Cyber Development Lead

Cyber Development Lead 

Full time / Part time  

  

Salary: £55,591 - £62,974 with potential for further progression to £70,907 with our pay progression scheme.  

  

Location: Hybrid  

Contracted to our Wilmslow, London, Edinburgh, Cardiff or Belfast office, however, we offer flexible home and office-based working opportunities. There will be times when you will be expected to attend the office to collaborate with colleagues or travel due to business need.   

  

Why work for the ICO?  

 

• Pay progression scheme. 

• Hybrid and flexible working options.   

• 25 days paid holiday per year, plus privilege and public holidays.  

• Flexi leave (up to 26 additional days leave per year).  

• Pension (employer contribution around 28.9%).  

• Online discount scheme to save money at major supermarkets, retailers, gyms, restaurants, insurance providers and many more.  

• Health Cash Plan.  

• Fantastic development opportunities to learn and progress.  

  

Further details can be found on the benefits section of our website .  

  

Job summary 

 

The cyber threat landscape changes constantly, with attacks targeting both information and system resilience increasing in frequency and size. The Regulatory Cyber Directorate is part of our wider Regulatory Supervision service. 

As a cyber security regulator, we use our expertise to provide advice and guidance and, where necessary, enforce legislation. We promote the use of security controls which represent good practice, and we work to provide regulatory certainty. Our mission is to ‘make cyber security accessible for everyone and drive change’. 

 

The Information Commissioner’s Office (ICO) is the independent regulator of information rights. In a data-driven world, we provide advice, guidance, and support to organisations enabling compliance with their obligations, as well as protecting individuals and their personal data.  

  

As an employer, we are passionate about making a positive difference to the lives and careers of our people, and we empower you to be curious, impactful, collaborative and respectful.  

 

 

 

Job description 

 

This role will support the development of cybersecurity profession and align the cyber activities performed across all ICO functions, coaching and developing specialist skills, at the direction and with the support of the Principal Cyber Specialist.  

 

The successful candidate will develop a wider understanding of current and future capability needs and promote an ethos of teaching, learning, mentoring and community participation in all aspects of cyber security. 

 

Key responsibilities: 

• Define the cyber security capabilities needed to meet current and future regulatory obligations, working collaborative with other parts of the ICO to document cyber professions requirements. 

• Review current capabilities in the area of cyber security, documenting the ‘as is’ landscape and assessing this against the capabilities needed to meet current and future regulatory obligations. 

• Review external cyber professions, analyse and understand how they can be leveraged within the ICO. 

• Ensure a professions pathway (inc. relevant training) is developed which aligns with ICO25 strategic priorities and the National Cyber Strategy. 

• Set standards for the cyber security profession within the organisation to build capability and capacity. 

• Providing guidelines on training and professional development and define appropriate competencies by role. 

• Lead on talent management, working with People Services to evaluate current retention metrics and carry out data analysis to inform proposals for attracting talent and ensure the retention of cyber skilled staff. 

• Meet regularly with colleagues across the organisation, with representatives from other regulatory bodies, and key sector stakeholders to understand emerging cyber related capacity and capability challenges and opportunities. 

• Encourage all staff to help and learn from one another, to play an active part in creating a cross-team cyber community and develop a culture of ‘life-long’ learning. 

• Work in collaboration with ICO colleagues, with the wider information security community and across strategic partners, such as NCSC, NCA and other regulators to identify and develop relevant training, placements, secondments, and shadowing opportunities. 

• Oversee and provide SME input into cross-function cyber career development planning, to create a diverse and inclusive profession that is able to perform effectively to meet current and future demands successfully. 

• Facilitate career conversations to support development activity, and create individual and/or group mentoring opportunities. 

• Support the Principal Cyber Specialist with the implementation of the Regulatory Cyber Target Operating Model (TOM), identifying future development opportunities. 

• To undertake such other duties that are required and are commensurate with the role of the post. 

 

Person specification  

 

Essential criteria assessed at application stage: 

• Experience relevant to the role requirements, as described in the role responsibilities and person specification, and accumulated through any combination of academic or vocational qualifications or experience. 

• Demonstrable experience in leading cybersecurity programmes of work. 

• An understanding of cyber pathways and existing industry recognised cyber certifications 

• Experience of delivering cross organisation change, with the ability to influence and guide both technical and non-technical colleagues and promote best practices. 

 

Essential criteria assessed during interview: 

 

• Excellent verbal, communication and interpersonal skills with people at all levels, using tact and diplomacy and able to collaborate with other teams to achieve objectives 

• Ability to motivate others to ensure engagement and ‘buy-in’ to any proposals/projects and ensure timely, quality outcomes. 

• Ability to develop knowledge and understanding across the range of work involved in the role so that they can contribute effectively and efficiently to the work of the Directorate  

• Excellent organisation skills, demonstrating an ability to manage workloads and identify key priorities in line with organisational strategy, directorate vision and the TOM. 

• Self-motivated and dynamic with the skills to identify issues and willingness to own remediations. 

• Ability to explain technical matters to a non-technical audience. 

• Personally effective – excellent organisational skills, ability to prioritise and delegate. 

• Excellent problem solving ability. 

• An ability to use good judgement to make decisions on high profile and complex issues. 

• Ability to collaborate effectively 

 

Equality, diversity, and inclusion  

   

The ICO is committed to promoting and enhancing equality, diversity, and inclusion. We are focused on developing a workforce that is representative of the communities we serve and together we are building an inclusive workplace where all of our colleagues have the opportunity to make a real difference. We are championing this through our Equality Diversity and Inclusion Board together with a number of staff networks. Read more about our commitment on our website.   

   

Candidates with a disability who meet the minimum criteria for this vacancy will be invited to interview as part of the ICO’s commitment to the Disability Confident Scheme.  

   

If you are disabled or have an impairment and require an alternative application method, please email the HR team at recruitment@ico.org.uk  

 

  

Closing Date  

  

Please submit your CV by 23:59, 21 April 2025   

  

We reserve the right to close this vacancy before this date should we receive sufficient applications. Please apply as soon as possible to ensure your application is considered.