ICT Head of Cyber Security

ICT Head of Cyber Security Office: King's College Hospital NHS Foundation Trust - Denmark Hill

Closing date: 18 June 2026

Overview: The ICT Head of Cyber Security will act as the Trust's expert on cyber security protection, detection, response, and recovery. The role sets the strategic direction for cyber threat management and the planning of security solutions, while leading and developing the Trust's cyber security team.

Main duties of the job

• Lead strategic planning for current and future IT security solutions, aligning with best practice and emerging technologies
• Collaborate with teams to ensure compliance with security standards
• Lead on internal and external audits and audit preparation relating to IT security
• Maintain compliance with standards including DSPT, CareCERT, Cyber Essentials+, NIS, and ISO 27001
• Act as the Trust's advisor on cyber security protection, detection, response and recovery
• Develop and advise on implementing policies, procedures, and guidance for cyber and IT security systems and processes
• Advise ICT senior leaders to shape a robust IT security service across the department and its systems
• Monitor incidents and take appropriate actions to correct, notify and prevent reoccurrence
• Work with technical teams to maintain all security tools and technology used in the department
• Work with technical teams to deliver and manage cyber security and compliance across internal and externally hosted systems
• Undertake scoping and delivery of penetration tests and ensure actions are resolved
• Supporting wider IT functions in the evaluation and implementation of new technology and controls
• Defining and documenting a security incident response program
• Respond to high priority NHS Digital Care Cert alerts in line with NHS Digital requirements
• Produce a monthly cyber security KPI report for the Trust Information Governance Committee and ICT senior leaders

Job responsibilities

• Maintain, update, and implement Trust policies in scope of the ICT department covering all aspects of information security and cyber activities
• Draft, develop, implement and maintain a portfolio of policies relating to all aspects of cyber security within ICT
• Ensure compliance with Trust policy and procedures is fully supported in forums such as the Trust unsupported systems group, the Trust ATP management group, patch management groups and any other future forums
• Provide expertise around Cyber Security for the purchase of new systems and applications via the Trust ICT PMO processes and procurement. Ensure all new systems and applications to be deployed across the estate have a full security review and sign off before proceeding to go-live
• Carry out Continual Service Improvement (CSI) of existing Trust processes and procedures
• Identify, propose and implement changes to practices and procedures required in departmental and user environment to improve service levels
• Ensure that all cyber security risks are updated and managed via the Trust risk and issues process
• Manage the Change Control process within the ICT department
• Revenue and staffing budget holder for IT Security, including procurement of physical assets or supplies and capital expenditure
• Advise departments on the security of IT equipment
• Monitor and advise on software licence compliance in association with the Software Asset Manager
• Advice and guidance on the purchase of IT security equipment
• Exercise duty of care when using Trust equipment (computers and software)
• Advise ICT senior leaders on the most cost effective method for maintaining the integrity and security of data and equipment
• Regularly research security developments and requirements on national forums and support from the National Cybersecurity Centre
• Regularly research virus and security alerts provided by NHS information security service
• Keep up to date with developments in IT infrastructure and related technologies
• Contribute to the ICT Cyber security approach and strategy
• Undertake surveys and compliance audits determined by legislation and national guidelines using on line and developed information systems when necessary, to ascertain scores against the standards
• Line manage the technical staff within the cyber security team. Participate in regular performance appraisal meetings and ensure each team member has a clear set of objectives and development plans
• Ensure performance issues are dealt with in an appropriate and timely manner and follow the Trust's disciplinary or performance procedures where formal action is necessary
• Ensure working practice complies with the Trust's policies and procedures for Data Protection, Confidentiality and Health and Safety, ensuring the environment in which you and your staff work is safe, clean and tidy
• Observe and continually promote equal opportunities in compliance with the Trust's policies and values
• Develop team morale and motivation through effective personal leadership, ensuring views and decisions are communicated both up and down the management structure
• Communicate highly complex issues to a wide range of non technical end users from multiple backgrounds and organisations, including difficult users
• Have excellent documentation writing skills to create and develop processes and procedures relating to the services delivered by the cyber security team
• Communicate effectively with third party vendors around the Trust cyber security requirements
• Have excellent interpersonal skills, building effective professional relationships with end users, departmental system administrators and departmental managers
• Be an effective team player, and act on your own initiative
• Provide training to groups (large and small) and provide ad hoc advice to other support staff
• Have effective communication skills, both verbal and written, essential for liaising with individuals at all levels of the Trust, from board level to lower grade staff
• Provide expert advice to line manager on all matters relating to cyber security impact
• Apply industry standard project management approaches to the implementation of all cyber security deployment work with the Trust projects and programme team
• Work with Trust teams to ensure a programme to deliver induction messages to meet statutory training requirements in information security and cyber security
• Plan and manage a range of cyber security groups and forums such as the ATP group, unsupported systems group, ICT security reviews group and patch management group
• Plan and manage the Trust Cyber security risk register as part of the wider ICT risks and their link to the Trust risks
• Maintain the agreed work programme with the team and ensure through time management and objective setting that targets are achieved
• Lead, coach and manage the performance of the team in line with good people management practices, recognising excellence and addressing underperformance
• Ensure the team is compliant with all statutory, mandatory training together with any professional training requirements, keeping them up to date and fully compliant
• Manage team absences including sickness in line with Trust policy, ensuring the appropriate return to work meetings occur, e roster is updated and productivity remains at the highest possible level
• Identify and fill vacancies that arise within the team in line with the Trust's recruitment policy and process
• Identify talent and support the internal talent management process in order to attract and retain and succession plan for your people
• Review skill mix at regular intervals to maximise resource utilisation/allocation, ensuring job descriptions are kept up to date
• Ensure overall wellbeing of the team is maintained, continuously supporting improved morale and implementing a culture of zero tolerance for bullying and harassment
• Have a general duty of care for own health, safety and wellbeing and that of work colleagues, visitors and patients within the hospital, in addition to any specific risk management or clinical governance accountabilities associated with this post
• Observe the rules, policies, procedures and standards of King's College Hospital NHS Foundation Trust together with all relevant statutory and professional obligations
• Observe and maintain strict confidentiality of personal information relating to patients and staff
• Be responsible, with management support, for personal development and actively contribute to the development of colleagues

Person Specification Education and Qualifications

• Educated to Degree Level or significant cyber security experience plus Master's level or equivalent experience
• Hold and retain a security industry recognised qualification (HCISSP, CISSP, CISM, CISA, CRISC, CSSP)
• ITIL Foundation, Prince 2 Foundation; knowledge of the full product development lifecycle

Knowledge and Experience

• Broad technical knowledge covering all aspects of infrastructure from networking, end user devices through to servers and data centres
• Fluent, logical and confident communication with a wide range of staff levels; possess good interpersonal and communication skills
• Broad experience using a range of cyber security software and applications (access control software, anti virus software, network monitoring tools, Microsoft security features, PAMs, internet monitoring tools . click apply for full job details