SOC Manager

iO Associates; United Kingdom; Remote; GBP 100,000 - 125,000; Full time

Job summary

A leading company in the social housing sector is seeking an experienced Interim SOC Manager to enhance security operations and incident response. The role involves leading a small SOC team, ensuring effective monitoring, and delivering cyber incident response processes in a remote-first environment for an initial contract of 3-6 months.

Qualifications

• Strong SOC Manager or Lead background in mid-large organizations.
• Hands-on with Microsoft Defender & Sentinel.
• Experience in delivering cyber incident response plans.

Responsibilities

• Lead daily SOC operations; ensure effective monitoring and alerting.
• Deliver and embed cyber incident response processes and playbooks.
• Align SOC operations with GRC, Architecture, and Security Engineering.

Skills

Leadership

Incident Response

Communication

Stakeholder Engagement

Change Management

Tools

Microsoft Defender

Microsoft Sentinel

Job description

Social network you want to login/join with:

Remote-first (Occasional travel to office)

3-6 Months Initial Contract

Start: July | Interviews from 1st July

iO are supporting a social housing organisation seeking an experienced Interim SOC Manager to drive tactical improvements across their security operations and incident response.

You'll lead a small SOC team (1 senior, 2 analysts), work alongside a third-party MSSP, and help the organisation progress toward NIST CSF 3.5 maturity.

Key Responsibilities

• Lead daily SOC operations; ensure effective monitoring and alerting
• Deliver and embed cyber incident response processes and playbooks
• Work closely with third-party MSSP and internal security functions
• Align SOC operations with GRC, Architecture, and Security Engineering
• Drive outcomes across BAU and transformation activities

Essential Experience & Skills

• Strong background as a SOC Manager or Lead in mid-large organisations
• Hands-on experience with Microsoft Defender & Sentinel
• Proven track record delivering cyber incident response plans and playbooks
• Experience working with or managing third-party security providers
• Comfortable in tactical, operational delivery roles (not just strategic)
• Excellent communication skills, stakeholder engagement, and emotional intelligence
• Able to work autonomously and embed change in fast-paced environments
• Experience with security audits, compliance, and risk a bonus
• Public sector or housing exposure is helpful but not essential

Engagement Info

• 3-6 months
• Remote-first with flexible attendance if needed
• Working closely with the IT Director and other IT functions

Please note: This role requires specific experience in a SOC Manager or Security Operations leadership position, with a skill set aligned to the requirements listed above.
We will be contacting candidates who closely match the criteria.
If you do not hear from us by Monday, 30th June, please assume your application has not been shortlisted on this occasion.
Thank you for your interest!