IT Manager - Cyber Risk

Location
Newcastle Upon Tyne, United Kingdom
Country
United Kingdom
Contract type
Permanent
Work pattern
Full Time
Market
Various
Discipline
Information technology
Job ref
12852
Recruiter contact
Nikki George

Location/s: Newcastle, UK
Relocation supported: Not supported, but internal applications are welcome
Recruiter contact: Nikki George
Hiring manager contact:
Jamie King

 

Mott MacDonald is a global engineering, management, and development consultancy with over 20,000 employees across more than 50 countries and 140+ offices. 


We work across incredible global industries, delivering exciting work that is defining our future and making an important societal impact in the communities we serve. Our people power our performance – we succeed when they do. With countless opportunities to collaborate, learn, and grow, the possibilities for excellence are as varied as every individual. 


Whether you want to grow as a subject matter expert or broaden your experience with roles across our international community, you’re surrounded by global specialists who want to combine their expertise and champion you to be your best. As a proudly employee-owned business, we benefit our clients, our communities, and each other, investing in creating the right space for everyone to feel empowered, included, and valued. Whatever your ambition, Mott MacDonald is where people come to be brilliant.

 

 

Overview of the role

As the Cyber Security Manager for Cyber Risk, you will lead this area of the cyber security strategy, governance, and execution. This senior role is accountable for shaping and delivering a robust security posture across Insider Risk Management, Identity and Access Management (IAM), audits, compliance, and quality assurance. You will manage a high-performing team of specialists, ensuring alignment with Zero Trust principles and driving continuous improvement to protect the organisation against evolving threats.  

You will influencing strategic decisions and embedding a security-first culture across all business units. Collaboration and stakeholder engagement are critical, as you will work closely with IT, compliance, and risk teams to integrate cyber security into enterprise-wide frameworks. 

We are committed to building a diverse, inclusive, and high-performing security function. In this role, you will help nurture talent, drive innovation, and create an environment where people feel supported, empowered, and valued in their mission to protect the organisation.  

Key responsibilities: 

  • Leadership & Strategy
    • Execute the cyber risk management strategy, aligning with organisational objectives and regulatory requirements
    • Lead and develop a team of cyber security specialists, fostering a culture of accountability, innovation, and continuous improvement
    • Champion Zero Trust principles and ensure their integration across all security initiatives
  • Insider Risk Management 
    • Oversee insider risk programs, investigations, and escalations using platforms such as Microsoft Purview, ServiceNow, Tenable One, and Zscaler
    • Drive proactive threat detection and prevention strategies through advanced analytics and reporting
  • Identity & Access Management (IAM)
    • Govern IAM frameworks and policies, ensuring least-privilege access and strong authentication measures
    • Monitor and enforce compliance with governance standards
  • Risk Governance & Compliance
    • Own the Cyber risk register and ensure integration with enterprise risk frameworks
    • Lead audit readiness for Cyber Essentials, ISO certifications, and other regulatory requirements
    • Develop and enforce security policies, standards, and governance reporting
  • Incident Response & Crisis Management
    • Work with adjacent IT teams and managers to direct incident response activities, ensuring rapid containment and root cause analysis
    • Coordinate with SOC and security operations teams for timely resolution of insider risk alerts
  • Stakeholder Engagement
    • Act as the primary point of contact for cyber matters with senior leaders and cross-functional teams
    • Provide clear, actionable insights and recommendations to leadership

 

Personal attributes:

  • Strategic Thinker: Able to translate complex cyber security challenges into actionable strategies aligned with business objectives
  • Leadership Presence: Inspires confidence and motivates teams, fostering collaboration and accountability
  • Decisive Under Pressure: Maintains composure during incidents and critical events, making sound decisions quickly
  • Excellent Communicator: Skilled at engaging both technical and non-technical audiences, simplifying complex concepts
  • Proactive & Innovative: Continuously seeks opportunities to improve processes, enhance controls, and adopt emerging best practices
  • Integrity & Professionalism: Demonstrates ethical leadership and commitment to safeguarding organisational assets

 

Key performance indicators:

