Senior Information Security Analyst

Salary: £45,272 to £56,844 Per Annum (Dependent on Skills & Experience)

• Hours: Full Time (Flexible Working)
• Contract Type: Open Ended (Compressed Hours & Flexible Working Available)
• Location: Keyworth, Nottingham or Polaris House, Swindon (Hybrid Working)

Band: UKRI Band E

Closing Date: Sunday 26 October 2025
 

Step into the world where cutting-edge science meets robust information security. Protect the technology that powers groundbreaking discoveries and be part of the team that safeguards the future of Big Science. Here, you’ll collaborate with leading engineers, researchers, and technologists to tackle the most pressing security challenges in a fast-paced, innovative environment. Every day offers you the chance to defend vital data and systems, ensuring that the pursuit of scientific excellence continues securely and seamlessly.

Discover the difference you can make when you bring your expertise in information security to an organisation at the forefront of global research - working alongside some of the brightest minds and most advanced facilities in the world.

Security:

As a minimum, due to the nature of this role, candidates must be eligible for clearance in line with UK National vetting guidelines and willing to undertake the process. Please indicate eligibility in the written submission. Candidates not meeting this level of clearance will not be considered. 

The level of clearance required is security check  

Job Overview:

The UKRI CIO Group plays a pivotal role in managing and optimising the organisations critical enterprise technical services that underpin and enable UKRI’s business capabilities. Within the group a team of Information Security Professionals support the delivery of modern, secure, resilient and scalable services across a larger federated team of Digital, Data and Technology professionals to deliver impact across the organisation and the wider UK research and innovation system. 

Join us for this rare opportunity to apply your expertise in information security in a dynamic, fast-paced security operational and strategic role in an organisation at the heart of research and innovation in the UK. Working as part of a team of technical specialists, your broad remit is to ensure the security and integrity of the organisation's IT infrastructure. You will work closely with development, operations, architecture and security teams to implement and maintain secure systems and protocols, monitor for security threats, respond to incidents, and continuously improve the security posture.

Key Responsibilities:

• Work collaboratively across the organisation to identify, assess, and mitigate risks, ensuring security policies and processes align with organisational objectives and regulatory requirements.
• Advise stakeholders and implement effective security solutions, providing oversight for vulnerability assessments, remediation activities, and technical control evaluations.
• Promote a culture of security by participating in awareness programs, supporting internal and external audits, and assisting in the development of policy, standards, and procedures.
• Lead the collection, analysis, and presentation of InfoSec performance metrics, and prepare briefings for senior leaders on studies and plans.
• Analyse data from security assessment tools and systems, identify process inefficiencies, and contribute innovative solutions to improve security and efficiency across projects and initiatives

Personal Specification:

The below criteria will be scored during Shortlisting (S), Interview (I) or both (S&I).

Essential

• A professional certification (e.g., CISM, CISSP, CompTIA Security+, CCSP or AWS certification).  
• Degree in a related subject or relevant comparable education.   
• Solid experience with risk assessment methodologies and vulnerability management processes, including relevant tooling. (S&I)
• Excellent analytical, problem-solving, and decision-making skills, with strong attention to detail. (I)
• Proficient in communicating complex security concepts to non-technical stakeholders and collaborating across departments and third-party providers. (S&I)
• Demonstrable knowledge of information security frameworks, regulations (such as ISO27001, NIST, and GDPR), and security technologies and controls. (S&I)
• Proven ability to lead and drive security initiatives, respond to security incidents, and conduct investigations. (S&I)
• Comprehensive understanding of information security management concepts. (S&I)

Desirable

• Demonstratable success in (security) service contracting and supplier management (S&I) 
• Demonstratable leadership and mentoring experience in managing security professionals, with proven people management skills and potential for further development. (S&I)
• Effective management of security projects and initiatives. (S&I)
• Proficient in cloud platform security and knowledgeable in IT networking principles. (S&I)
• Strong understanding of security architecture principles and processes. (S&I)

Application Guidance:

You are encouraged to use the STAR method (Situation, Task, Action, Result) in the cover letter to evidence your ability to meet the ‘person specification’ criteria in the job description. Cover letters should be no more than two sides of A4 (minimum font size 11). For examples of the STAR method, please visit: The STAR method | National Careers Service’

Behaviours:

We'll assess you against these behaviours during the selection process: 

• Managing a quality service 
• Seeing the Big Picture 
• Stage 0 - Pre-Application

• Changing And Improving

• Delivering At Pace

• Managing a quality service 
• Seeing the Big Picture 
• Stage 0 - Pre-Application

Selection Process Details:

If you would like to find out more about the role we encourage prospective applicants to get in touch with us to discuss the opportunity.  

