Head of Security Architecture

Job overview

The Head of Security Architecture will lead the development and implementation of the Trust’s security architecture, ensuring that all technology solutions are secure by design and aligned to organisational objectives, regulatory requirements, and the Trust’s risk appetite.

The role is accountable for defining and embedding security architecture principles, standards, and patterns across the Trust’s digital estate, covering, on premises, cloud, and third-party environments. This includes shaping solution designs, influencing technology decisions, and ensuring security requirements are consistently applied throughout the lifecycle of programmes and projects.

Working closely with colleagues across cyber security, digital, clinical and operational disciplines, the post holder will ensure that security architecture supports effective risk reduction, resilience and compliance with frameworks such as DSPT (CAF).

The role will also provide leadership across security architecture and engineering, developing capability, driving continuous improvement, and ensuring the Trust can respond to an evolving threat landscape while enabling safe digital transformation.

The post holder will lead and be accountable for the security architecture function. This includes recruiting, training and inspiring a new team of security architects and engineers.

Main duties of the job

Leads the design and governance of the Trust’s enterprise security architecture, ensuring alignment with strategy, regulatory requirements, and zero-trust principles; oversees security technologies and standards; manages architectural risk and compliance; supports incident response; and provides leadership, stakeholder engagement, and strategic direction for cyber architecture capability across the organisation.

Detailed job description and main responsibilities

To find out more about the key responsibilities and the specific skills and experience you’ll need for this role, take a look at the Job Description & Person Specification attachments under the ‘Supporting Documents’ heading.

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Closing vacancy listings early

We welcome applications from a wide range of backgrounds and experiences. To help us manage applications fairly and give each one the time it deserves, our adverts may close early if we receive a high level of interest. Early applications are therefore encouraged.

Diversity Matters MFT is committed to promoting equality of opportunity, celebrating and valuing diversity and eliminating any form of unlawful discrimination across our workforce, ensuring our people are truly representative of the communities we serve. All individuals regardless of age, disability, gender reassignment, marriage and civil partnership, pregnancy and maternity, race, religion or belief, sex and sexual orientation are encouraged to apply for this post. As an inclusive employer, we are here to support you. If you have any special requirements to help you with your application, please contact the manager named below.

Use of Artificial Intelligence (AI) in your application

Here at Manchester University NHS Foundation Trust, we’re proud to be ALL HERE FOR YOU—for our patients, our communities, and each other. As part of our commitment to fairness, transparency, and personal integrity, we ask all applicants to ensure that their job applications reflect their own experiences, skills, and motivations. While AI tools can support spelling, grammar, or formatting, we expect that the content of your application—especially personal statements and responses to role-specific questions—is written by you. This helps us get to know the real you and ensures that our recruitment process remains equitable and meaningful for everyone.

Thank you for helping us uphold the values that make our Trust a place where people belong, grow, and thrive. We look forward to receiving your application.