Associate director- cybersecurity

Associate Director, Cybersecurity

Cambridge , UK (4 days On-site)

About the Opportunity

HLX Life Sciences is partnering with an innovative, globally operating life sciences organisation seeking an experienced Associate Director of Cybersecurity to lead and evolve its cybersecurity function.

We're looking for a hands-on cybersecurity leader with expertise in:

• Cybersecurity Strategy & Risk Management
• Microsoft 365, Entra ID & Azure Security
• Incident Response & Vulnerability Management
• Microsoft Defender, Intune & Conditional Access
• ISO27001, NIST & Security Governance

Key Responsibilities

• Define and execute the organisation's cybersecurity strategy, roadmap, and operating model.
• Own the cybersecurity risk register and provide clear reporting and recommendations to senior leadership.
• Establish and maintain security standards across Microsoft 365, Entra ID, Azure, endpoints, cloud services, SaaS platforms, and collaboration tools.
• Drive continuous improvement of key security controls including MFA, Conditional Access, privileged access management, endpoint protection, vulnerability management, encryption, DLP, logging, and monitoring.
• Lead cyber incident response planning, testing, and execution, including playbooks, tabletop exercises, escalation processes, and post-incident reviews.
• Manage relationships with external cybersecurity providers including SOC/MDR partners, penetration testers, and security consultants.
• Oversee vulnerability and exposure management across cloud, infrastructure, identity, endpoints, and externally facing services.
• Conduct cybersecurity due diligence for technology suppliers, cloud providers, research partners, and third-party vendors.
• Develop practical governance frameworks for the secure adoption of AI and emerging technologies.
• Maintain cybersecurity policies, standards, SOPs, and compliance documentation.
• Promote a strong security culture through awareness programmes, phishing simulations, and executive-level engagement.

Interested?

If you're looking for an opportunity to shape and lead cybersecurity within a highly innovative, science-driven organisation while working at the intersection of technology, research, and business operations, we'd love to hear from you.

Apply directly or contact the HLX Life Sciences team for a confidential discussion.