Lead Cyber Security Monitoring in Oldham

This role sits within the Security Operations Centre and responds to events found as part of the protective monitoring processes led directly by DVSA or its service provider. It also responds to incidents of a technical nature in line with DVSA Incident Management procedures. It restores normal service operation as quickly as possible and minimises any adverse effect on business operations. This ensures that the best possible levels of service quality and availability are maintained, whilst containing any security breach to allow for forensic analysis to establish cause. It establishes action plans in collaboration with other managers in the team and wider DVSA. It effectively manages, investigates and reports on potential/actual failures to comply with security requirements, and identifies process improvements.

Joining our department comes with many benefits, including:

• Employer pension contribution of 28.97% of your salary.
• 25 days annual leave, increasing by 1 day each year of service (up to a maximum of 30 days annual leave), plus 8 bank holidays and a privilege day for the King’s birthday.
• Flexible working options where we encourage a great work-life balance.

Your responsibilities will include, but aren’t limited to:

• Leading the rapid detection, investigation, and response to cyber security incidents, ensuring threats are contained, impact is minimised, and incidents are handled in line with DVSA policies, legal requirements, and best-practice security standards, including performing or arranging digital forensics to support evidence gathering and preservation.
• Driving proactive cyber defence through threat hunting and vulnerability management, using threat intelligence to identify emerging risks, suspicious activity, and weaknesses in DVSA’s security posture.
• Manage post-incident review, including root cause analysis, to feedback information and so improve monitoring and evidencing need for policy change as necessary.
• Managing and improving SOC processes and protective monitoring capabilities, ensuring DVSA and its suppliers meet contractual and policy obligations for incident reporting and security operations.
• Planning, leading, and evaluating incident response exercises, including red-team activity, to strengthen organisational readiness and validate response procedures.
• Providing expert advice to senior leaders and technical teams, helping them understand risks, make informed decisions, and embed strong security practices.
• Building strong relationships across DVSA and with external partners, including government departments, regulators, and third-party suppliers.
• Producing clear, high-quality reporting and communication, including incident summaries, performance statistics, lessons learned, and recommendations for continuous improvement.
• Demonstrating leadership by guiding, mentoring, and supporting SOC analysts and colleagues, acting as a role model for professional standards, technical excellence, and Civil Service values.

Great line management is important to us as an organisation, and we will equip and support line managers to develop the skills they need. We aim to empower line managers to create teams where people can flourish and deliver excellent outcomes for the public.

For further information on the role, please read the attached role profile. Please note that the role profile is for information purposes only - whilst all elements are relevant to the role, they may not all be assessed during the recruitment process. This job advert will detail exactly what will be assessed during the recruitment process.