Job Description

Head of Security Architecture

=================================


Vacancy Reference Number
19976


Number of Vacancies
1
(B) OCU
Digital, Data & Technology
Location
Bow, Other
Building
BOW CENTRAL COMMS
Band
Band S
Part/Full Time
Full Time
Hours per Week
36 hours per week
Type of Contract
Permanent
Job Advert

Job Title:

Head of Security Architecture

Salary:

The starting salary is 90,336, which includes allowances totalling 2,928.


The salary is broken down as 87,408 basic salary, which will increase annually until you reach the top of the scale 96,341 Plus, a location allowance of 1,928 and a non-pensionable allowance of 1,000.

Location

The primary Met Location for this role is Bow. Travel across the Met Estate, to attend meetings as required by the business, is expected.

"Keep checking Met Careers on a daily basis for new and exciting opportunities being released to join DDaT!"

Policing London is a hugely complex challenge that evolves every day.

To make sure the Met is up to the task, we need the right IT and systems across our organisation. As a Head of Security Architecture, you will help to enable us to do our best for the London area. Join us and play your part in making London the safest capital in the world and delivering 'More Trust, Less Crime and High Standards'.


As a member of the Met, you will also enjoy great benefits including annual leave, civil service pension arrangements, maternity/paternity support, as well as being part of a

continuous learning culture.

Digital, Data and Technology (DDaT)

The mission of Digital, Data and Technology (DDaT) is to provide the Met with information (and specifically data), communications and technology to help frontline officers and Met staff do their jobs more efficiently, in order to deliver the New Met for London plan. In other words, DDaT is about "passionately delivering trusted technology for precise data driven policing".


As well as keeping up to speed with developments in technology and making recommendations for new equipment and systems that will help modernise policing, DDaT also comprises the Data Office which:

Owns and drives the data compliance and analytics agenda. Brings together the accountabilities that are currently dispersed across the Met business areas. Consolidates and further develops existing Met data and insight services. Enables data sharing and collaboration to serve the public and external partners.

DDaT is committed to creating an inclusive working environment. We support hybrid working, and the hiring manager will be happy to discuss arrangements for this role.

Job Purpose

This role leads the vision and strategy for Security Architecture within the Met such that:

Police officers and staff have access to the business services and can deliver their roles in a digitally enabled police force. The Met and public are confident that the integrity and confidentiality of policing data is maintained in a demanding environment. Digital Policing can define and deploy new services, systems and technologies while maintaining a strong security stance.

Working in support of the Head of Cyber Security, the Head of Security Architecture will assist in the definition and evolution of the Security strategy to deliver the Met Technology Strategy 2020-2025.


This will cover at least:

Leading the definition of security requirements and design as part of a strength-in-depth approach to solution deign with data, application and infrastructure architecture. Leading the definition of cyber security patterns, policies and standards to shape solution design. Deep understanding of security concepts and apply them at a technical level. Leading the evolution of security automation and tooling for the Met. Leading design of solutions operating at document marking above Official. Leading the adoption of new approaches to cyber security. Speaking for Security Architecture in technology governance meeting/forums. Working with national policing and central government agencies on wider cyber security initiatives and challenges.

The Head of Security Architecture will lead the technical direction of projects and programmes to deliver new applications and changes to existing services by both direct involvement and by managing work commissioned from suppliers.


The Head of Security Architecture will engage with the whole Enterprise Architecture team to provide consistent design and design governance, with accountability under the Head of Cyber Security.


The post holder will deliver the security architecture workload with the support of contract security architects within a managed service. They will commission Statements of Work (SOWs) and assure their delivery.

