Cyber Security Officer
Job summary
Cyber Operations purpose is to support safe care and build public trust by building NHS England's cyber resilience and enabling the wider health system to be cyber resilient, supporting Transformation Directorate's purpose of delivering the best care and outcomes for the NHS.
The Cyber Operations sub-directorate consists of four operational areas:
- Cyber Security Operations Unit (CSOU & SIO)
- Cyber Delivery Unit (CDU
- Cyber Improvement Programme
- Chief Information Security Office Function (CISO)
The CSOU, part of the Cyber Operations function, provides centralised monitoring and response across NHS England, and the system. The CSOU consists of Threat Operations (ThreatOps), Security Operations (SecOps), Incident Management & response, Service Operations (ServiceOps) and Development Operations (DevOps).
To support our strategy to improve NHS England's cyber resilience, we are recruiting for a Security Officer - Incident Manager.
Main duties of the job
As a Security Advisor, you will work in the Incident Management team as an Incident Manager within the CSOC, investigating potential security threats facing NHS England as identified by the monitoring and detection capabilities as well as information obtained from other sources.
You will be reporting to the Senior Incident manager and be responsible for:
- Supporting incident managers and apprentices, with a variety of internal and external enquiries.
- Work within the Security Operations pillar of the CSOC (Cyber Security Operations Centre) managing a range of security incidents.
- Use advanced analytic tools and data to determine emerging threat patterns and vulnerabilities.
- Generate reports for technical and non-technical stakeholders, creating documentation or detailed reports.
- Stakeholder management. Engaging internal and external stakeholders from a wide variety of backgrounds.
- Design processes and innovate to improve the Incident Management Team.
- Provide advice and guidance to NHS organisations following a security incident using effective communication.
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.
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.
Job description
Job responsibilities
As part of the shortlisting process you may be asked to complete an assessment via a third party platform called Immersive Labs. Immersive Labs is a gamified learning environment. We use their screening product to help assess whether our candidates meet the technical requirements were looking for during the recruitment process.
Please see the attached Job Description and Person Specification for more information about the role and responsibilities.
Please ensure your supporting statement includes demonstratable 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 dont need to have SC already, however, failure to achieve the requirements for SC after offer will result in the job offer being withdrawn.
For further advice please check https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/united-kingdom-security-vetting-clearance-levels/national-security-vetting-clearance-levels#security-check-sc
Please be aware that should you be successful in this position, you will be hired to the job title of Security Officer and this job title is advertised to attract the right skills needed for the role.
The post of Security Officer has been awarded a Recruitment and Retention Premia (RRP) in response to current labour market conditions. In recognition of this, the role attracts an additional monthly RRP payment equal to 10% per annum.Please be aware that RRP is non-contractual and subject to review.
If you like what you have read and think you have the skills and experience, we need then don't delay, apply today! We get lots of applications for our roles and so we sometimes have to close our posts early. Don't miss out!
Person Specification
Knowledge
- Introductory 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.
- Basic knowledge of and the ability to protect information and information systems while ensuring their confidentiality, integrity and availability.
- Proven knowledge of concepts, tools and practices of dealing with computer crime; ability to detect and prevent business crimes that involve computers/networks as instruments.
Skills and Experience
- Knowledge of methods and processes to monitor, analyse and respond to network attacks, intrusions or any unauthorised actions; ability to use techniques and tools to perform network defence.
- Working knowledge of concept, procedures and processes of Security Information and Event Management (SIEM); ability to utilise related applications to protect organisational networks from cyber risks.
Qualifications
- Post-graduate level degree in Cyber Security or relevant subject, or equivalent level of experience.
Disclosure and Barring Service Check
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.
Employer details
Employer name
NHS England
Address
Wellington Place, Leeds / Hexagon House, Exeter
Leeds / Exeter
LS1 4AP
Employer's website
https://www.england.nhs.uk/about/working-for/