Head of cyber security

Head of Cyber Security

Application Deadline: 28 June 2026

Department: Digital & Technology Services

Employment Type: Permanent - Full Time

Location: Sheffield Head Office

Compensation: £75,061 - £83,150 / year

Description

• Hours: 37 hours (full time)
• Contract: Permanent
• Salary: Grade 15 - £75,061 - £83,150
• Location: Sheffield (This is a hybrid role with a minimum of 3 days per week in the office)

This is a senior leadership opportunity to shape and lead cyber security at an organisational level, ensuring that critical systems, data and services remain secure, resilient and trusted.

As Head of Cyber Security, you’ll operate at the heart of SYMCA’s digital transformation, setting the strategic direction for cyber security while embedding a practical, risk‑based approach across complex programmes, services and partnerships. You’ll influence how security is designed into everything we do, from infrastructure and platforms to major regional initiatives that impact communities and businesses across South Yorkshire.

This is not a purely technical role, it’s about translating cyber risk into clear, informed decisions at senior level, enabling innovation while protecting what matters most.

Interviews will be held: Tuesday 7th July

Applications must be accompanied by a cover letter to detail how you meet the criteria as detailed within the role profile. (please see role profile attached). Please note, all applications should be made directly via our careers portal.

About the role

As Head of Cyber Security, you will provide strategic leadership and enterprise‑wide accountability for protecting SYMCA’s digital, data and technology landscape. You’ll define and deliver a modern, risk‑based cyber security strategy that ensures threats are effectively identified, prioritised and managed, while enabling innovation and transformation across the organisation. Sitting at the centre of key decision‑making, you will influence how security is embedded into systems, services and major programmes from the outset, ensuring a secure‑by‑design approach throughout their life‑cycle. This role goes beyond technical delivery; you will be a trusted voice at senior level, shaping how cyber risk is understood across the organisation, driving resilience, and ensuring the Authority can respond confidently to an evolving threat landscape.

In this role, you will:

• Lead and evolve the organisation‑wide cyber security strategy, embedding a clear and proportionate approach to risk across all digital services
• Act as a trusted advisor to senior leaders and governance boards, ensuring cyber risk is a core part of strategic and investment decisions
• Drive a security‑first culture, influencing teams to embed cyber considerations from design through to delivery
• Oversee incident readiness, response and data breach management, ensuring swift, coordinated and effective action when needed
• Strengthen and mature cyber capability, building resilience across systems, infrastructure and third‑party services
• Ensure robust security frameworks, controls and assurance processes are in place and consistently applied
• Manage cyber risks across suppliers and partners, embedding strong governance and oversight
• Work collaboratively across organisational boundaries, partnering with legal, governance and operational teams to deliver secure and effective outcomes

About you

You’re a credible and pragmatic leader who can navigate complexity and bring clarity to cyber risk in a fast‑moving environment. You build strong relationships across teams and are confident guiding others to make informed, balanced decisions.

You’ll thrive in this role if you:

• Can influence and engage senior stakeholders with confidence
• Take a practical, outcome‑focused approach to challenges
• Are comfortable working across technical, operational and governance boundaries
• Are motivated by contributing to meaningful, organisation‑wide impact

What sets you apart

• You enable progress while maintaining appropriate levels of risk control
• You think in terms of outcomes, not just frameworks or theory
• You’re committed to developing capability in others as well as systems

Benefits

All colleagues have access to a Local Government Pension Scheme and the chance to be part of an organisation where you can really make a difference. Located in Sheffield City Centre, we are well‑placed for transport links and encourage employees to take advantage of the active travel facilities. Work/life balance is extremely important to us here at SYMCA with our recognised family/friendly policies, genuine work flexibility, recognition, and shared success.

In addition to the above, some of the benefits include:

• Continuous Employment – if you are currently employed by a Local Government employer, or any other employer under the Redundancy Modification Scheme, and do not have a break in service, your length of service can be transferred upon starting. This will apply to entitlement calculations including annual leave, maternity leave and enhanced sick pay.
• Enhanced Holiday Entitlement – from 28 to 36 days annual leave entitlement (depending on length of service) plus bank holidays. Pro‑rata for part‑time colleagues.
• Annual Leave Purchase Scheme – the ability to purchase up to a further 15 days per year in addition to your normal annual leave.
• Hybrid working – our offices are a space where we come together and collaborate. Most of our roles are offered on a hybrid basis with the exception of some support roles being onsite full time. Please note, unless specified within the job advert, we cannot accommodate remote working contracts.
• Flexible Hours Scheme – most roles within SYMCA work under the Flexi‑Scheme which allows office‑based employees’ flexibility and discretion over their working hours. Under the scheme employees can accrue a defined amount of credit or debit of working hours, and take time‑off in the form of Flexi‑Leave or banked Annual Leave.
• Rewarding You – reducing everyday expenses through discounts, benefits, financial advice, wellbeing solutions and more with Reward Gateway and Cycle‑to‑Work schemes.
• Training on the job – support with upskilling skills through on‑the‑job training and qualifications.
• Professional Membership Fees – where membership to professional bodies is applicable to your role, SYMCA will reimburse your membership fees where applicable and following approval by Line Management.

Diversity at South Yorkshire Combined Mayoral Authority – Our workforce is made up of a diverse community, where we all belong and feel part of something bigger. We are committed to equality of opportunity and welcome applications from individuals, regardless of age, gender, ethnicity, disability, sexual orientation, gender identity, socio‑economic background, religion and/or belief.

All employees are eligible to request Flexible Working arrangements from day one of employment and all requests will be considered subject to operational requirements.

Where candidates share disabilities within the application process, if they demonstrate that they meet all essential criteria from the Role Profile within their application, they will automatically be invited to interview.

If you require any reasonable adjustments throughout the process, please contact recruitment@southyorkshire-ca.gov.uk or include within your application form detailing the adjustment and how it will assist in managing any barriers.