Threat intelligence manager job description.
Looking for a threat intelligence manager or preparing to take on this strategic role? This job description outlines duties such as analysing cyber threats, advising stakeholders, and managing response plans. It includes required analytical and communication skills, career progression routes, and market salary levels.
What does a threat intelligence manager do?
A threat intelligence manager leads the collection and analysis of intelligence on cyber threats to help the business stay ahead of attackers. They interpret threat data, provide early warnings, and inform response plans to reduce exposure and enhance readiness.
Responsibilities include researching threat actors, managing feeds and intel platforms, producing threat briefings, and collaborating with SOC and IR teams. They also work with compliance and risk teams to align threat intelligence with business-critical functions.
In fast-paced environments, they act as a key strategic advisor to the security leadership. In larger businesses, they may run a dedicated team focused on geopolitical threats, advanced persistent threats (APTs), or industry-specific threat landscapes.
Key responsibilities of a threat intelligence manager.
Threat intelligence managers collect and analyse information to help defend the organisation proactively. Responsibilities include:
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Managing threat intelligence platforms and feeds
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Monitoring external sources for emerging vulnerabilities and threat actor activity
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Producing actionable intelligence reports for security teams and leadership
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Supporting SOC, IR, and engineering teams with context on incidents
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Conducting deep analysis of malware, phishing campaigns, or zero-day threats
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Tracking trends across industries and geographies
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Collaborating with law enforcement or ISACs (Information Sharing groups)
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Maintaining knowledge bases and threat libraries
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Integrating threat intelligence into detection workflows
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Advising on risk levels and threat prioritisation
This role blends research, technical analysis, and cross-functional collaboration.
Skills and requirements for a threat intelligence manager.
Threat intelligence managers collect and analyse information about emerging threats. Employers typically look for:
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5–8 years of experience in cyber security or threat analysis roles
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Strong knowledge of threat actors, vulnerabilities, and attack vectors
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Experience using tools like ThreatConnect, MISP, or Recorded Future
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Ability to translate technical threat data into business risk language
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Skilled in monitoring dark web activity and cybercrime trends
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Familiarity with MITRE ATT&CK, STIX, and threat hunting frameworks
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Strong reporting and communication skills for stakeholders
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Comfortable collaborating with SOCs, incident response, and risk teams
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Experience briefing executive teams on threat posture or alerts
Most threat intelligence managers have security analyst or forensics backgrounds.
Average salary for a threat intelligence manager.
In the UK, the average salary for a threat intelligence manager typically ranges from £65,000 to £95,000, depending on threat detection programs, vulnerability management, and stakeholder coordination.
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Mid-level professionals in this role tend to earn between £65,000 and £80,000
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Senior leaders managing global threat programs and third-party data may earn between £81,000 and £95,000
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This role is highly valued in environments dealing with frequent and complex cyber threats
Best-paying opportunities are in defence, financial services, and large-scale digital organisations.
Career progression for a threat intelligence manager.
A threat intelligence manager leads intelligence-gathering operations, analysing threat actors, and shaping proactive defence strategies. This role combines analytical rigour with strategic thinking. A typical path includes:
Threat analyst / cyber analyst
Monitors threat feeds, investigates alerts, and gathers intelligence on malware and emerging exploits.
Threat intelligence analyst / researcher
Builds internal threat profiles, works with red teams, and assesses geopolitical risk or APT behaviour.
Threat intelligence manager
Leads a team of analysts, builds internal tooling, and reports on threat landscape trends and risk indicators.
Head of cyber intelligence
Integrates threat insights into wider security operations. Collaborates with incident response and security architecture teams.
CISO / Director of cyber strategy
Advises the business on evolving threats. Aligns security, risk, and continuity strategies at the board level.
salary guide
Our UK IT salary guide.
Threat intelligence managers collect and analyse threat data to improve defences. Salary should reflect insight depth, tooling, and threat reporting responsibility.
The UK IT salary guide includes specialist role benchmarks, 2024 data comparisons, and forward-looking projections through 2026.
FAQS
Threat intelligence manager FAQs.
Threat intelligence is forward-looking — focusing on external threats before they impact the business. While SOC teams react to internal alerts, threat intelligence professionals track attacker behaviour, monitor dark web chatter, and analyse geopolitical risks that could evolve into real incidents.
Large-scale enterprises in finance, insurance, defence, and tech are most likely to build internal threat intelligence teams. In SMEs, this function is often outsourced or rolled into broader security roles. Global organisations often house this role in London or within their central cyber hub.
Common tools include MISP for threat sharing, Recorded Future or Flashpoint for commercial feeds, and TAXII/STIX integrations for automated intel distribution. Teams may also rely on internal SIEM and SOAR platforms to integrate threat context into alerts.
Analytical thinking and strong written communication. Managers need to translate indicators into meaningful insights for both technical teams and executives. Prior experience with APT profiling or dark web monitoring can also signal depth.
Progression often leads to head of threat intelligence, cyber risk lead, or cyber strategy roles. In some organisations, Threat intelligence managers step into global advisory or fusion centre leadership — especially where threat posture informs business decisions.
