Cyber Security Lead in Leeds

NHS England's Cyber Operations works to strengthen cyber resilience across the NHS, supporting the safe delivery of care and maintaining public trust in the health and care system. This role sits within the Service Integration and Ownership (SIO) team, part of Cyber Operations, which oversees a portfolio of nationally provided cyber security services. The SIO portfolio spans technical security, assurance and training services, helping NHS organisations identify and manage cyber risks, address security gaps and improve operational resilience.

As Cyber Security Lead, you will provide cyber security expertise, service leadership and assurance across the portfolio, leading the development, delivery, performance and continual improvement of assigned services. You will work closely with service owners, technical teams, suppliers and stakeholders across NHS England and the wider health and care system to manage risks, strengthen service effectiveness and support organisations in improving their cyber resilience. The role also involves providing proportionate advice and constructive challenge, producing meaningful performance and assurance reporting, managing supplier relationships and leading team members to deliver agreed objectives. You will contribute to the wider SIO portfolio as priorities evolve, applying your cyber security knowledge, leadership skills and professional judgement to support effective national cyber security services.

Main duties of the job

• Lead the development, delivery, performance management and continual improvement of assigned SIO cyber security services.
• Provide specialist cyber security advice, assurance and constructive challenge to support risk management and effective decision-making.
• Work with service owners, technical teams and NHS organisations to identify, assess, manage and remediate cyber security risks.
• Monitor service performance, risks and dependencies, producing meaningful metrics, reports and assurance updates for senior leaders and governance forums.
• Manage relationships with suppliers and service providers, addressing performance issues, risks and dependencies to support effective service delivery.
• Build and maintain strong relationships with stakeholders across NHS England and the wider health and care system.
• Support NHS organisations to improve their cyber resilience, strengthen security practices and maximise the value of nationally provided cyber services.
• Identify opportunities to improve service effectiveness, user experience and operational resilience across the SIO portfolio.
• Deputise for the Head of SIO as required, providing leadership and supporting the effective management of the wider portfolio.
• Line manage and develop team members, setting objectives, monitoring performance and supporting professional development.
• Contribute to the delivery and improvement of wider national cyber security services, adapting to changing priorities across the portfolio.

About us

NHS England has a wide range of statutory functions, responsibilities and regulatory powers. These are focused on supporting the wider NHS to deliver high quality care, as well as doing those things that are best done once for the whole NHS. Our staff bring expertise across clinical, operational, commissioning, technology, data science, cyber security, software engineering, education, and commercial specialisms -- enabling us to design and deliver high-quality NHS services.

It is desirable for the successful candidate to hold ITIL foundation qualification or have an equivalent qualification in Service Management. Please ensure your supporting statement includes demonstrable evidence and specific examples on how you meet the criteria for each of the key skills specified. This will be used in both the shortlisting and interview processes.

Important: Please be aware there are residency requirements you need to meet: All NHS England Cyber Security personnel must hold Security Clearance level as a minimum. To meet National Security Vetting requirements, SC clearances require 5 years continuous UK residency. In certain cases, this can be reduced to three years continuous UK residency, with additional overseas checks for the previous two years. Candidates who were posted abroad for service with HM Government, Armed Forces or within a UK government role - will still be considered. Please make sure you meet these requirements before applying for this role. You don't need to have SC already, however, failure to achieve the requirements for SC after offer will result in the job offer being withdrawn.

Person Specification

Knowledge

• Detailed knowledge of the processes, tools and techniques of information security management, ability to deploy and monitor information security systems, as well as detect, resolve and prevent violations of IT security, to protect organisational data.
• Specialist knowledge of and the ability to utilise tools and techniques for assessing the effectiveness of information security measures, identifying potential risk exposures, and protecting the availability, confidentiality and audit trails of information from destruction or manipulation.
• Extensive knowledge of techniques, roles, and responsibilities in providing technical or business guidance to clients, both internal and external; ability to apply this knowledge appropriately to diverse situations.
• Detailed knowledge of tools, techniques, approaches and processes of cybersecurity risk management; ability to ensure organisational network operation and minimise negative effect by cybersecurity risks.
• Extensive knowledge of the strategies, accountability framework, organizational structure and processes used to encourage proper behaviour in IT activities and operations, and ability to implement IT systems and controls to meet business needs and requirements.

Qualifications & Experience

• Masters level degree in Cyber Security, or relevant subject, or equivalent level of experience.
• Evidence of continuous professional development.
• CISSP Certification or equivalent experience.

This post is subject to the Rehabilitation of Offenders Act (Exceptions Order) 1975 and as such it will be necessary for a submission for Disclosure to be made to the Disclosure and Barring Service (formerly known as CRB) to check for any previous criminal convictions.