Head of Cyber Security

🔐 Head of Cybersecurity

🕒 Contract: Freelance / Contract | [Day rate / Competitive]

We are supporting a large, fast-moving organisation to engage a Head of Cybersecurity to build and scale its cybersecurity capability. This engagement is heavily focused on hiring, structuring, and maturing the security function, alongside setting strategic direction.

This role is ideal for a senior cybersecurity leader who thrives in build-mode environments and has a strong track record of rapidly assembling high-performing teams.

Key Responsibilities

• Design and execute the cybersecurity organisational model
• Lead end-to-end hiring of cybersecurity talent (internal teams and vendors)
• Define roles, capability requirements, and operating model
• Establish governance, policies, and core security processes
• Act as senior cyber advisor to executive leadership
• Support incident response readiness and security uplift initiatives
• Transition to permanent leadership or handover to internal teams (where required)

About You

• Proven experience as a Head of Cybersecurity / CISO / Security Director
• Strong background in building security teams from the ground up
• Hands-on experience recruiting across security disciplines (GRC, SOC, Cloud, AppSec)
• Ability to quickly assess cyber maturity and prioritise actions
• Confident operating in ambiguous, high-growth environments
• Excellent stakeholder and executive communication skills

Highly Desirable

• Experience in transformation or post-incident environments
• Consulting or interim leadership background
• Relevant certifications (CISSP, CISM, CCSP)

Why This Engagement?

• High-impact role with immediate visibility and influence
• Clear mandate to hire and shape the cybersecurity function
• Flexible working arrangements
• Competitive contract rates