Cyber Security Lead
Job summary
As Cyber Security Lead (Grade 8b subject to banding), you will provide strategic leadership, governance and assurance for cyber security across The Christie NHS Foundation Trust, acting with delegated authority from the CIO and SIRO. You will ensure cyber security enables safe, resilient, and trustworthy digital services that protect patient information and support clinical care, aligned to the Trust and Digital Strategies and national NHS cyber priorities. You will oversee cyber security services delivered by internal teams and third-party suppliers, maintain a clear view of cyber risk exposure, and provide high-quality reporting and escalation to senior governance and Board-level forums.
Develop, own and maintain the Trust Cyber Security Strategy and Roadmap, aligned to Trust objectives and national NHS cyber policy.
Main duties of the job
Act as the Trust's senior authority on cyber security risk, providing expert advice, assurance, & appropriate challenge to executive and Board-level forums.
Translate national requirements and frameworks (including DSPT & the NCSC Cyber Assessment Framework) into pragmatic, risk-based controls & improvement plans.
Establish and maintain robust governance, policies, standards, and assurance processes; lead the annual Data Security and Protection Toolkit submission.
Maintain oversight of the cyber security risk register to ensure risks are assessed, owned, mitigated, and escalated appropriately.
Provide high-quality cyber risk and assurance reporting to Digital governance groups, Audit/Risk & Assurance Committees, & the Trust Board.
Provide strategic oversight of cyber operations (monitoring, incident response, vulnerability management, identity & access management) delivered internally & via third parties; assure the effectiveness of managed services.
Embed secure-by-design principles across architecture, procurement, and project delivery; provide cyber input to high-risk initiatives, including risk assessments, threat modelling, & assurance reviews.
Promote a positive security culture through engagement & awareness activities across clinical, operational, and corporate teams.
Contribute to business continuity, disaster recovery, & cyber resilience planning, including exercises, testing, & post-incident learning; participate in out-of-hours incident response where required.
About us
The Christie is one of Europe's leading cancer centres, treating over 60,000 patients a year. We are based in Manchester and serve a population of 3.2 million across Greater Manchester & Cheshire, but as a national specialist around 15% patients are referred to us from other parts of the country. We provide radiotherapy through one of the largest radiotherapy departments in the world; chemotherapy on site and through 14 other hospitals; highly specialist surgery for complex and rare cancer; and a wide range of support and diagnostic services. We are also an international leader in research, with world first breakthroughs for over 100 years. We run one of the largest early clinical trial units in Europe with over 300 trials every year. Cancer research in Manchester, most of which is undertaken on the Christie site, has been officially ranked the best in the UK.
Job description
Job responsibilities
DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES Strategic Cyber Security Leadership
1. Develop, own, and maintain the Trust Cyber Security Strategy and Roadmap and improvement plans aligned to Trust objectives and national NHS cyber policy.2. Act as the Trusts senior strategic authority on cyber security risk, providing expert advice, assurance, and challenge to Information Asset Owners, Executive Management Team members and Board-level forums.3. Translate national frameworks and requirements (including DSPT and NCSC Cyber Assessment Framework (CAF)) into pragmatic, risk-based implementation.4. Ensure cybersecurity is embedded within digital transformation, EPR, cloud, data, and infrastructure programmes.
Cyber Governance, Risk and Assurance1. Establish and maintain a robust cyber security governance framework, including policies, standards, and assurance processes.2. Lead delivery and annual submission of the Data Security and Protection Toolkit (DSPT), incorporating NCSC CAF-aligned assurance where applicable.3. Maintain oversight of the cyber security risk register, ensuring risks are assessed, owned, mitigated, and escalated appropriately.4. Provide high-quality cyber risk and assurance reporting to Digital governance groups, Audit, Risk and Assurance Committees, and on occasion to the Trust Board.5. Leadership of Cyber Security Resources and Services Provide strategic leadership and oversight of cyber security services, resources, and contracts delivered internally or through third-party suppliers. Ensure cyber security investments and services deliver value for money and are aligned to Trust's risk appetite and priorities. Contribute to Trust-level financial and capacity planning to ensure cybersecurity considerations are embedded in digital investment decisions.
Oversight of Cyber Security Operations1. Provide strategic oversight of cyber security operations, including security monitoring, incident response, vulnerability management, and identity and access management.2. Assure the effectiveness of third-party and managed cybersecurity services.3. Support coordinated response to cybersecurity incidents, working with the SIRO, Digital leadership, and external partners.
Secure Design and Change Enablement1. Ensure secure-by-design principles are embedded into system architecture, procurement, and project delivery.2. Provide expert cyber input to high-risk initiatives, including risk assessments, threat modeling, and assurance reviews.3. Enable delivery of digital change whilst maintaining appropriate cyber security controls.
Leadership, Engagement and Culture1. Act as an ambassador for cybersecurity, promoting a positive security culture and shared ownership across the Trust.2. Line manage the cyber security team, responsible for appraisal, sickness absence management, recruitment and selection decisions.3. Build trusted relationships with clinical, operational, and corporate stakeholders.4. Support cyber awareness and capability development across the organisation.5. Demonstrates the agreed set of values and accountable for own attitude and behavior.6. Financial responsibilities as a delegated budget holder, and contract value for money.
Business Continuity and Resilience1. Contribute to business continuity, disaster recovery, and cyber resilience planning.2. Support cyber-related exercises, testing, and post-incident learning.
Person Specification
Qualifications
- Masters Degree or equivalent experience in cyber security, information security, or related discipline
- Recognised cyber or information security qualification, or demonstrable equivalent experience (e.g. CISSP, CISM, ISO 27001)
- Continued professional Development courses related to information security
- Membership of a relevant professional body (BCS, ISACA, or equivalent)
Experience
- Significant experience in cyber security leadership, governance, risk, and assurance roles
- Experience of NHS or public sector cybersecurity frameworks, including DSPT and NCSC CAF.
- Demonstrable experience of providing cyber risk advice, assurance, and challenge to Executive Management Teams and Trust Boards
- Experience in a similar role for the NHS or Healthcare setting
Skills
- Ability to document and present highly complex and sensitive cyber risk information to technical and non-technical audiences
- Strong judgment in balancing cyber risk, patient safety, and service delivery
Knowledge
- Expert knowledge of cybersecurity governance, assurance, and regulatory compliance best practices
- Evidence of commitment to keeping up to date with current threats
Values
- Ability to demonstrate the organisational values and behaviours
Other
- Flexible, resilient, and collaborative approach
- Participation in out-of-hours cyber incident response if required
- Able to participate in an out-of-hours on-call rota if required
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.
Certificate of Sponsorship
Applications from job seekers who require current Skilled worker sponsorship to work in the UK are welcome and will be considered alongside all other applications. For further information visit the UK Visas and Immigration website.
From 6 April 2017, skilled worker applicants, applying for entry clearance into the UK, have had to present a criminal record certificate from each country they have resided continuously or cumulatively for 12 months or more in the past 10 years. Adult dependants (over 18 years old) are also subject to this requirement. Guidance can be found here Criminal records checks for overseas applicants.
Employer details
Employer name
The Christie NHS FT
Address
Digital Services Management - E00398
Manchester
M20 4BX
United Kingdom
Employer's website
https://www.christie.nhs.uk/