Head of Cyber Defence Centre in Bristol

• Job Title
• Head of Cyber Defence Centre
• Location
• Edinburgh, Leeds, Manchester, or London
• Salary
• £126,523 - £148,850 (outside London) | £146,591 - £172,460 (London)
• Hours
• Full-time (35 hours per week)
• Working Pattern

Hybrid: at least two days per week (or 40% of time) at an office site. Workplace adjustments are available for disabled colleagues.

Responsibilities

Lead the Cyber Defence Centre, an engineering-first lab that designs, builds, and operates resilient, large‑scale security capabilities for the Group.

Provide strategic direction for cyber defence, detection engineering, threat hunting and incident response; drive continuous improvement of security operations platforms, tooling and processes.

Lead a high‑performing team, strengthen operational resilience, coordinate effective response to cyber threats and incidents, champion a threat‑led defence approach, and shape a world‑class security operation that enables the Group to work faster and more safely.

Qualifications

• Deep technical understanding of cyber defence, security operations, detection engineering and incident response.
• Proven experience leading and enhancing security operations across complex enterprise environments.
• Strong security operations management experience, including Continuous Detection and Continuous Response capabilities.
• Demonstrated leadership of large‑scale incident response, threat hunting and advanced detection engineering functions.
• Ability to shape strategic direction and lead cross‑functional teams towards common outcomes.
• Strong understanding of cyber threats and threat‑led defence strategies.
• Experience managing operational risk and collaborating with senior business and technology stakeholders.
• Proven track record of building, developing and leading high‑performing teams.
• Ability to drive operational improvements, cultural change and organisational transformation.
• Strong customer focus with a commitment to delivering secure customer outcomes.
• Excellent communication skills with the ability to translate technical issues into clear business priorities and decisions.
• A collaborative, inclusive leadership style with high levels of integrity and accountability.

Desirable Skills

• Experience leading large‑scale security operations within a highly regulated environment.
• Experience driving enterprise‑wide security transformation programmes.
• Strong understanding of modern security operations platforms, tooling and automation capabilities.
• Experience shaping engineering‑led security operating models.
• Knowledge of industry‑leading security resilience, detection and response practices.
• Experience fostering cultures of innovation, continuous learning and operational excellence.

EEO Statement

We offer reasonable workplace adjustments for colleagues with disabilities, including flexibility in office attendance, location and working patterns.

As a Disability Confident Leader, we guarantee interviews for a fair and proportionate number of applicants who meet the minimum criteria for the role and have a disability, long‑term health or neurodivergent condition, through the Disability Confident Scheme.

We provide reasonable adjustments throughout the recruitment process to reduce or remove barriers.

Benefits

• Generous pension contribution of up to 15%.
• Annual bonus award, subject to Group performance.
• Share schemes including free shares.
• Benefits you can adapt to your lifestyle, such as discounted shopping.
• 30 days’ holiday, with bank holidays on top.
• Range of wellbeing initiatives and generous parental leave policies.
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