Principle Cyber Security Specialist

Vanquis Bank; Chatham; Hybrid; GBP 60,000 - 90,000; Full time

Job summary

A leading financial institution is seeking a Principle Cyber Intelligence Specialist to enhance its security posture by ensuring all assets are secure. This hybrid role requires collaboration with colleagues and external providers to provide security consultancy. Ideal candidates will have a strong background in information security, excellent communication skills, and a robust understanding of cybersecurity frameworks. Enjoy competitive benefits and flexible working hours.

Benefits

25 days holiday (up to 30)

Pension contributions up to 10%

Enhanced maternity and paternity leave

2 paid volunteering days

LinkedIn Learning access

Private Medical Insurance option

Annual discretionary bonus

Discounted gym membership

Paid birthday leave

Work abroad for up to 20 days

Flexible working arrangements

Career development opportunities

Financial wellbeing support

Qualifications

• Strong understanding of cybersecurity standards and frameworks.
• Experience with Security technologies.
• Ability to build relationships with technical and business stakeholders.

Responsibilities

• Ensure Group assets are secured appropriately.
• Provide expert advice on minimizing impact from threats.
• Develop and review information security standards and guidelines.

Skills

Information security frameworks

Cybersecurity standards and frameworks

Excellent communication skills

Education

Relevant degree or equivalent experience

Tools

Azure

NIST

PCI-DSS

Job description

Job Details

Job Title: Principle Cyber Intelligence Specialist

Contract Type: Permanent

Location: Chatham/London

Working Pattern: Hybrid—typically a couple of days a week in the office. Part‑time or flexible arrangements are considered to support work‑life balance. A fear of losing your current working flexibility shouldn’t hinder you from applying for new opportunities, which is why we aim to match your existing flexible working arrangements where possible.

What We Offer

• Holidays: 25 days holiday up to 30 days (depending on service)
• Pension: We know it is important to save for the future, that is why we will contribute up to 10%
• Maternity/Paternity: We realise that family time is important, we offer enhanced maternity (after successful completion of probation) and 4 weeks paternity leave
• Volunteering: 2 paid days to ‘give back’ to the charity of your choice
• Development: LinkedIn Learning for all
• Finance: Snoop Premium available to all colleagues
• Medical: Opportunity to opt in for Private Medical Insurance
• Bonus: Discretionary annual bonus
• Flexible Working Hours: We understand the importance of work‑life balance and offer flexible working arrangements.
• Career Development: We provide opportunities for continuous learning and professional growth, including mentorship programmes and training sessions.
• Inclusive Culture: We are dedicated to creating an inclusive environment where everyone can thrive. Our diversity and inclusion initiatives ensure that all voices are heard and valued.
• Paid Birthday Leave: Your birthday, your rules – take the day off and celebrate in style!
• Workations: Work abroad for up to 20 days a year in approved countries.
• Paid Negotiable Leave for Parents and Caregivers: Paid neonatal and carriers leave.
• Learning & Development: Access to LinkedIn Learning for all colleagues.
• Financial Wellbeing: Stay on top of your finances with free Snoop Premium subscription.
• Healthcare: Take care of your wellbeing with our easy self‑pay Denplan scheme for dental care and the option to choose Private Medical Insurance.
• Discretionary Bonus Scheme: Annual discretionary bonus.
• Competitive Base Salary and Rewards: Competitive base salary and rewards.
• Perks at Work: A perks platform of over 30,000 unique discounts.
• Staying Active: Discounted gym membership.
• Health Insurance: BUPA GP Service.

Job Description

As a Principle Information Security Specialist you will be responsible for ensuring Group assets are secured appropriately based on their importance to the Group. You will enhance the Group’s security posture and ensure all people, processes and technology operate in a secure manner by working collaboratively with internal colleagues and external providers, providing security consultancy and design expertise.

