Head Of Cyber Operations Defence - Cabinet Office - G6
Government Digital & Data -
Full-time (Permanent)
£69,308 - £80,342
Published on
20 May 2026
Deadline
4 June 2026
Location: Bristol, Glasgow, London, Manchester
Lead cyber defence at the heart of government. In the Cabinet Office, you’ll help protect critical systems and public-facing services like GOV.UK from real-world cyber threats, playing a key role in keeping the UK secure.
About the role
As Head of Cyber Operations Defence, you’ll lead the teams that detect, respond to and prevent cyber threats across the department. Working closely with the CISO, you’ll shape strategy, drive day-to-day operations, and lead major incident responses all while building a high-performing, resilient cyber function.
What you’ll be doing
- Leading cyber operations across threat intelligence, detection and incident response
- Managing and coordinating responses to major cyber incidents
- Shaping and delivering cyber security strategy and improvements
- Briefing senior leaders on risks, threats and decisions
- Working with partners like NCSC and law enforcement
- Leading and developing a high-performing cyber team
What we’re looking for
- Experience leading cyber operations or delivering cyber capabilities
- Strong leadership skills with experience managing teams
- Deep understanding of cyber threats and risk-based decision making
- Ability to stay calm under pressure and act strategically
- Confident communicator with senior stakeholders
- Problem-solving mindset and ability to simplify complex issues
Desirable: CISSP, CISM or similar
Interested?
This partner post gives you a quick overview
Click through to the full Civil Service Jobs advert to find out more and apply.
Related Posts
More jobs at Government Digital & Data
Interaction Designer - GDS
Full-time (Permanent)
Test Engineer - GDS - SEO
£46,725 - £50,220 (London) / £42,893 - £45,653 (National) plus additional allowance
Full-time (Permanent)
Senior Interaction Designer Intellectual Property Office -
Full-time (Permanent)
Senior Interaction Designer Intellectual Property Office - sE
Full-time (Permanent)
Infrastructure Hosting Engineer - Health and Safety Executive - HEO
£38,005 - £41,065
Full-time (Permanent)
Lead Test Engineer - HMRC - G7
£58,541 - £64,624
Full-time (Permanent)
Penetration Team Manager - Cabinet Office - G7
£57,204 - £68,558
Full-time (Permanent)
Business Relationship Manager - National Crime Agency - HEO
£45,326 - £49,544
Full-time (Permanent)
Chief Technology Officer - Home Office - SCS1
£81,000 - £105,000
Full-time (Permanent)
Data Engineer - Department for Education - SEO
£42,806 - £46,971
Full-time (Permanent)
Senior QA Engineer - Department for Science, Innovation & Technology - SEO
£40,415 - £48,620
Full-time (Temporary)
Solutions Architect - MI6 - Secret Intelligence Service - SEO
£80,875 - £89,475
Full-time (Permanent)
Data Analyst - Government Digital Service - HEO
£36,735 - £37,644
Full-time (Permanent)
Senior Product Manager - Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government - G7
£63,483
Full-time (Temporary)
Senior Data Engineer - MI6 Secret Intelligence Service - SEO
£63,823
Full-time (Permanent)
Lead Data Engineer - MI6 Secret Intelligence Service - SEO
£80,875
Full-time (Permanent)
Lead Data Engineer - Driver and Vehicle Licensing Agency - G7
£57,515
Full-time (Permanent)
Lead Performance Analyst - Government Digital Service - G6
£70,521 - £86,262
Full-time (Permanent)
Solution Architect - Cabinet Office - G7
£57,204 - £63,953
Full-time (Temporary)
Senior Data Architect - Government Digital Service - G7
£57,517 - £70,834
Full-time (Permanent)
Data Scientist - HMRC - SEO
£45,544 - £49,523
Full-time (Permanent)
Senior Product Manager - Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government - G7
£58,092 - £63,483
Full-time (Permanent)
Business Analyst - Department for Work and Pensions - SEO
£44,447 - £46,547
Full-time (Permanent)
User Researcher - HMRC - SEO
£45,544 - £55,157
Full-time (Permanent)
Senior Content Designer - Department for Energy Security & Net Zero - SEO
£43,765 - £53,220
Full-time (Permanent)
Principal Data Engineer - Home Office - G6
£76,117 - £80,237
Full-time (Permanent)
Senior Infrastructure Operations Engineer - HMRC - SEO
£45,544 - £49,523
Full-time (Permanent)
Communications and Engagement Lead - Department for Science, Innovation & Technology - G7
£56,850 - £68,570
Full-time (Permanent)
Content Designer - Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government - SEO
£44,004 - £53,575
Full-time (Temporary)
Head of Strategy and Policy - Government Digital Service - G6
£69,675 - £82,860
Full-time (Permanent)
Census Test Lead (Programme Delivery Manager) - Office for National Statistics - G6
£68,199 - £75,364
Full-time (Temporary)
Senior Technical Architect - Ministry of Justice - G7
£58,511 - £78,225
Full-time (Permanent)
Lead Test Manager - Driver and Vehicle Licensing Agency - G7
£57,515 - £82,430
Full-time (Permanent)
Associate Product Manager - Ministry of Justice - SEO
£42,914 - £53,081
Full-time (Permanent)
Senior User Researcher - HMRC - G7
£58,541 - £64,624
Full-time (Permanent)
Senior Software Engineer - Office for National Statistics - SEO
£44,050 - £47,121
Full-time (Permanent)
Head of Content Design - Department for Energy Security & Net Zero - G7
£56,900 - £69,765
Full-time (Permanent)
Lead Service Transition Manager - Maritime and Coastguard Agency - SEO
£44,241
Full-time (Permanent)
Lead Data Engineer - UK Health Security Agency - G7
£56,185 - £70,566
Full-time (Temporary)
Lead Portfolio Delivery Manager - Driver and Vehicle Standards Agency - G6
£69,501 - £73,501
Full-time (Permanent)
Senior Product Manager - UK Health Security Agency - G7
£56,185 - £70,566
Full-time (Permanent)
Cyber Security Governance and Risk Management Principal - Government Digital Service - G6
£69,675 - £90,756
Full-time (Permanent)
Lead Infrastructure Engineer - Companies House - G7
£53,540 - £68,250 - £4,350 - £11,000 additional allowance depending on capability.