Stage 1 - Written Submission

Candidates will need to submit a written application which consists of 2 parts: 

• A CV – this should contain your work experience and any skills, qualifications and accomplishments relevant to the jobs you have completed based on the shortlisting criteria. 
• A personal statement (max. 1000 words) - this statement should be used to provide examples of how you meet the essential criteria listed in the shortlisting criteria. 

Applications will be reviewed for suitability and shortlisted against the criteria detailed in the shortlisting criteria section of the job description. 

Stage 2 - Interview 

Applicants who are successful at stage 1 will be invited to interview. The interview will generally be 1 hour in length. The interview will consist of competency-based questions. A presentation will be required. 

Stage 3 – Outcome 

The panel outcome is decided and the successful candidate will be offered verbally first, followed by a formal offer letter.  

Benefits:

We recognise and value our employees as individuals and aim to provide a favourable pay and rewards package. We are committed to supporting employees' development and promote a culture of continuous learning!

A List Of Benefits Below:

• An outstanding defined benefit pension scheme
• 30 days' annual leave in addition to 10.5 public and privilege days (full time equivalent)
• Employee discounts and offers on retail and leisure activities
• Employee assistance programme, providing confidential help and advice
• Flexible working options

Plus many more benefits and wellbeing initiatives that enable our employees to have a great work life balance! For further information on our benefits please see:

Benefits of working at UK Research and Innovation (UKRI) 

Other Important Information:

Please Note: If you will require sponsorship to work in the UK, as part of your sponsorship application, you and any dependants travelling with you, will be required to pay costs directly to The Home Office for the application before you start your role with us. UKRI is normally able to reimburse some, or all of these fees after you have become an employee and this can be discussed with the Hiring Manager. For more information, please visit https://www.gov.uk/skilled-worker-visa/how-much-it-costs or contact Recruitment@ukri.org.

UKRI is an Equal Opportunity & Disability Confident Employer.

Please apply online, if you experience any issue applying, please contact recruitment@ukri.org

UKRI - UK Research and Innovation

UKRI is an organisation that brings together the seven disciplinary research councils, Research England and Innovate UK. Together, we build an independent organisation with a strong voice and vision ensuring the UK maintains its world-leading position in research and innovation.

Supporting some of the world’s most exciting and challenging research projects, we develop and operate some of the most remarkable scientific facilities in the world. We are pushing the frontiers of human knowledge through fundamental research and delivering benefits for UK society and the economy through world-class research, skills and business-led innovation.

More information can be found at www.ukri.org.

Choosing to come to work at UKRI means that you will have access to a whole host of benefits from a defined benefit pension scheme, excellent holiday entitlement, access to employee shopping/travel discounts and salary sacrifice cycle to work scheme.  For more details, visit benefits of working for UKRI.

How we support EDI in the workforce

At UKRI, we believe that everyone has a right to be treated with dignity and respect, and to be provided with equal opportunities to thrive and succeed in an environment that enables them to do so. We also value diversity of thought and experience within inclusive groups, organisations and the wider community. For further information, please visit ‘How we support EDI in the workforce’.

Disability Confident Employer

As users of the disability confident scheme, we guarantee to interview all applicants with a disability who opt into the disability confident scheme and meet the minimum criteria for the role. We will ensure that individuals with disabilities are provided reasonable accommodation to participate in the job application or interview process, to perform essential job functions, and to receive other benefits and privileges of employment. Please contact us to request accommodation.

How To Apply

Online applications only preferred for this role. Please submit a CV and covering letter which clearly outlines how you fulfil the criteria specified along with your motivation for UKRI and the role. Ensure that the job reference number is included in the filename description of each document uploaded. Note that failure to address the above criteria or submit an application without a covering letter may result in the application not being considered. Assessment will only be based upon the content of your submitted covering letter and CV and not the ‘experience’ section of the application.

UKRI seeks to ensure it creates and maintains a system of openness, fairness and inclusion – a collaborative, trusted environment, which is attractive to and accessible to everyone who is interested in developing their career with us.

The role holder will be required to have the appropriate level of security screening/vetting required for the role.  UKRI reserves the right to run or re-run security clearance as required during the course of employment.