Deputy Director Chief Information Security Officer Ref. 3660
- MI5
- Manchester, Lancashire
- Feb 28, 2026
Full time
I.T. & Communications
Management
Job Description
Job Description Grade: SCS 1 - Open to applicants on promotion
Working Pattern: Requests for flexible working patterns will be considered and should be discussed with the Hiring Manager upon application. A small amount of home working is possible but there is an expectation that most of this role will be office based.
Location: The role can be based in Cheltenham, London or Manchester, but the successful candidate would be expected to spend time in each of the three locations.
Salary: You will receive a salary between £96,981 - £130,000 which includes any applicable skills payment, depending on skills and experience. In addition, the role attracts a non-concessionary payment of £3030 (subject to security compliance) and London Pay Addition of £6250 if contracted to a London work location. The skills payment will be discussed and assessed at interview.
Clearance: DV clearance required.
About Us GCHQ is the nation's intelligence, cyber and security agency. We work to make the UK the safest place to live and work online; connect the national security community securely; and provide insights and counter threats through SIGINT and effects. Our people work closely with MI5 and MI6 as well as defence, international, and industry partners across a variety of locations, with major hubs in Cheltenham, London and Manchester as well as other sites in the UK and overseas. We live by the values of ingenuity, integrity, impact and teamwork as we work to keep the UK safe, resilient and prosperous in an uncertain world. A role with us means you will do unique and challenging work in a supportive environment, making a meaningful difference to national security.
About the Role The UK Intelligence Community (UKIC) is seeking an outstanding Chief Information Security Officer (CISO) to lead cyber security and information governance across some of the nation's most sensitive missions. Accountable to the UKIC Infosec Director, this is one of the most high-profile technical leadership roles in government, shaping the strategic direction of information security to protect the UK against the most capable and persistent adversaries. The successful candidate will ensure operational resilience and secure innovation in support of national intelligence objectives, delivering results in a highly complex and rapidly evolving environment.
As CISO, you will work with colleagues to set and implement the organisation's cyber and information security strategy, striking the right balance between capability, acceptable risk and technological progress. You will integrate security governance into a complex set of cross agency organisational decision-making, forums ensuring that information risks are managed effectively and proportionately, and that security is embedded at every level. This includes advising executive boards and senior leaders on the potential implications of major programmes, and guiding the organisations in safely embracing innovation and digital transformation.
You will be responsible for designing and leading the UKIC's end-to-end risk management framework. This includes defining and tracking cybersecurity KPIs, producing regular reports for senior stakeholders, conducting organisation-wide risk assessments and overseeing vulnerability management to ensure compliance with relevant frameworks. You will be responsible for designing incident response and business continuity strategies and ensuring they are implemented by business areas. Your leadership will be central to developing sustainable security budgets and resourcing strategies that ensure capabilities remain strong in the face of emerging threats.
This role demands exceptional communication skills and the ability to influence at the highest levels of government. You must be confident presenting complex security concepts to both technical and non-technical audiences, including boards, ministers and cross-government stakeholders. You will draw on significant experience delivering robust security strategies in complex organisations and demonstrate deep knowledge of cyber threat landscapes, risk management practices and modern security technologies. International relationships are a critical element of this role, so familiarity working with key allied governments would be valuable.
You should bring expertise in securing cloud environments and emerging technologies within digital transformation programmes, alongside a strong understanding of regulatory compliance frameworks such as NIST, ISO27001, GDPR and GovS007. Professional certifications such as CISSP, CISM or CCISO are highly desirable. A proven track record in embedding a positive security culture, mentoring high-performing teams and managing supplier security will be critical to your success.
This is a unique opportunity to take on one of the most influential cyber security leadership roles in the UK. Protecting the nation's intelligence capabilities requires vision, strategic acumen and operational excellence. If you are ready to take on this challenge, and have the skills, integrity and commitment to safeguard national security, we invite you to join us in delivering a secure future for UK intelligence.
The role can be based in Cheltenham, Manchester or London, with a regular presence required in those locations. The ability to undertake occasional international travel is desirable.
Key Responsibilities
Please note - the application form consists of two stages; an initial eligibility check, followed by a full application form. It is at the full application form stage that you will have the opportunity to input your suitability statement and CV information.
For questions about the role or to discuss the role in more detail, email who will direct your enquiry appropriately.
What to expect
Working Pattern: Requests for flexible working patterns will be considered and should be discussed with the Hiring Manager upon application. A small amount of home working is possible but there is an expectation that most of this role will be office based.
Location: The role can be based in Cheltenham, London or Manchester, but the successful candidate would be expected to spend time in each of the three locations.
Salary: You will receive a salary between £96,981 - £130,000 which includes any applicable skills payment, depending on skills and experience. In addition, the role attracts a non-concessionary payment of £3030 (subject to security compliance) and London Pay Addition of £6250 if contracted to a London work location. The skills payment will be discussed and assessed at interview.
Clearance: DV clearance required.
About Us GCHQ is the nation's intelligence, cyber and security agency. We work to make the UK the safest place to live and work online; connect the national security community securely; and provide insights and counter threats through SIGINT and effects. Our people work closely with MI5 and MI6 as well as defence, international, and industry partners across a variety of locations, with major hubs in Cheltenham, London and Manchester as well as other sites in the UK and overseas. We live by the values of ingenuity, integrity, impact and teamwork as we work to keep the UK safe, resilient and prosperous in an uncertain world. A role with us means you will do unique and challenging work in a supportive environment, making a meaningful difference to national security.
