collaborate with Sales, Project Managers and customers to shape proposals and delivery strategy.

Skills

OT security leadership

Technical governance

Pre-sales engagement

Customer consultancy

Project delivery

Security assessments

Job description

At Sword, we help power, secure and transform the organisations that keep the UK running. Supporting customers across Critical National Infrastructure, energy, public sector and enterprise markets, we combine deep industry expertise with leading technology services spanning managed services, cyber security, cloud, data, AI and digital transformation. Join Sword and you'll be part of a team solving complex challenges, delivering real-world impact and working alongside talented colleagues who care deeply about quality, collaboration and customer success.

About the Role:

As an Operational Technology Practice Lead, you will play a pivotal role in shaping the technical direction, capability and growth of our OT Security practice. Combining leadership, consultancy, technical governance and commercial awareness, you will lead the successful delivery of complex and high-risk projects while supporting business growth through pre-sales engagement and strategic customer consultancy. You will work closely with customers, project teams, sales stakeholders and fellow practice leaders to ensure Sword continues to deliver high-quality solutions, develop technical excellence and maintain its reputation as a trusted partner. The role also carries responsibility for developing people, building capability and driving the long-term strategy of the practice. With a particular focus on Operational Technology and Critical National Infrastructure environments, you will provide specialist leadership across OT cyber security assessments, risk management, remediation and technical delivery, helping customers navigate complex operational, regulatory and security requirements. Due to the nature of the role and the customer environments you will support, the successful candidate will be required to undergo security vetting, including NPPV3 and Security Check (SC) clearance.

As an Operational Technology (OT) Practice Lead, you will:

• Lead the successful delivery of complex and high-risk OT security projects and consultancy engagements through active involvement across the full solution lifecycle.
• Provide technical leadership and governance across OT security engagements, ensuring solutions and recommendations are fit for purpose, maintainable and appropriate for live industrial environments.
• Define, develop and standardise OT security assessment methodologies, remediation frameworks, technical approaches and delivery standards across the practice.
• Lead and oversee complex OT cyber security gap analyses, risk assessments and remediation activities, considering operational continuity alongside cyber security requirements.
• Provide specialist guidance on OT architecture, industrial networking and the design and assessment of secure network topologies.
• Guide customers, particularly those operating within Critical National Infrastructure, in understanding and applying relevant cyber security standards, frameworks and regulatory requirements, including ISA/IEC 62443, the NCSC Cyber Assessment Framework (CAF), NIS Regulations and NIST Cybersecurity Framework.
• Conduct technical quality reviews and provide appropriate approval, governance and oversight for assigned projects and customer engagements.
• Develop and execute the strategic direction of the OT practice, strengthening capability, maturity, delivery consistency and subject matter expertise.
• Coach, mentor and support OT security consultants, engineers and wider project teams, helping enhance technical capability and professional development.
• Manage line management responsibilities for assigned team members, supporting career growth, development planning and high performance.
• Act as a senior technical escalation point, providing leadership and specialist guidance where required.
• Work collaboratively with Sales and Business Development teams to support bids, proposals and growth opportunities.
• Contribute to pre-sales activity, helping shape technically achievable, high-quality OT security solutions and customer proposals.
• Engage directly with customers to understand their operational and security requirements, discuss technical approaches and provide trusted consultancy advice.
• Translate complex OT cyber risks into meaningful business and operational terms, including potential safety, environmental, production and regulatory impacts.
• Collaborate with Project Managers to support planning, estimation, resourcing and successful delivery.
• Promote technical excellence, best practice, knowledge sharing and continuous improvement across the OT practice.
• Support the ongoing growth, reputation and commercial success of Sword's OT security capability through quality delivery, technical leadership and trusted customer relationships.
• Significant experience securing Operational Technology (OT), Industrial Control Systems (ICS) and industrial environments, gained across multiple technologies, vendor platforms and live operational sites. Proven experience leading the delivery of complex OT cyber security proje