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Job summary

Main area
DDaT
Grade
NHS AfC: Band 8c
Contract
Permanent
Hours
Full time - 37.5 hours per week
Job ref
193-7566113COR
Employer
Royal Berkshire NHS Foundation Trust
Employer type
NHS
Site
Royal Berkshire Hospital
Town
Reading
Salary
£76,965 - £88,682 per annum
Salary period
Yearly
Closing
14/11/2025 23:59
Interview date
30/11/2025

Employer heading

Royal Berkshire NHS Foundation Trust logo

Head of Security

NHS AfC: Band 8c

At the Royal Berkshire NHS Foundation Trust we put our patients at the heart of every element of health and care that we provide. The Trust works together as a community to deliver its vision which is “Working together to provide outstanding care for our community.”

Royal Berkshire Hospital are pleased to announce that following our CQC inspection we have been rated ‘Good’ with inspectors reporting that we have made significant improvements.  The Trust’s overall rating has also improved to ‘good’.  

We are Compassionate in our thoughts, words and actions

We are Aspirational and have a true desire to be dynamic and to innovate

We are Resourceful and responsible in the way we work and live

We are Excellent in our development, fairness and sharing best practice

At the Royal Berkshire NHS Foundation Trust, we value candidates who bring their unique personalities, skills, and experiences to the Trust. When completing your application, we encourage you to highlight your individual achievements and strengths, showing us how they align with the requirements outlined in the job description and person specification. While we recognise that some applicants may use AI tools during the process, please be mindful that AI-generated responses can often lack the personal detail and relevance needed to demonstrate your suitability for the role. AI generated content is discouraged by the Trust and may diminish the candidates chances of success.

Amazing things happen at the Royal Berkshire NHS Foundation Trust; delivered by amazing people so why don’t you come and join us.  We offer a range of learning and development for all employees may you be clinical or non-clinical.  

Job overview

We are seeking an experienced and visionary Head of Security  to lead the Trust’s cyber, information security, resilience, and governance strategy. This senior leadership role sits within the Digital Data & Technology (DDaT) team and plays a critical part in safeguarding patient and organisational data, enabling secure digital transformation, and aligning local strategies with ICS and national initiatives.

The postholder will act as the Deputy Senior Information Risk Owner (SIRO) and provide strategic and operational leadership across architecture, infrastructure, live services, cyber security, and information governance.

Main duties of the job

  • Develop and implement a comprehensive cyber and information security strategy across the Trust and ICS.
  • Lead risk management, resilience planning, and compliance with national frameworks including ISO27001, DSPT, and Cyber Essentials+.
  • Provide expert advice to senior stakeholders and technical teams on emerging threats and mitigation strategies.
  • Chair assurance groups and lead internal audit controls for DDaT security.
  • Collaborate with Emergency Preparedness teams to ensure cyber threats are integrated into resilience planning.
  • Manage budgets, business cases, and funding proposals for cyber initiatives.
  • Promote a culture of continuous improvement, training, and professional development across the security function.
  • Deputise for the Associate Director of Digital Operations when required.

Working for our organisation

Diversity makes us interesting… Inclusion is what will make us outstanding.

Inequality exists and the journey to eliminate it is not easy. Every step we take will be a purposeful step forward to deliver a truly inclusive culture where all our people are enabled to deliver outstanding care, where background is no barrier, and where everyone can be their authentic self and we truly represent our patient community.

We are committed to equal opportunities and welcome applications from all sections of the community, regardless of any protected characteristics. Reasonable adjustments will be made for disabled applicants where possible. All applicants who have a disability and meet the minimum criteria for the post can opt for a guaranteed interview.

If you need additional help with your application please get in touch by calling the recruitment team on 0118 322 6997 or 0118 322 5342.

Our primary method of communication will be via email. However, if you would prefer to be contacted through a different method, please inform the recruitment team.

Detailed job description and main responsibilities

As Head of Security, you will:

  • Lead the development of a risk-based cyber and information security strategy, ensuring alignment with ICS and national plans.
  • Monitor compliance with professional and regulatory standards and lead internal audits.
  • Provide strategic oversight of cyber architecture, live services, and infrastructure delivery.
  • Evaluate and articulate business risks related to cyber threats and recommend disaster recovery solutions.
  • Engage with stakeholders across the Trust and ICS to raise awareness and improve cyber resilience.
  • Develop and manage an information security awareness portfolio and training programmes.
  • Ensure governance structures are robust and support effective decision-making and issue resolution.
  • Represent the Trust at senior committees and contribute to the Digital Oversight Group and Digital Hospital Committee.
  • Drive cost savings and income generation through strategic use of digital services.
  • Foster a culture of customer service and continuous improvement within the DDaT team.
  • Ensure compliance with legal and ethical responsibilities including GDPR, Health & Safety, and Information Governance policies.

Person specification

Qualifications

Essential criteria
  • Masters level degree or equivalent experience in a related subject
  • Formal certification (ISACA: Certified Information Security Manager (CISM). CISSP, or CRISC) and/or formal training in information security standards and best practice (e.g.: ISO 27001/2, COBIT), or equivalent work experience demonstrating understanding of the same.
Desirable criteria
  • Professional Enterprise Architecture Qualification e.g. SABSA (Sherwood Applied Business Security Architecture), TOGAF (The Open Group Architecture Framework) or equivalent.

Experience

Essential criteria
  • Proven Ability to translate business requirements into delivered solutions in the context of information security.
Desirable criteria
  • IT experience gained in both and Acute and Community setting

Employer certification / accreditation badges

NHS Pastoral Care Quality AwardApprenticeships logoNo smoking policyCare quality commission - GoodArmed Forces Covenant Gold AwardMindful employer.  Being positive about mental health.Disability confident employerStonewall equality policy. Equality and justice for lesbians, gay men, bisexual and trans people.Florence Nightingale FoundationNational Preceptorship for Nursing Quality Mark 2024

Applicant requirements

The postholder will have access to vulnerable people in the course of their normal duties and as such this post is subject to the Rehabilitation of Offenders Act 1974 (Exceptions) Order 1975 (Amendment) (England and Wales) Order 2020 and as such it will be necessary for a submission for Disclosure to be made to the Disclosure and Barring Service to check for any previous criminal convictions.

Documents to download

Apply online now

Further details / informal visits contact

Name
Eghosa Bazuaye
Job title
Associate Director of Digital Operations
Email address
[email protected]
Telephone number
0118 322 5111
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