Key Responsibilities

Information Security

• To provide expert advice and guidance on how to minimise the impact to the Group of potential threats to the network or assets.
• To liaise with potential or current partners and suppliers to the Group and evaluate the information security levels of the company or products.
• As required provide leadership, mentoring and guidance to the Service Desk and Infrastructure engineers in the event of a Security alert.
• As required support and investigate the vulnerability of the Group to potential malicious attacks and recommend defensive actions.

Policy, Standard, Procedures and Guidelines

• To provide SME knowledge to ensure that information security policies are implemented, enforced, monitored and complied with and to ensure the Group embraces a culture of Information Security.
• To develop and review Information Security Standards and Guidelines within the Group in line with Policies and Industry best practices.
• To develop and ensure security procedures are approved that provide the more detailed steps that service areas need to adhere to in order to implement that Information Security policies.
• To provide SME knowledge and leadership support to the Security GRC team to deliver.

Risk Management

• To work collaboratively with the Infrastructure Solution Architects, Information Security pillars and IT GRC Team to provide advice and guidance on all Information Security Risks with regards to areas such as infrastructure, changes to processes or software implementations.
• To expertly critique the high‑level and low‑level designs within projects. Working on all such projects taking ownership of delivering Information Security throughout their lifecycle to ensure the Group meets compliance and regulatory requirements.
• To take ownership ensure that regular risk assessments are completed in departments and the results are recorded and reported to the correct senior leaders and forums.
• To provide expert guidance in taking timely action resulting from any risk assessment recommendations. This may involve liaison with other departments, partners or suppliers. Monitor and elevate any issues of non‑compliance to the Information Security Leadership.

Keep Abreast of Data Security Trends

• Be aware of current and possible future trends in information security and take into account current Group procedures, to define and develop procedures and policies for appropriate and secure use of the Group's IT systems.
• Adherence to standards, including NIST and Information Technology, PCI‑DSS and Infrastructure Library (ITIL).

What Will Make You Stand Out?

• Be able to build working relationships with both technical and business stakeholders, gaining their respect and trust based on your knowledge and professionalism.
• Experience of working in a large company and/or Enterprise environment – with understanding of multiple stakeholders and how to manage change.
• An understanding of cloud technology (preferably Azure).
• Excellent communication and presentation skills are paramount, alongside workload delegate management.
• Strong understanding of cybersecurity standards and frameworks e.g. ISO27001, NIST, CIS, OWASP, SOC2.
• Information security frameworks.
• Experience with Security technologies.

Why Join Us

• Flexible Working Hours – we understand the importance of work‑life balance and offer flexible working arrangements.
• Career Development – we provide opportunities for continuous learning and professional growth, including mentorship programmes and training sessions.
• Inclusive Culture – we are dedicated to creating an inclusive environment where everyone can thrive. Our diversity and inclusion initiatives ensure that all voices are heard and valued.

Who We Are

At Vanquis, we have a simple purpose: to deliver caring banking so our customers can make the most of life’s opportunities. Established in 1880, we’re now a FTSE All Share company and leading specialist bank. We lend responsibly, providing tailored products and services to over 1.75 million UK customers. We take care of our colleagues as well as our customers, working hard to create a rewarding and supportive work environment. That means competitive salaries, benefits, and a Group‑wide recognition scheme. Everyone can enrol in our pension and after six months, you can join our ‘Buy as You Earn’ scheme.

Equal Opportunity Employer

Vanquis Bank is an Equal Opportunity Employer. Here at Vanquis Banking Group, we embrace everyone's unique strengths and identities to be themselves at work. Regardless of how you identify yourself, your sexual orientation, marital or civil partner status, race, colour, nationality, ethnic or national background, faith, disability, or age – your experiences and background help enrich our teams, and most importantly help support our customers in the best way possible. At the end of the day, it's our people that help us to fulfil the reason why we're here in the first place: to help put people on a path to a better everyday life. If there's anything we can do in the recruitment process to help you achieve your best, get in touch. Whether it's a copy of our application form in another format or additional assistance, we're available to help. You can contact us at [e-mail].