Head of Cyber Security

Location:

Mosley St, Manchester M2 3HQ
, UK

Job Type:
Permanent, Full-time

‘Head of Cyber Security position, CISO role within the Public Service Ombudsman organisation’

‘Responsibilities include setting cyber security strategy, overseeing security operations, and managing vulnerabilities’

‘Applications encouraged from underrepresented groups:
Asian, Black, Mixed Ethnicity, disabled, LGBTQ’

‘Benefits include Civil Service Pension scheme, hybrid working, Employee Assistance Programme, and various discounts’

‘Application process involves answering four scored questions, real examples and clear explanations required’

Closing date: 04 November 2026

Interview dates: (in person) 30 November 2026

At the Public Service Ombudsman, we make final decisions on complaints that have not been resolved by UK Government departments and the NHS in England. We work closely with people to understand where, how and why public services sometimes fall short and fail to put people first. We share findings from our casework to help Parliament scrutinise public service providers. We also share our findings more widely to help drive improvements in public services and complaint handling.

Our culture is open, friendly and supportive. We listen, we learn, and we treat everyone with dignity and respect. Inclusion and wellbeing are at the heart of how we work, and we strive to create a workplace where every colleague feels valued, supported and able to thrive.

We work in a modern, flexible way built on trust and autonomy. You will split your time between working from home and spending around 40% of your week in our Manchester or London office, where collaboration and connection with your team are an important part of how we work.

Please note that we were formally known as The Parliamentary and Health Service Ombudsman.

The Head of Cyber Security has an important role in protecting our digital services, cloud platforms, systems and sensitive data. The focus is on making sure cyber risks are understood and managed while supporting the secure delivery of digital services. The postholder will be the organisation’s Chief Information Security Officer (CISO).

Covering both strategy and day-to-day security, the work includes setting our cyber security approach, overseeing security operations and responding to significant incidents. It also involves managing vulnerabilities, reviewing security controls and making sure security is considered when new services and systems are developed.

Working closely with colleagues across architecture, engineering, product and delivery is an important part of the role. There is also responsibility for developing our cyber security capability, supporting good security practice across the organisation and providing clear advice to senior leaders.

• a forward-thinking cyber security leader who can turn strategy into practical action.
• confident in balancing cyber risks, organisational priorities and available resources.
• experienced in building effective security capabilities and holding suppliers to account.
• skilled at creating ownership and driving improvements across organisational boundaries.
• a clear and credible communicator who can influence decisions at Board and executive level.

We recognise the value of lived experience. If you have experience of complaining about any public body, we strongly encourage you to apply.

• Civil Service Pension scheme
• 32.5 days annual leave (plus bank holidays on top)
• hybrid working, 40 percent office based
• one day paid volunteering leave per year
• flexible working
• access to a free, confidential Employee Assistance Programme offering 24/7 advice and support from professionals and counsellors
• comprehensive…