Security Operations Specialist Lead

Barclay Simpson; England; On-site; GBP 108,000 - 132,000; Full time

Job summary

Barclay Simpson is seeking a Security Operations Specialist Lead to support its Cyber Defence team in the United Kingdom. You will act as Deputy to the Head of Global Cyber Operations, overseeing day-to-day delivery across a global landscape, ensuring consistency, quality, and resilience in detection and response capabilities.

The role combines hands-on leadership with strategic governance, requiring an operator who can drive improvements across processes and tooling while maintaining strong

Responsibilities

• Provide hands-on operational leadership across global cyber defence teams, ensuring consistent and effective service delivery across all regions.
• Take ownership of Security Operations Centre (SOC) performance, driving service quality, operational metrics, and continuous improvement initiatives.
• Lead the response to major cyber incidents, ensuring coordinated execution, timely escalation, and effective resolution.
• Oversee third-party SOC and MDR providers, holding them accountable for performance, service quality, and contractual obligations.
• Lead, mentor, and develop senior managers, supporting long-term capability building and succession planning.
• Drive improvements in operational processes, tooling, and workflows to increase efficiency and effectiveness.
• Ensure clear accountability and alignment across detection, response, and supporting cyber functions.
• Partner closely with regional and functional leaders to strengthen collaboration and embed best practices.
• Support the Head of Cyber Operations in delivering strategic priorities through strong operational execution and insight.

Job description

Financial Service firm seeks a Security Operations Specialist Lead to join its Cyber Defence team. Acting as Deputy to the Head of Global Cyber Operations, you will be responsible for overseeing the day-to-day delivery of cyber defence services across a global landscape. This role requires a strong operator who can ensure consistency, quality, and resilience across detection and response capabilities while maintaining robust governance standards.

Key Responsibilities

1. Provide hands-on operational leadership across global cyber defence teams, ensuring consistent and effective service delivery across all regions.
2. Take ownership of Security Operations Centre (SOC) performance, driving service quality, operational metrics, and continuous improvement initiatives.
3. Lead the response to major cyber incidents, ensuring coordinated execution, timely escalation, and effective resolution.
4. Oversee third-party SOC and MDR providers, holding them accountable for performance, service quality, and contractual obligations.
5. Lead, mentor, and develop senior managers, supporting long-term capability building and succession planning.
6. Drive improvements in operational processes, tooling, and workflows to increase efficiency and effectiveness.
7. Ensure clear accountability and alignment across detection, response, and supporting cyber functions.
8. Partner closely with regional and functional leaders to strengthen collaboration and embed best practices.
9. Support the Head of Cyber Operations in delivering strategic priorities through strong operational execution and insight.

This is an excellent role, with a balance of technical and strategic implementation.

X3 days a week in Surrey, £120,000 base + excellent bonus offering