NHS England

Cyber Security Lead (Analyst) - Threat Hunting

The closing date is 09 September 2025

Job summary

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 Cyber Security Lead - Threat Hunting will be responsible for leading a dedicated threat hunting team and the outputs from function within the Cyber Security Operations Centre (CSOC). The Threat Hunting Lead will be responsible for the proactive investigation into cyber threats to healthcare organisations onboarded to CSOC services, hunting across endpoint, cloud and identity signals.

The post of Security Lead (Analyst) 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.

Main duties of the job

The Post Holder will:

  • Act as the specialist for the threat hunting team and act as an escalation point for all threat hunting activities in the topic.
  • Generate reports for technical and non-technical stakeholders, creating documentation or detailed reports that provide narrative for complex subjects to board level / senior management.
  • Act as a technical specialist in advanced forensic investigations in support of Security Operations function.
  • Responsible for the management and delivery of threat use cases and content, Ideation, production of bespoke detections to identify malicious activity across NHS tooling and telemetry.
  • Prioritise workload and hunts carried out by the team.
  • Interface and build relationships with Incident Management and Threat Intelligence teams.
  • Management of staff, resource allocation, and workload.
  • Ensure the objectives and activities of the function are aligned with overarching Threat Operations strategy.

About us

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.

If you would like to know more or require further information, please visithttps://www.england.nhs.uk/.

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.

Details

Date posted

26 August 2025

Pay scheme

Agenda for change

Band

Band 8b

Salary

£83,792 to £97,365 a year Per annum (includes a RRP payment of 30% and exclusive of HCAS)

Contract

Fixed term

Duration

13 months

Working pattern

Full-time

Reference number

990-TD-14997-E

Job locations

Wellington Place, Leeds / Hexagon House, Exeter / Wellington House, London

Leeds / Exeter / London

LS1 4AP


Job description

Job responsibilities

Please see the attached Job Description and Person Specification for more information about the role and responsibilities. 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 dont 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 https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/united-kingdom-security-vetting-clearance-levels/national-security-vetting-clearance-levels#security-check-sc

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 isshort term vacancy.

If you like what you have read and think you have the skills and experience, we need then don't delay, apply today! We get lots of applications for our roles and so we sometimes have to close our posts early. Don't miss out!

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.

Job description

Job responsibilities

Please see the attached Job Description and Person Specification for more information about the role and responsibilities. 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 dont 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 https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/united-kingdom-security-vetting-clearance-levels/national-security-vetting-clearance-levels#security-check-sc

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 isshort term vacancy.

If you like what you have read and think you have the skills and experience, we need then don't delay, apply today! We get lots of applications for our roles and so we sometimes have to close our posts early. Don't miss out!

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.

Person Specification

Knowledge

Essential

  • In-depth knowledge of technologies and technology-based solutions dealing with information security issues; ability to apply these in protecting information security across the organisation.
  • Extensive knowledge of concept, procedures and processes of Security Information and Event Management (SIEM); ability to utilise related applications to protect organisational networks from cyber risks.

Desirable

  • Extensive knowledge of techniques, approaches and processes of digital threats; ability to detect, monitor, analyse and prevent digital threats.

Skills and Experience

Essential

  • Demonstrable knowledge of tools, techniques and processes of intrusion detection and prevention; ability to detect, resolve and prevent intrusion behaviours to protect organisational networks.

Desirable

  • Expert knowledge of and ability to utilise a variety of specific tools for collecting, analysing, and presenting digital-related evidence.

Qualifications

Essential

  • Masters level degree or equivalent level of experience.
Person Specification

Knowledge

Essential

  • In-depth knowledge of technologies and technology-based solutions dealing with information security issues; ability to apply these in protecting information security across the organisation.
  • Extensive knowledge of concept, procedures and processes of Security Information and Event Management (SIEM); ability to utilise related applications to protect organisational networks from cyber risks.

Desirable

  • Extensive knowledge of techniques, approaches and processes of digital threats; ability to detect, monitor, analyse and prevent digital threats.

Skills and Experience

Essential

  • Demonstrable knowledge of tools, techniques and processes of intrusion detection and prevention; ability to detect, resolve and prevent intrusion behaviours to protect organisational networks.

Desirable

  • Expert knowledge of and ability to utilise a variety of specific tools for collecting, analysing, and presenting digital-related evidence.

Qualifications

Essential

  • Masters level degree or equivalent level of experience.

Disclosure and Barring Service Check

This post is subject to the Rehabilitation of Offenders Act (Exceptions Order) 1975 and as such it will be necessary for a submission for Disclosure to be made to the Disclosure and Barring Service (formerly known as CRB) to check for any previous criminal convictions.

Certificate of Sponsorship

Applications from job seekers who require current Skilled worker sponsorship to work in the UK are welcome and will be considered alongside all other applications. For further information visit the UK Visas and Immigration website (Opens in a new tab).

From 6 April 2017, skilled worker applicants, applying for entry clearance into the UK, have had to present a criminal record certificate from each country they have resided continuously or cumulatively for 12 months or more in the past 10 years. Adult dependants (over 18 years old) are also subject to this requirement. Guidance can be found here Criminal records checks for overseas applicants (Opens in a new tab).

Additional information

Disclosure and Barring Service Check

This post is subject to the Rehabilitation of Offenders Act (Exceptions Order) 1975 and as such it will be necessary for a submission for Disclosure to be made to the Disclosure and Barring Service (formerly known as CRB) to check for any previous criminal convictions.

Certificate of Sponsorship

Applications from job seekers who require current Skilled worker sponsorship to work in the UK are welcome and will be considered alongside all other applications. For further information visit the UK Visas and Immigration website (Opens in a new tab).

From 6 April 2017, skilled worker applicants, applying for entry clearance into the UK, have had to present a criminal record certificate from each country they have resided continuously or cumulatively for 12 months or more in the past 10 years. Adult dependants (over 18 years old) are also subject to this requirement. Guidance can be found here Criminal records checks for overseas applicants (Opens in a new tab).

Employer details

Employer name

NHS England

Address

Wellington Place, Leeds / Hexagon House, Exeter / Wellington House, London

Leeds / Exeter / London

LS1 4AP


Employer's website

https://www.england.nhs.uk/about/working-for/ (Opens in a new tab)


Employer details

Employer name

NHS England

Address

Wellington Place, Leeds / Hexagon House, Exeter / Wellington House, London

Leeds / Exeter / London

LS1 4AP


Employer's website

https://www.england.nhs.uk/about/working-for/ (Opens in a new tab)


Employer contact details

For questions about the job, contact:

Security Principal

Ryan Lee

england.cyberoperationsrecruitment@nhs.net

Details

Date posted

26 August 2025

Pay scheme

Agenda for change

Band

Band 8b

Salary

£83,792 to £97,365 a year Per annum (includes a RRP payment of 30% and exclusive of HCAS)

Contract

Fixed term

Duration

13 months

Working pattern

Full-time

Reference number

990-TD-14997-E

Job locations

Wellington Place, Leeds / Hexagon House, Exeter / Wellington House, London

Leeds / Exeter / London

LS1 4AP


Supporting documents

Privacy notice

NHS England's privacy notice (opens in a new tab)