The Security Lead (Analyst) Ops sits within the Protective Monitoring function of the Cyber Security Operations Centre (CSOC). The CSOC is made up of Protective Monitoring, Incident Management, Threat Operations, Engineering and Consulting. The role is responsible for leading the Network Protective Monitoring sub team.
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 4 operational areas:
Cyber Security Operations Unit (CSOU)
Cyber Delivery Unit (CDU).
Cyber Improvement Programme.
Chief Information Security Office Function (CISO)
The post of Security Lead (Analyst) Ops 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 30% per annum.
Please be aware that RRP is non contractual and subject to review
As a Security Lead (Analyst) Ops you will:
Lead the Protective Monitoring team responsible for network security, ensuring continuous monitoring of NHS England's core infrastructure and systems.
Line-manage and mentor a team of analysts, providing guidance on monitoring strategies, threat detection, and incident response.
Deputise for the Detect & Respond Lead when required, ensuring operational continuity and effective decision-making during critical events.
Provide quality assurance on investigations, reviewing analysts' work to maintain accuracy and consistency in threat detection and response.
Design, develop, and enhance SOC use cases and associated tooling, working closely with the DevOps team to implement automation, improve detection logic, and streamline response workflows—demonstrating strong capability in creating detailed, effective use cases rather than only analysing incidents.
Stay ahead of emerging threats and technologies, particularly those impacting internal networks, by researching vulnerabilities and implementing proactive measures.
Utilise advanced monitoring tools, including SIEM platforms, XDR solutions, and network analytics, to identify anomalies, insider threats, and lateral movement.
Support incident management and response as a technical SME and incident coordinator, ensuring timely containment, root cause analysis, and recovery during major security events.
The NHS England board have set out the top-level purpose for the new organisation to lead the NHS in England to deliver high-quality services for all, which will inform the detailed design work and we will achieve this purpose by:
Enabling local systems and providers to improve the health of their people and patients and reduce health inequalities.
Making the NHS a great place to work, where our people can make a difference and achieve their potential.
Working collaboratively to ensure our healthcare workforce has the right knowledge, skills, values and behaviours to deliver accessible, compassionate care
Optimising the use of digital technology, research, and innovation
Delivering value for money.
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Colleagues with a contractual office base are expected to spend, on average, at least 40% of their time working in-person.
Staff recruited from outside the NHS will usually be appointed at the bottom of the pay band.
If you are successful at interview, we will run an Inter Authority Transfer (IAT) in the Electronic Staff Record system (ESR). This transfer gathers valuable information from a previous or current NHS employer to support the onboarding process, including; statutory and mandatory competency status, Continuous Service Dates (CSD), and annual leave entitlement. You will have the opportunity throughout the recruitment process to inform us if you do not consent.
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 don't 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
Please be aware that should you be successful in this position, you will be hired to the job title of Security Lead (Analyst) and this job title is advertised to attract the right skills needed for the role.
Please note that the reason for the fixed term of this contract is short term vacancy
You can find further details about the role, including key responsibilities and accountabilities, alongside the organisational structure and person specification in the attached Job Description and other supporting documents.
Secondments
Applicants from within the NHS will be offered on a secondment basis only, agreement should be obtained from their employer prior to submitting the application.