Head of Cyber Security – CSOC Innovation & Improvements

The Head of Cyber Security - CSOC Innovation & Improvement will be accountable for:

• Leadership and management of cross-team initiatives and interactions between teams including the Engineering, Security Ops, and Threat Ops functions within the CSOC.
• Line Management of the Innovation and Improvement team.Contribution to the management of complex incidents and investigations, co-ordinating activity during large scale incidents across the NHS.
• Identification and leading on the implementation of CSOC improvement activities that support the successful delivery of CSOC services.
• Providing specialist knowledge and expertise in a diverse range of cyber security areas related to Threat Operations, Protective Monitoring, Security Engineering and Incident Management.
• Keeping up to date with the latest security and technology trends, to include researching and evaluating emerging cyber security threats, and mitigations.
• Using advanced analytic tools to help analyse emerging threat patterns and vulnerabilities.
• Presenting to senior leaders.
• Maintaining the CSOC's Disaster Recovery and Business Continuity plans and for coordinating when enacted.
• Manage the CSOC's Lessons Learned process and post incident activities.
• Representing the CSOC at organisational Risk Governance meetings.
• Act as a cyber subject matter expert for external improvement programmes.
• Develop and maintain stakeholder relationships across the health sector, X-Gov and suppliers.

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.

In March 2025, the Government announced that NHS England and the Department of Health and Social Care will increasingly merge functions, ultimately leading to NHS England being fully integrated into the department.

If you currently work within the NHS and if successful at interview, we will initiate an Inter Authority Transfer (IAT) via the Electronic Staff Record (ESR).This retrieves key data from your current or previous NHS employer to support onboarding, including competency status, Continuous Service Dates (CSD), and annual leave entitlement. You may opt out at any stage of the process.

Colleagues with a contractual office base are expected to spend, on average, at least 40% of their time working in our offices.

Staff recruited from outside the NHS will usually be appointed at the bottom of the pay band.

We cannot offer visa sponsorship for external candidates.

Essential: - Extensive knowledge of modules, processes and technologies of Information Security Operation Centre (ISOC); ability to detect, response and utilise related platform and applications to perform cyber security initiatives.; - Highly developed specialist understanding of the value of innovation and ability to develop new ideas and initiatives that improve the performance of the organisation.; - Detailed knowledge of concept, procedures and processes of Security Information and Event Management (SIEM); ability to utilise related applications to protect organizational networks from cyber risks.; - 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.; - Demonstrable knowledge of technologies, methods and tools of forensics investigations for IT security violations or potential threats; ability to identify, uncover and evaluate violations, warning reports, suspected incidents and insidious events.

Essential: - Masters level degree in Cyber Security, or a relevant subject, or equivalent level of experience.