Security Operations Centre Specialist

Job summary

Are you an experienced cyber security professional who would like the opportunity to play a key role within our Security Operations Centre (SOC)?

Do you have experience of analysing and addressing threats?

If so, we’d love to hear from you!

The Security Operations Centre (SOC) is central to protecting DVLA's critical digital services, ensuring the security and resilience of systems relied upon by millions of citizens every day. The SOC team provide various services such as technical protective monitoring, threat intelligence and hunting, incident response and forensics, working closely with internal stakeholders and specialist suppliers to identify, investigate and respond to cyber threats. Operating within a rapidly evolving threat landscape, the team plays a key role in safeguarding one of the UK's largest public sector digital estates.

Joining our department comes with many benefits, including:

• Employer pension contribution of 28.97% of your salary. Read more about Civil Service Pensions here
• 25 days annual leave, increasing by 1 day each year of service (up to a maximum of 30 days annual leave), plus 8 bank holidays and a privilege day for the King’s birthday
• Flexible working options where we encourage a great work-life balance.

Read more in the Benefits section below!

Find out more about what it's like working at DVLA - Driver and Vehicle Licensing Agency – Civil Service Careers

Job description

This role undertakes technical protective monitoring, monitoring of security events and performance of security tools, as well as investigating and handling (or assisting in handling) security events.

This role is responsible for undertaking all aspects of SOC activity, including hands-on monitoring of SIEM (security incident and event management) tools and other sources of alerts and of threat intelligence, maintaining the relationship with the vendors and suppliers of SOC products, including where relevant contract management responsibilities.
You will work as part of our Cyber Security Services team monitoring, identifying and responding to security relevant events.
We deliver significant and high-profile on-line services to the public, with cyber security being viewed as an essential activity in which the organisation continues to invest.

Your responsibilities will include, but aren’t limited to:

• Responsible for monitoring operational IT Security, producing regular management reports, undertaking trend analysis, tracking resource, evaluating the fitness for purpose and effectiveness of security processes.
• Manages incident and event management processes complying with SLAs.
• Interprets and contributes to the development of SOC playbooks, alarms and policies. Ongoing assurance of fitness for purpose of SOC playbooks, alarms and policies.
• Provides expert advice and recommendations regarding risk assessments and business impact analysis for defined information systems and managing the maintenance processes including quality review.

Great line management is important to us as an organisation, and we will equip and support line managers to develop the skills they need. We aim to empower line managers to create teams where people can flourish and deliver excellent outcomes for the public.

For further information on the role, please read the attached role profile. Please note that the role profile is for information purposes only - whilst all elements are relevant to the role, they may not all be assessed during the recruitment process. This job advert will detail exactly what will be assessed during the recruitment process.

Open Sessions: Would you like to find out more about the role, the team and what it’s like to work in our department? If so, we are organising an open session where you can virtually 'meet the team' on 01/10/2026 at 12:00 pm. Sign up here.

Person specification

You will be a security professional with significant experience of cyber security. You will possess a broad knowledge of the issues and techniques associated with securing a variety of technologies.
To be successful in this role you will need to have demonstrable experience of the range of activities of a security operations centre (SOC) including:

• Responding to alerts and handling incidents.
• Monitoring network traffic and user behaviour for potential malicious activity using a variety of tools.
• Investigating security events and anomalous patterns of activity.
• Practical experience of using LogRhythm or Sentinel, although experience of other SIEM (security incident and event management) tools will be considered.

Working for the DVLA Digital Team

At DVLA, licensing is just the start. Every project you implement, touch and deliver has a ripple effect that’ll wash across the nation. Here the work you’re doing has the capacity to change the way 53 million people interact with our services. As we aim to keep our roads some of the safest in the world, our innovative, transformative digital-led services help optimise a nation of individuals and business every single day.

To see how our people are transforming our digital services, head over to our DVLA Digital Services Blog and, to understand more about the great opportunities and benefits of working at DVLA read our Inside DVLA blog.

Working hours, office attendance and travel requirements

Full time roles consist of 37 hours per week. Whilst we welcome applications from those looking to work with us on a part time basis, there is a business requirement for the successful candidate to be able to work at least 35 hours per week.

There is an opportunity to work as part an on-call rota, (one week in seven) of which a non-pensionable allowance will be paid.

This role is suitable for hybrid working, which is a non-contractual arrangement where a combination of workplace and home-based working can be accommodated subject to business requirements.

The expectation at present is a minimum of 60% of your working time a month will be spent at either your designated workplace (one of the locations cited in the advert) or, when required for business reasons, in another office/work location. There may be occasions where you are required to attend above the minimum expectation.

If you have a question about hybrid working, part time/job share hours, flexible working, travelling for work, or require a reasonable adjustment, please contact the Vacancy Holder during the recruitment process to avoid possible disappointment later in the process should your working arrangements not be compatible with the requirements of the role (see below for contact details).

Security Check

Successful candidates must meet the security requirements before they can be appointed. The level of security needed is security check. To allow for meaningful checks to be carried out, candidates will be required to have at least 5 years continuous residency in the UK. All applicants for this role must ensure that they meet this minimum residency