Cyber security manager job description.
Planning to bring in a cyber security manager or lead a security function yourself? This job description outlines risk mitigation, policy development, vendor coordination, and team leadership. You’ll also find information on required qualifications and average UK compensation for the role.
What does a cyber security manager do?
A cyber security manager leads a company’s information security operations, setting strategy, managing risk, and ensuring that controls are in place to protect critical systems and data. They oversee teams of analysts and engineers, and are responsible for translating business objectives into secure practices.
Responsibilities include implementing security frameworks (e.g. ISO 27001, NIST), managing budgets, leading incident response planning, and reporting on KPIs like vulnerability remediation and risk exposure. They also work closely with legal, HR, IT, and senior leadership.
In growing companies, they establish policies and build the function. In larger enterprises, they lead a multi-team operation, working across business units and jurisdictions to ensure consistent security governance and reduce reputational and regulatory risk.
Key responsibilities of a cyber security manager.
Cyber security managers oversee day-to-day security operations and strategy. Responsibilities often include:
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Leading a team of analysts and engineers across monitoring and incident response
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Defining and enforcing information security policies and standards
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Coordinating vulnerability assessments and penetration tests
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Overseeing access control, identity management, and endpoint protection
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Managing SIEM tools, threat intelligence feeds, and response workflows
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Supporting compliance with frameworks like GDPR, ISO 27001, or SOC 2
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Handling vendor management for security platforms or consulting
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Reporting security posture and incidents to senior stakeholders
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Leading security training and awareness initiatives
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Collaborating with IT, legal, and HR on policy enforcement and investigations
This role blends team leadership with risk management and operational control.
Skills and requirements for a cyber security manager.
Cyber security managers lead defensive operations, incident response, and policy enforcement. Employers typically look for:
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6–10 years of experience in cyber security or infrastructure roles
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Proven ability to lead incident response and vulnerability management
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Experience managing threat detection platforms and SIEM systems
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Knowledge of risk assessment, policy design, and user training
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Skilled in aligning security with business continuity planning
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Familiarity with ISO 27001, NIST, or other compliance frameworks
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Confidence managing stakeholder communication during incidents
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Experience leading security teams or managing external providers
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Strong documentation, reporting, and audit preparation skills
Most cyber security managers play key roles safeguarding enterprise data.
Average salary for a cyber security manager.
In the UK, the average salary for a cyber security manager typically ranges from £60,000 to £90,000, based on team oversight, risk strategy, and incident response leadership.
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Mid-level cyber security managers typically earn between £60,000 and £75,000
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Senior managers responsible for governance frameworks and SOC teams may earn between £76,000 and £90,000
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Performance bonuses may be tied to compliance, audit success, or threat resolution
High-paying roles exist in enterprise security teams, particularly in finance, insurance, and technology services.
Career progression for a cyber security manager.
A cyber security manager leads teams, policies, and tools that safeguard business systems and data. This strategic role sits between technical operations and senior leadership. A typical career journey includes:
Cyber security analyst / Engineer
Performs detection, remediation, and configuration of defence tools.
Senior analyst / Security team lead
Manages day-to-day operations, leads incident response, and reviews compliance controls.
Cyber security manager
Oversees strategy, team development, and risk governance. Reports on security posture and incident response effectiveness.
Head of cyber security
Owns cyber roadmap, budget, and business engagement on all matters of risk and resilience.
Chief information security officer (CISO)
Leads enterprise security, sits on the exec team, and aligns security with global regulatory, legal, and commercial frameworks.
salary guide
Our UK IT salary guide.
Cyber security managers lead incident response, policy enforcement, and technical risk management. Salary should reflect team oversight and security ownership.
Use the UK IT salary guide to benchmark leadership roles, review 2024 hiring data, and support salary planning through to 2026.
FAQS
Cyber security manager FAQs.
It depends on the size of the business — in mid-sized companies, a security manager may oversee a hybrid team of analysts, engineers, and project specialists. In larger organisations, they’re often responsible for a defined function like GRC, engineering, or incident response
Ideally, yes — they don’t need to write scripts, but they must understand how controls are implemented, what tools are doing in practice, and how gaps are exposed. Managers without technical grounding can struggle to earn the trust of their teams or assess risk credibly.
Balancing board expectations with budget, motivating talent in understaffed teams, managing alert fatigue, and ensuring controls match the pace of infrastructure change. Managers must also prepare for audits and crisis communications, even if they don’t own those outcomes directly.
Look for someone who’s led initiatives — even if they haven’t held the title before. Experience guiding a security programme, running team training, or leading IR cases can all signal leadership readiness, even from a senior engineer or analyst background.
With leadership exposure and budget accountability, security managers often move into head of security, director of security operations, or regional CISO roles — especially if they’ve presented to boards or led multi-function teams.
