Director of Cyber & IT Operations

Brighton

Exec Search

Sep 10, 2026

Deputy Director of Cyber & IT Operations

University Hospitals Sussex NHS Foundation Trust

Salary: £112,782 – £129,783 | Band 9

Location: Sussex / Hybrid

University Hospitals Sussex NHS Foundation Trust is looking for a senior technology leader to join as Deputy Director of Cyber & IT Operations at a significant point in its digital transformation.

UHSussex is one of the UK’s largest acute NHS trusts, supporting more than 18,000 colleagues across seven hospitals and serving a population of around 1.3 million people.

This is a broad leadership role spanning cyber security, IT operations, infrastructure, networks, end-user computing and service management.

The Trust currently operates a predominantly insourced IT operations model, supported by highly experienced and established technical teams. The next stage is about building on those foundations: improving service management maturity, strengthening cyber resilience and moving progressively towards more modern engineering and DevOps ways of working.

This transformation will take time, and we are looking for someone who can lead that journey without losing sight of the importance of safe, secure and reliable day-to-day services.

The role

Reporting to the Chief Digital Information Officer, you will provide senior leadership across Cyber and IT Operations and help shape the future technology operating model for UHSussex.

Key priorities will include:

  • Strengthening the Trust’s cyber security posture as threats, vulnerabilities and attack methods continue to evolve.
  • Leading technology risk, cyber resilience, incident response and security assurance.
  • Improving the performance, resilience, availability and security of critical IT services.
  • Establishing stronger ITIL and IT service management disciplines across the organisation.
  • Helping teams evolve towards modern engineering, automation and DevOps approaches.
  • Developing a more customer-focused and responsive technology service.
  • Leading and developing established technical teams through cultural and organisational change.
  • Building stronger relationships between Digital, clinical, operational and executive stakeholders.
  • Translating complex cyber and technology risks into clear, practical conversations with senior leaders.

What we are looking for

This role requires strong technical credibility, particularly across cyber security and complex IT operations, but technical knowledge alone will not be enough.

We are looking for someone who can lead people through change.

You will understand how to operate and protect large, complex technology environments and have the judgement to challenge technical specialists, assess risk and make informed decisions around security, resilience and investment.

The cyber threat landscape changes quickly, so curiosity and adaptability will also be critical. You will need to keep learning, understand how threats are evolving and ensure the organisation continues to respond appropriately.

Equally important will be your ability to communicate.

You will be a visible, engaging leader who can build trust with technical teams, clinicians, operational leaders and executives. You will be comfortable inheriting long-established teams and helping them evolve, introducing clearer expectations, stronger accountability and new ways of working while retaining valuable organisational knowledge.

You are likely to bring experience of:

  • Leading Cyber Security and/or IT Operations within a large, complex organisation.
  • Managing cyber risk, resilience and operationally critical technology services.
  • Responding to an evolving cyber threat landscape.
  • Improving IT service management and operational processes.
  • Leading established technical teams through cultural and organisational change.
  • Modernising traditional IT environments.
  • Working with senior executive and non-technical stakeholders.
  • Communicating complex technical and cyber issues clearly and credibly.

Previous NHS or healthcare experience would be valuable but is not essential. We are keen to hear from leaders from other large, complex, highly regulated or operationally critical environments.

This is an opportunity to strengthen the cyber resilience and technology operations of one of the country’s largest NHS trusts while helping shape a more modern, responsive and progressive digital organisation.

To apply, please send your CV and covering letter to UHSussex-Cyber@global-resourcing.com