About the Role The UK Intelligence Community (UKIC) is seeking an outstanding Chief Information Security Officer (CISO) to lead cyber security and information governance across some of the nation's most sensitive missions. Accountable to the UKIC Infosec Director, this is one of the most high-profile technical leadership roles in government, shaping the strategic direction of information security to protect the UK against the most capable and persistent adversaries. The successful candidate will ensure operational resilience and secure innovation in support of national intelligence objectives, delivering results in a highly complex and rapidly evolving environment.
As CISO, you will work with colleagues to set and implement the organisation's cyber and information security strategy, striking the right balance between capability, acceptable risk and technological progress. You will integrate security governance into a complex set of cross agency organisational decision-making, forums ensuring that information risks are managed effectively and proportionately, and that security is embedded at every level. This includes advising executive boards and senior leaders on the potential implications of major programmes, and guiding the organisations in safely embracing innovation and digital transformation.
You will be responsible for designing and leading the UKIC's end-to-end risk management framework. This includes defining and tracking cybersecurity KPIs, producing regular reports for senior stakeholders, conducting organisation-wide risk assessments and overseeing vulnerability management to ensure compliance with relevant frameworks. You will be responsible for designing incident response and business continuity strategies and ensuring they are implemented by business areas. Your leadership will be central to developing sustainable security budgets and resourcing strategies that ensure capabilities remain strong in the face of emerging threats.
This role demands exceptional communication skills and the ability to influence at the highest levels of government. You must be confident presenting complex security concepts to both technical and non-technical audiences, including boards, ministers and cross-government stakeholders. You will draw on significant experience delivering robust security strategies in complex organisations and demonstrate deep knowledge of cyber threat landscapes, risk management practices and modern security technologies. International relationships are a critical element of this role, so familiarity working with key allied governments would be valuable.
You should bring expertise in securing cloud environments and emerging technologies within digital transformation programmes, alongside a strong understanding of regulatory compliance frameworks such as NIST, ISO27001, GDPR and GovS007. Professional certifications such as CISSP, CISM or CCISO are highly desirable. A proven track record in embedding a positive security culture, mentoring high-performing teams and managing supplier security will be critical to your success.
This is a unique opportunity to take on one of the most influential cyber security leadership roles in the UK. Protecting the nation's intelligence capabilities requires vision, strategic acumen and operational excellence. If you are ready to take on this challenge, and have the skills, integrity and commitment to safeguard national security, we invite you to join us in delivering a secure future for UK intelligence.
The role can be based in Cheltenham, Manchester or London, with a regular presence required in those locations. The ability to undertake occasional international travel is desirable.
Key Responsibilities
- Develop, maintain and articulate a clear understanding of the cyber and information security risks inherent across the whole organisation in order to provide assurance to the UKIC Group Senior information risk owner (SIRO).
- Create and implement information security strategy which supports the organisation in determining the right balance between the organisation's cyber and information security capabilities, acceptable level of risk and speed of technology progress.
- Ensure an effective cyber and information security governance framework that is integrated with overall organisational governance.
- Define and track cybersecurity KPIs, producing regular executive and board level reports on security posture.
- Enable the organisation to innovate safely by advising senior leadership on the potential risks and implications of major decisions that impact information security.
- Oversee the creation and implementation of relevant policies and standards which ensure effective information risk management.
- Identify and deliver opportunities for improvement of the security operations function to ensure timely detection and response to security incidents.
- Lead and mentor high performing information security professionals, fostering a culture of professional development.
- Play a leading role in multiple Technical and programme boards.
- Work closely with stakeholders from across the UK Intelligence Community to ensure an end-to-end approach to cyber security and ensure that cyber security is embedded at all levels.
- Exceptional communication skills, with the ability to present complex security concepts to both technical and non-technical stakeholders at all levels.
- Proven experience developing and implementing information security strategies and policies within a complex organisation.
- In-depth understanding of cybersecurity threats, technologies and risk management practices.
- Professional certifications such as CISSP, CISM or CCISO are highly desirable.
- Deep understanding of cloud security.
- Experience leading an operational cyber security function, or the delivery of cyber security capabilities.
- Extensive knowledge of relevant public and private sector cyber security practice.
- Seeing the Big Picture
- Making Effective Decisions
- Driving Innovation and Change
- Providing Customer Value
- Copy and paste a statement of suitability outlining how your personal skills, qualities and experiences demonstrate your suitability for the role. Structure your statement with a sub-heading for each of the essential criteria listed above and, below each, include evidence of how you meet that criterion.
- Provide a CV setting out your career history, with key responsibilities and achievements. Include reasons for any gaps within the last two years.
Please note - the application form consists of two stages; an initial eligibility check, followed by a full application form. It is at the full application form stage that you will have the opportunity to input your suitability statement and CV information.
For questions about the role or to discuss the role in more detail, email who will direct your enquiry appropriately.
What to expect
- Your application will be sifted to assess your evidence against the essential criteria above.
- If shortlisted, you will be invited to participate in a Staff Engagement Session with a small group of GCHQ staff. Full details of the assessment process will be made available to shortlisted candidates.
- You will be invited to attend a panel interview, where your motivational fit, values, competency evidence and technical experience will be assessed.
- The application process may take around 6 - 9 months to process including vetting, so we advise you continue any current employment until you have received your final job offer . click apply for full job details
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