Key Role Responsibilities

The post holders primary working relationship will be with the Head of Cyber Security, who holds responsibility for cyber security strategy and policy within the Met. The post holder will work daily with the heads of other architecture domains, enterprise architects and solution architects to ensure a security-in-depth approach across Met enterprise. The post holder will be in weekly contact with stakeholders in Solution Delivery and Platform regarding cyber-security risks and enhancements within existing and new business services. The post holder will work with the OSM (Operational Security Manager) to support the Security Assurance approach to suppliers. The post holder will work with the Cyber Security Risk Analysts in shaping the Threat and Risk patterns to be used within the Met. Attend and run architecture and security governance boards as required. Occasional but frequent meetings with Business Engagement Managers to advise on Cyber Security within projects and proposals.

Additional Information

Vetting Clearance

This post requires access to the most sensitive intelligence material on a daily basis. Applicants must hold or be prepared to undergo National Security Vetting (NSV) Security Check (enhanced) (SC(e)) level before taking up the post.

Hybrid Working

Hybrid Working available in line with the Metropolitan Police Service hybrid working policy.

How to apply

To begin your career at the Met, please click the "apply now" button below. The application process requires a comprehensive CV, a Personal Statement, and an online application form. In your Personal Statement (1000 words maximum) you should explain your interest in the position and illustrate how your skills and experience (see stated criteria) make you a suitable candidate. Please note that you should not submit two copies of your CV, and ensure that your documents are saved in either PDF or Word format, clearly labelled as CV and Personal Statement.

Completed applications must be submitted by 23:55 on 28th October 2025.

Once received, your application will be reviewed against eligibility criteria, following this, your application will be reviewed by the hiring manager. The application review for this vacancy will commence from 3rd November.


Following application review, successful candidates will be invited to interview. Interview dates will commence from 17th November.

www.metpolicecareers.co.uk

Essential For The Role

Essential Criteria:

The successful applicant will have experience of delivering effective security architecture in a high security, high impact environment such as policing, central government, defence, or finance. Applicants are expected to have familiarity with and understanding of best practice approaches, methods, and techniques for information security, backed by several years relevant experience, including at least some experience in a public sector environment. The post holder will have experience of technology governance and be expected to both run governance fora and guide programmes to compliance. The successful applicant will demonstrate the ability to lead a specialist team. They must show evidence of promoting diversity and inclusion in an enterprise setting. The successful applicant will have experience of delivering effective cyber security in a multi-supplier environment. A strong candidate will have team leadership experience and a track record of the planning and delivering of security enterprise architecture within the Architecture domain.

Desirable Criteria:

Formal qualifications in the InfoSec Training Paths and Competencies (ITPC) and the TOGAF methodology.



Required Languages
English
Reports To
Band S1 - Head of Cyber Security
Candidate Information Pack
Band-S-BET-Head-of-Security-Architecture-202509.docx - 101KB Opens in a new window


Converted File Band-S-BET-Head-of-Security-Architecture-202509.docx.pdf - 181KB Opens in a new window
Additional Information
mps_a-new-met-for-london_external-summary-rgb-accessible_online-final.pdf - 590KB Opens in a new window

Disability Confident Statement

The Met is committed to being an equitable (fair and impartial) and inclusive employer for disabled people, striving to have a diverse and representative workforce at all levels. We encourage applications from people from the widest possible range of backgrounds, cultures and experiences. We particularly welcome applications from people with disabilities and long-term conditions, ethnic minority groups and women.



As a Disability Confident Leader, the Met has committed to making disability equality part of our everyday practice. We ensure that people with disabilities and those with long term conditions have the opportunities to fulfil their potential and realise their aspirations.



The Met is committed to making reasonable adjustments to the recruitment process to ensure disabled applicants can perform at their best. If you need any reasonable adjustments or changes to the application and recruitment process, we ask that you include this information within your application form. All matters will be treated in strict confidence.




Please note, if you are applying for a police officer role or to become a police community support officer (PCSO) or designated detention officer (DDO), there is a minimum requirement that you must pass a job-related fitness test (JRFT) at point of entry. This does not apply to police staff roles. Find out more about police fitness standards.



Read our full disability confidence statement.