Head of Cyber Defence

Overview

In this role you will lead enterprise-wide cyber defence, shaping security strategy and governance to protect critical systems and data. You will drive security operations, threat detection, incident response, and resilience initiatives in collaboration with risk and compliance teams. You will report to senior leadership with actionable insights on threats, posture, and risk exposure, while managing external vendors and developing your cyber security team. This is a mission-driven opportunity to strengthen governance and proactive defense in a regulated landscape.

Responsibilities

• Lead the Cyber Defence function, overseeing security operations, threat intelligence, vulnerability management, and incident response capabilities
• Develop and implement cyber defence strategies, policies, and procedures to protect against evolving threats
• Direct Security Operations Centre (SOC) activities, ensuring monitoring, detection, investigation, and response to incidents
• Oversee threat intelligence programmes, identifying risks and implementing proactive defensive measures
• Lead cyber incident response activities, coordinating technical teams and stakeholders during security events
• Manage vulnerability assessment and remediation programmes across enterprise infrastructure and applications
• Collaborate with technology, risk, compliance, and business teams to strengthen organisational cyber resilience
• Provide strategic advice and reporting to senior leadership on cyber threats, security posture, and risk exposure
• Manage relationships with external security vendors, consultants, and industry partners
• Lead, mentor, and develop a team of cyber security professionals

Key requirements

• extensive experience leading cyber security and cyber defence functions within complex, highly regulated environments (insurance and financial services)

• stakeholder management
• team leadership and development
• communication and reporting
• Security Operations (SOC)
• Incident Response & Crisis Management
• Threat intelligence

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