NHS England

Cyber Security Analyst - XDR

The closing date is 10 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 Security Analyst (XDR) role is within the Security Operations pillar of the CSOC (Cyber Security Operations Centre) providing second line security analytics and incident response services.

The post of Security 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 20% per annum.

Please be aware that RRP is non contractual and subject to review.

Main duties of the job

As a Security Analyst (XDR) you will:

  • Act as a Tier 2 Extended Detection and Response (XDR) analyst for the Security Operations team.
  • Deputise for Senior Analysts in their absence.
  • Act as an escalation point for Tier 1 Junior Analysts for incidents and investigations.
  • Offer mentorship and guidance to Tier 1 Junior Analysts to support others and their own growth and development.
  • Keep up to date with the latest security and technology developments, including researching and evaluating emerging cyber security threats and ways to manage them.
  • Use advanced analytic tools including SIEMs and XDR platforms to determine emerging threat patterns and vulnerabilities.
  • Apply experience and knowledge to assist with investigations of triggered security alerts.
  • Assist with the refinement of Use Cases and identification of areas for improvement of overall security posture.
  • Provide technical support to NHS organisations in investigating XDR incidents.

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

27 August 2025

Pay scheme

Agenda for change

Band

Band 7

Salary

£57,372 to £65,652 a year (this includes a RRP payment of 20%).

Contract

Fixed term

Duration

14 months

Working pattern

Full-time

Reference number

990-TD-15002-TFN-E

Job locations

Wellington Place, Leeds / Hexagon House, Exeter

Leeds / Exeter

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 Advisor/Analyst and this job title is advertised to attract the right skills needed for the role.

The post of Security Advisor/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 20% per annum.

Please be aware that RRP is non-contractual and subject to review

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.

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!

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 Advisor/Analyst and this job title is advertised to attract the right skills needed for the role.

The post of Security Advisor/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 20% per annum.

Please be aware that RRP is non-contractual and subject to review

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.

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!

Person Specification

Knowledge

Essential

  • Proven knowledge of concepts, issues, and techniques of Endpoint Security. Ability to ensure security compliance of endpoint devices in various circumstances.
  • Working knowledge of modules, processes, and technologies of an Information Security Operation Centre (SOC); ability to detect, respond and utilise related platform and applications to perform cyber security initiatives.

Desirable

  • Working 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.

Skills and Experience

Essential

  • Proven knowledge of concept, issues and techniques of Email Security. Ability to detect, monitor, analyse and prevent unauthorised access, loss or compromise of business email accounts.

Desirable

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

Qualifications

Essential

  • Post-graduate level degree or equivalent level of experience.
Person Specification

Knowledge

Essential

  • Proven knowledge of concepts, issues, and techniques of Endpoint Security. Ability to ensure security compliance of endpoint devices in various circumstances.
  • Working knowledge of modules, processes, and technologies of an Information Security Operation Centre (SOC); ability to detect, respond and utilise related platform and applications to perform cyber security initiatives.

Desirable

  • Working 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.

Skills and Experience

Essential

  • Proven knowledge of concept, issues and techniques of Email Security. Ability to detect, monitor, analyse and prevent unauthorised access, loss or compromise of business email accounts.

Desirable

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

Qualifications

Essential

  • Post-graduate 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.

Employer details

Employer name

NHS England

Address

Wellington Place, Leeds / Hexagon House, Exeter

Leeds / Exeter

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

Leeds / Exeter

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 Lead (Analyst)

John Mitchell

england.cyberoperationsrecruitment@nhs.net

Details

Date posted

27 August 2025

Pay scheme

Agenda for change

Band

Band 7

Salary

£57,372 to £65,652 a year (this includes a RRP payment of 20%).

Contract

Fixed term

Duration

14 months

Working pattern

Full-time

Reference number

990-TD-15002-TFN-E

Job locations

Wellington Place, Leeds / Hexagon House, Exeter

Leeds / Exeter

LS1 4AP


Supporting documents

Privacy notice

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