# Head of Security Architecture > NHS job listing from Job Clerk for Manchester University NHS Foundation Trust. ## Canonical URLs - **HTML:** https://www.jobclerk.com/job/head-of-security-architecture/972b5574-e409-40c9-aad3-b6a086656bd2 - **Markdown:** https://www.jobclerk.com/job/head-of-security-architecture/972b5574-e409-40c9-aad3-b6a086656bd2.md ## Summary - **Status:** Live - **Employer:** Manchester University NHS Foundation Trust - **Location:** Manchester University NHS Trust - **Workplace type:** onsite - **Profession:** Estates and facilities - **Grade:** Band 8 - **Salary:** £79,504 - £91,609 per annum / pro rata - **Contract type:** Permanent - **Employment type:** Full time - 37.5 hours per week - **Closing date:** 2026-08-27T22:59:00.000Z - **Posted:** 2026-08-20T15:50:48.516Z - **Source information URL:** https://www.healthjobsuk.com/job/UK/Manchester/Cobbett_House/Manchester_University_NHS_Foundation_Trust/Cyber_security/Cyber_security-v8030116 - **Application URL:** https://apps.trac.jobs/job-advert/8030116?ShowJobAdvert=&feedid=9002 - **Employer website:** https://www.mft.nhs.uk ## Job Content ### 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. Explore ‘Inside MFT – Your Candidate Place’ To help you feel confident, prepared and fully informed before you apply, we invite you to explore Inside MFT – Your Candidate Place. This welcoming one‑stop hub gives you a real sense of who we are — what we stand for, how we reward and support you, and the many ways we care for you as you care for others. You’ll also find practical hints and tips for submitting a great application, along with the essential information you need to know before you apply. To access ‘Inside MFT – Your Candidate Place, simply click on the relevant PDF document under the ‘Supporting Documents’ section and once opened, you can where either scan QR code or click on the link provided. 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. ## Person Specification ### Knowledge **Essential** - Proven and significant leadership experience and/or formal management qualification - Demonstrated expertise in an IT Security environment - A good practical knowledge of security technologies and wider business solutions including Firewalls, IDS/IPS, Identity and access management, SIEM, SOAR, PAM, remote working and cloud technologies - Proven experience of working at a senior level leading and delivering IT Security in a sensitive and complex environment which is undergoing significant change - Demonstrable commitment to partnership working with a range of external organisations - Experience in engaging and influencing stakeholders from diverse backgrounds - Project management experience - Experience in implementing / developing security policies and technical documentation - Experienced in developing and managing best-of-breed enterprise IT security solutions and processes - Robust understanding of audits and review process - Expert knowledge of security standards, legislation and best practice - Experienced in leading, developing, performance managing and motivating a team of subject matter experts - Experience providing IT focused Enterprise Architecture and strategy. **Desirable** - Understanding of the role of Data in all aspects of NHS operational activity and ‘business’ processes. - Previously worked within an NHS environment - Significant management experience at senior level in the NHS - Experience of delivering presentations to large groups of stakeholders ### Qualifications **Essential** - Education to master’s level or equivalent senior level experience - Advanced level of IT literacy with experience of using a range of IT applications - Significant evidence of continued professional development **Desirable** - Formal certification such as CISSP and/or CISM, and/or formal training in information security standards and best practice (e.g.: ISO 27001/2, COBIT, Cyber Essentials) TOGAF SABSA ITIL Certification ### Other Requirements **Essential** - Contactable / on-call Cover / call-out in Major Incident in the Trust or Major Digital Project go-lives. ## Documents - [jd and ps (pdf, 310.5kb)](https://www.healthjobsuk.com/documents?vdoc=10555808) - [functional requirements (pdf, 920.2kb)](https://www.healthjobsuk.com/documents?vdoc=10555810) - [inside mft – your candidate place (pdf, 306.4kb)](https://www.healthjobsuk.com/documents?edoc=2890) ## Agent Notes - This Markdown page is generated from the same Job Clerk job record as the HTML job detail page. - Use the canonical HTML URL for user-facing references. - Use the application URL when the user wants to apply on the source NHS site.