Full-time (Permanent)
Content Designer - Government Digital Service - SEO
£45,131 - £49,065
Full-time (Permanent)
Data Lead - Department for Work and Pensions - G6
£75,026 - £92,522
Full-time (Permanent)
Senior Data Engineer - Intellectual Property Office - SEO
£47,766 - £58,575
Full-time (Permanent)
Director General (Digital and Infrastructure) - Department for Education - SCS3
£200,000
Full-time (Permanent)
Senior Data Architect - Driver and Vehicle Standards Agency - G7
£57,515 - £61,515 - Plus an additional Government Digital and Data Profession allowance up to £24,915.
Full-time (Permanent)
Senior Product Manager - Home Office - G7
£62,109 - £68,109
Full-time (Permanent)
Lead Product Manager - Driver and Vehicle Licensing Agency - G6
£69,501
Full-time (Permanent)
Associate Service Transition Manager - Department for Work and Pensions - HEO
£38,772 - £39,621
Full-time (Permanent)
Chief Technology Officer - Home Office - SCS2
£120,000 - £150,000
Full-time (Permanent)
Senior Data Scientist - Ministry of Justice - SEO
£42,914 - £46,182
Full-time (Permanent)
Head of Data Services - Department for Science, Innovation & Technology - G6
£69,675 - £82,860
Full-time (Permanent)
Lead Product Manager - UK Research and Innovation - G7
£69,056
Full-time (Permanent)
Lead Product Manager - Department for Business and Trade - G6
£69,284 - £89,757
Full-time (Permanent)
Senior Product Manager - Home Office - G7
£62,109 - £66,229
Full-time (Permanent)
Head of Product for the Civil Jurisdiction - HM Courts and Tribunals Service - G6
£71,381 - £85,257
Full-time (Permanent)
Data Analyst - The National Archives - SEO
£41,000
Full-time (Temporary)
Data Analyst - Office for National Statistics - HEO
£34,587
Full-time (Permanent)
Senior User Researcher - Insolvency Service - SEO
£48,429 - £54,686
Full-time (Permanent)
Senior Service Designer - Driver and Vehicle Standards Agency - SEO
£44,241 - £58,997
Full-time (Permanent)
Senior Technical Architect - Department for Education - G7
£58,185 - £62,336
Full-time (Permanent)
Lead Technical Architect - HM Land Registry - G7
£66,200 - £83,000
Full-time (Permanent)
Senior Business Analyst - Intellectual Property Office - SEO
£47,766 - £58,575
Full-time (Permanent)
Content Designer - Registers of Scotland - HEO
£47,590 - £54,482
Full-time (Permanent)
Content Designer - Ministry of Justice - SEO
42,914 - £53,081
Full-time (Permanent)
Lead DevOps - HMRC - G7
£58,541 - £64,624
Full-time (Permanent)
Senior Application Operations Engineer - College of Policing - SEO
£36,520
Full-time (Permanent)
Application Support Engineer - Welsh Government - HEO
£37,111
Full-time (Permanent)
Senior Infrastructure Operations Engineer - Driver and Vehicle Licensing Agency - SEO
£44,241
Full-time (Permanent)
Lead Service Designer - Ministry of Justice - G6
£71,381 - £85,257
Full-time (Permanent)
Second Line Support Service Desk Manager - HM Courts and Tribunals Service - SEO
£42,914 - £53,081
Full-time (Permanent)
Performance Analyst - Home Office - HEO
£39,500 - £43,500
Full-time (Permanent)
Security Architect - HM Courts and Tribunals Service - SEO
£42,914 - £53,081
Full-time (Permanent)