Salary: £57,528 - 64,750 per year Requirements: We are looking for someone with highly developed specialist knowledge and expertise acquired through a masters degree level qualification or equivalent experience. We require specialist knowledge of the relevant area(s) of expertise, supported by practical experience and training or development. We are seeking proven hands-on experience in cyber security operations, such as Security Analyst, SOC Analyst, or a similar technical cyber security role. We need demonstrable experience in incident response and security configuration, with the ability to analyse issues systematically, identify root causes, and implement effective solutions. We require strong technical knowledge of cyber security tooling and techniques, including vulnerability management, incident investigation, and monitoring tools such as SIEM, EDR, and vulnerability scanners. We need practical understanding of core cyber security concepts, including network, infrastructure, and system security across Windows and Linux environments, with awareness of networking, operating systems, and cloud platforms. We would consider one or more of the following qualifications, or equivalent experience, desirable: FEDIP Senior Practitioner, Cyber Security Professional (ACSP), BCS Certificate in Information Security Management Principles (CISMP), or SSCP Systems Security Certified Practitioner. Responsibilities: We want you to act as a hands-on cyber security specialist, investigating security alerts, responding to incidents, and supporting day-to-day operational cyber resilience. We expect you to configure, manage, and maintain security tooling and infrastructure across on-premise and cloud environments, embedding secure-by-design principles. We want you to carry out routine vulnerability assessments, threat analysis, and horizon scanning to identify and mitigate emerging risks. We expect you to serve as a technical escalation point for complex security issues, contributing expert analysis and practical solutions. We want you to support compliance with recognised security standards and frameworks such as Cyber Essentials and ISO27001, while maintaining clear and auditable records. We expect you to communicate complex technical risks and findings clearly to both technical and non-technical stakeholders. Technologies: Cloud Support Linux Network Security Windows More: We are the National Institute for Health and Care Excellence (NICE), the independent organisation responsible for providing national guidance and advice on promoting high quality health, public health and social care. Our purpose is to improve health and wellbeing by putting science and evidence at the heart of health and care decision-making. We work collaboratively to achieve this goal and empower our workforce to do great things. This permanent Cyber Security Specialist (Operational) role is based in Manchester, with modern offices in Manchester city centre and Stratford, London, and may require commuting to either office for business purposes if necessary. We offer a generous NHS Pension, flexible working options including remote working, compressed hours and flexible start and finish times, exclusive discounts with a Blue Light Card, 27 days annual leave plus bank holidays, inclusive staff networks, and tailored development opportunities. You will join our Infrastructure, Cyber & IT Operations team, helping to protect nationally important digital services and support users across the organisation while maintaining operational stability with minimal risk or disruption. last updated 24 week of 2026