  • Risk Reduction: Demonstrable improvement in organisational cyber risk posture
  • Audit Success: Timely and accurate delivery of audit evidence with minimal findings
  • Incident Response: SLA compliance for incident containment and resolution
  • Policy Compliance: Reduction in breaches and increased adherence to security standards
  • Team Development: Positive engagement scores and professional growth within the team

 

 

Candidate specification

Essential:

  • Proven leadership experience in cyber security and governance
  • Strong knowledge of IAM, insider risk, and Zero Trust principles
  • Excellent stakeholder management and communication skills
  • Ability to manage complex projects and competing priorities

 

Desirable:

  • Professional certifications such as CISSP, CISM, or equivalent
  • Experience with DLP technologies, security analytics platforms, and governance dashboards
  • Familiarity with regulatory frameworks and audit processes 

 

Please be advised that offers for this role are conditional upon obtaining the appropriate level of Security Clearance.

 

 

UK Immigration

Mott MacDonald Ltd. are not currently offering sponsorship to candidates under the Skilled Worker visa route in the UK. This decision is as a consequence of the changes made to the Skilled Worker route by the UK Government in April 2024. We continue to welcome applications from candidates who are eligible for alternative immigration routes in the UK, that do not require sponsorship as a Skilled Worker now or in future.

 

Agile working  

At Mott MacDonald, we believe it makes business sense for you and your manager to choose how you can work most effectively to meet your client, team, and personal commitments. We offer a hybrid working policy that embraces your well-being, flexibility, and trust.

 

Equality, diversity, and inclusion 

We put equality, diversity, and inclusion at the heart of our business, seeking to promote fair employment procedures and practices to ensure equal opportunities for all. We encourage individual expression in our workplace and are committed to creating an inclusive environment where everyone feels they can contribute.

 

Accessibility

We want you to perform your best at every stage in the recruitment process. If you are disabled or need any support to enable you to apply or attend an interview, please contact us at reasonable.adjustments@mottmac.com and we will talk to you about how we can support you.

 

 

We offer some fantastic benefits including:

 

Health and wellbeing

  • Private medical insurance for all UK colleagues.
  • Health cash plan to support you with every day health costs and treatments.
  • Access to Peppy, providing free support from menopause experts for all UK colleagues.
  • A variety of wellbeing support is available through our comprehensive wellbeing program, including access for you and your family.
  • Ability to flex your salary to opt into a wide range of health benefits, many of which can be extended to your family too.

 

 

Financial wellbeing

  • We match employee pension contributions between 4.5% and 7%.
  • Life assurance equal up to 4 x your basic salary, with an option to increase the level of cover to 6 x your salary.
  • Our income protection scheme provides a financial benefit, as well as absence and return to work support due to long-term illness or injury.
  • Flexible benefits, including increased life assurance cover, critical illness insurance, payroll saving and will writing.
  • As an independently owned business we share the financial success of the business with all our colleagues in various ways including annual bonus schemes.

 

 

Lifestyle

  • A minimum of 33-35 days holiday each year, inclusive of public holidays and dependent on level, with the ability to buy or sell leave through our flexible benefits programme.
  • Holiday entitlement increased to a minimum of 35 days after 5 years’ service.
  • Variety of employee saving schemes and discounts from high-street retailers.

 

 

 Enhanced family and carers leave

  • Enhanced family leave policies, including 26 weeks paid maternity and adoption leave, and two weeks paid paternity/partner leave.
  • Our shared parental leave matches maternity leave meaning we pay up to 24 weeks at full pay.
  • Up to five additional days leave are provided for those with significant caring responsibilities, two of which are paid.

 

 

Learning and development

  • Primary annual professional institution subscription.
  • A broad range of opportunities to enhance both technical and soft skills through mentoring, formal training, and self-development options.

 

 

Networks, communities, and social outcomes

  • Join a wide range of groups including our Advanced Employee Networks which support our LGBTQ+, gender, race and ethnicity, disability, and parents/carers communities.
  • Make a difference within our communities through our social outcomes.

 

Apply now, or for more information about our application process, click here.