Salary: £78,600

Location: Taunton
Apply before: 11:55 pm on Sunday 18th October 2026

Job Summary

The UK Hydrographic Office (UKHO) is seeking an experienced cyber security leader to join its Technology Directorate as Head of Cyber Security (CISO). Reporting to the Chief Digital & Technology Officer, you will lead the organisation's cyber security strategy, governance, risk management, and security operations.

As UKHO's cyber security lead, you will work with executive leaders to ensure cyber risks are identified, understood, and managed effectively, protecting critical services, sensitive information, and national security interests. You will provide leadership across cyber operations, incident response, security assurance, secure-by-design delivery, and resilience, while strengthening security awareness and accountability across the organisation.

Working closely with the Ministry of Defence, government security partners, suppliers, and internal stakeholders, you will support strategic decision-making and drive continual improvement in cyber maturity and resilience.

We are looking for a proven cyber security professional with experience in developing strategy, leading teams, managing risk in complex environments, and advising senior leaders. Strong leadership, stakeholder management, and governance skills are essential, alongside recognised qualifications such as CISSP, CISM, CCSP, or equivalent.

This is an opportunity to lead cyber security for a nationally important organisation, ensuring the resilience, security, and integrity of the UK's hydrographic and geospatial services.

Hybrid Working

This job role can be worked on a hybrid basis, working between the office in Taunton and remotely within the UK. Office attendance is expected 60% of the time. There will be a requirement to attend meetings at higher classifications, which will mean office attendance is required.

Job Description

• Provide strategic leadership for cyber security across the organisation, ensuring security priorities support business objectives, operational resilience, and national security requirements.
• Act as the organisation’s senior cyber security adviser, giving expert guidance to executives and senior leaders on cyber risk, threats, incidents, and investment decisions.
• Own the cyber risk and assurance framework, ensuring risks are identified, assessed, reported, and managed appropriately, with clear recommendations for leadership action.
• Lead the organisation’s cyber security operations, overseeing threat monitoring, vulnerability management, incident response, and recovery activities to maintain a strong security posture.
• Ensure security is embedded into technology programmes, projects, procurement activities, and enterprise architecture, promoting a secure-by-design approach to change delivery.
• Develop and maintain effective cyber security policies, standards, and governance processes, ensuring compliance with MOD, government, and regulatory requirements.
• Build and lead a high-performing cyber security capability, developing skills, setting priorities, managing suppliers, and driving continuous improvement across people, process, and technology.
• Strengthen organisational cyber resilience and security culture through stakeholder engagement, awareness initiatives, assurance activities, and collaboration with MOD, government, and industry partners.