Cyber Security Advisor

About this role

The Cyber Security Advisor is a key role within the national cyber services portfolio, supporting the delivery of the NHS Data Security and Protection Toolkit (DSPT), the national data security assurance framework for health and care organisations. The DSPT receives over 61,000 submissions annually and provides critical assurance information used to inform policy development, identify and manage cyber security risks, and monitor security maturity across the health and care sector.

The post holder will support organisations throughout the annual DSPT submission cycle, providing expert guidance, managing complex enquiries, supporting platform development and testing activities, and delivering communications, webinars and engagement initiatives. The role is responsible for ensuring service requests and issues are managed effectively and consistently, maintaining high standards of customer service and supporting organisations to meet their data security obligations.

In addition to the DSPT, the post holder will contribute to the delivery and continuous improvement of wider national cyber security services, working with service owners, stakeholders and operational teams to support service delivery, user engagement and the successful implementation of cyber security initiatives across the NHS.

Act as a subject matter expert for the DSPT, providing guidance and support to health and care organisations.

Manage and resolve complex enquiries and third-line support requests, escalating issues where appropriate.

Support organisations throughout the annual DSPT submission cycle, ensuring timely and consistent service delivery.

Contribute to the development and enhancement of the DSPT platform through requirements gathering, testing and service improvement activities.

Develop and deliver communications, guidance materials, webinars and stakeholder engagement activities.

Support the implementation of policy changes and translate policy requirements into operational processes and guidance.

Produce reports and management information to support service delivery, performance monitoring and decision-making.

Build and maintain effective relationships with internal and external stakeholders, including NHS organisations, care providers, suppliers and partner organisations.

Work collaboratively with service owners and operational teams to plan, coordinate and deliver national cyber security services.

Identify opportunities to improve processes, user experience and service effectiveness.

Support the delivery of wider cyber security services, including awareness and training initiatives, cyber assurance activities and technical security programmes.

NHS England has a wide range of statutory functions, responsibilities and regulatory powers. These are focused on supporting the wider NHS to deliver high quality care, as well as doing those things that are best done once for the whole NHS.

Our staff bring expertise across clinical, operational, commissioning, technology, data science, cyber security, software engineering, education, and commercial specialisms — enabling us to design and deliver high-quality NHS services.

In March 2025, the Government announced that NHS England and the Department of Health and Social Care will increasingly merge functions, ultimately leading to NHS England being fully integrated into the department.

If you currently work within the NHS and if successful at interview, we will initiate an Inter Authority Transfer (IAT) via the Electronic Staff Record (ESR). This retrieves key data from your current or previous NHS employer to support onboarding, including competency status, Continuous Service Dates (CSD), and annual leave entitlement. You may opt out at any stage of the process.

Colleagues with a contractual office base are expected to spend, on average, at least 40% of their time working in our offices.

Staff recruited from outside the NHS will usually be appointed at the bottom of the pay band.

We cannot offer visa sponsorship for any vacancies.

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.

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 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

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!

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