Head of Cyber Security

Head of Cyber Security

Edinburgh Full-Time 48000 - 72000 £ / year (est.) No home office possible
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Nigel Wright Recruitment

At a Glance

  • Tasks: Lead the cyber security strategy and manage daily security activities.
  • Company: Join a large, regulated consumer services organisation in the North of England.
  • Benefits: Enjoy a strategic role with opportunities for travel and professional growth.
  • Why this job: Make a real impact on cyber resilience and compliance while leading a dynamic team.
  • Qualifications: Proven experience in cyber security leadership within regulated environments is essential.
  • Other info: This role requires strong communication skills and a passion for innovation.

The predicted salary is between 48000 - 72000 £ per year.

We are delighted to support our client, a large and complex regulated consumer services organisation based in the North of England, in the search for an experienced Head of Cyber Security to lead its enterprise-wide cyber strategy. This pivotal role is accountable for the organisation’s cyber resilience, regulatory compliance, and protection of critical services and data. Providing both leadership and technical expertise, you will play a key role within the technology leadership team and will be the lead in running of day to day security activities, achieving credibility and buy in from stakeholders across the business.

You’ll advise senior leadership and the board on cyber risks, drive ISO 27001 alignment, and lead incident response and continuous improvement initiatives. This is a strategic and hands-on leadership role, ideal for someone passionate about embedding security into the heart of business operations. Travel to offices across the North will be required.

The Role

  • Strategic Leadership: Develop and implement a cyber strategy aligned with business goals and regulatory expectations.
  • Risk & Compliance: Manage cyber risks, ensure compliance with GDPR, NIS2, and maintain ISO 27001 readiness.
  • Governance & Advisory: Advise the Board and Executive on cyber threats, resilience, and strategic decisions.
  • Incident Response: Lead response to cyber incidents, ensuring rapid recovery and regulatory communication.
  • Team Leadership: Build and mentor a high-performing cyber team, fostering a culture of accountability and innovation.
  • Technology & Controls: Acting as a SME for IT security through to Exec and Board level, overseeing security infrastructure, cloud security, and modern tooling.
  • Stakeholder Engagement: Collaborate across departments (IT, Risk, Legal, Compliance) to embed security enterprise-wide.

The Person

As a strategic thinker with strong leadership, communication and technical skills, you will have proven experience leading a cyber security function within a regulated business. Specifically, you will possess:

  • Extensive risk management, and regulatory compliance experience.
  • Strong technical knowledge of security infrastructure, cloud platforms and modern security tooling (SIEM, SOAR).
  • Excellent communication and stakeholder engagement skills.
  • Most importantly you will have a track record of building high-performing teams.
Nigel Wright Recruitment

Contact Detail:

Nigel Wright Recruitment Recruiting Team

StudySmarter Expert Advice 🤫

We think this is how you could land Head of Cyber Security

✨Tip Number 1

Network with professionals in the cyber security field, especially those who have experience in regulated industries. Attend industry conferences or local meetups to connect with potential colleagues and learn about the latest trends and challenges in cyber security.

✨Tip Number 2

Stay updated on the latest regulations and compliance standards relevant to cyber security, such as GDPR and ISO 27001. This knowledge will not only enhance your expertise but also demonstrate your commitment to the role during interviews.

✨Tip Number 3

Prepare to discuss specific examples of how you've successfully led a cyber security team or initiative in the past. Highlight your leadership style and how you foster a culture of accountability and innovation within your teams.

✨Tip Number 4

Research the company’s current cyber security posture and any recent incidents they may have faced. This will allow you to tailor your discussions and show that you are proactive and genuinely interested in improving their cyber resilience.

We think you need these skills to ace Head of Cyber Security

Strategic Leadership
Risk Management
Regulatory Compliance
ISO 27001
GDPR
NIS2
Incident Response
Cyber Threat Analysis
Stakeholder Engagement
Team Leadership
Technical Knowledge of Security Infrastructure
Cloud Security
Modern Security Tooling (SIEM, SOAR)
Communication Skills
Problem-Solving Skills
Continuous Improvement Initiatives

Some tips for your application 🫡

Tailor Your CV: Make sure your CV highlights your experience in cyber security leadership, risk management, and regulatory compliance. Use specific examples that demonstrate your ability to develop and implement cyber strategies aligned with business goals.

Craft a Compelling Cover Letter: In your cover letter, express your passion for embedding security into business operations. Discuss your strategic thinking and how your technical expertise can benefit the organisation. Mention your experience with ISO 27001 and incident response to showcase your suitability for the role.

Highlight Team Leadership Skills: Emphasise your experience in building and mentoring high-performing teams. Provide examples of how you have fostered a culture of accountability and innovation within your previous roles, as this is crucial for the position.

Showcase Stakeholder Engagement: Demonstrate your excellent communication skills by detailing your experience in advising senior leadership and engaging with various departments. Highlight any successful collaborations that led to improved cyber resilience or compliance.

How to prepare for a job interview at Nigel Wright Recruitment

✨Showcase Your Strategic Vision

As a Head of Cyber Security, it's crucial to demonstrate your ability to develop and implement a cyber strategy. Be prepared to discuss how you would align security initiatives with business goals and regulatory expectations, showcasing your strategic thinking.

✨Highlight Your Technical Expertise

Make sure to emphasise your strong technical knowledge of security infrastructure and cloud platforms. Be ready to discuss specific tools you've used, such as SIEM and SOAR, and how they have contributed to enhancing security in previous roles.

✨Demonstrate Leadership Skills

This role requires building and mentoring a high-performing team. Share examples of how you've successfully led teams in the past, focusing on fostering a culture of accountability and innovation within your cyber security function.

✨Prepare for Stakeholder Engagement Scenarios

Since stakeholder engagement is key, think of instances where you've collaborated across departments like IT, Risk, and Compliance. Be ready to discuss how you communicated complex cyber risks to non-technical stakeholders and gained their buy-in.

Head of Cyber Security
Nigel Wright Recruitment
Location: Edinburgh
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