Interim SOC Manager - Outside IR35

Remote-first (Occasional travel to office)

3-6 Months Initial Contract

Start: July | Interviews from 1st July

iO are supporting a social housing organisation seeking an experienced Interim SOC Manager to drive tactical improvements across their security operations and incident response.

You'll lead a small SOC team (1 senior, 2 analysts), work alongside a third-party MSSP, and help the organisation progress toward NIST CSF 3.5 maturity.

Key Responsibilities

Lead daily SOC operations; ensure effective monitoring and alerting
Deliver and embed cyber incident response processes and playbooks
Work closely with third-party MSSP and internal security functions
Leverage Microsoft Defender + Sentinel stack
Bridge data feeds (e.g., SQL) into Sentinel
Align SOC operations with GRC, Architecture, and Security Engineering
Drive outcomes across BAU and transformation activities

Essential Experience & Skills

Strong background as a SOC Manager or Lead in mid-large organisations
Hands-on experience with Microsoft Defender & Sentinel
Proven track record delivering cyber incident response plans and playbooks
Experience working with or managing third-party security providers
Comfortable in tactical, operational delivery roles (not just strategic)
Excellent communication skills, stakeholder engagement, and emotional intelligence
Able to work autonomously and embed change in fast-paced environments
Experience with security audits, compliance, and risk a bonus
Public sector or housing exposure is helpful but not essential

Engagement Info

Outside IR35
3-6 months
Remote-first with flexible attendance if needed
Working closely with the IT Director and other IT functions

Please note: This role requires specific experience in a SOC Manager or Security Operations leadership position, with a skill set aligned to the requirements listed above.
We will be contacting candidates who closely match the criteria.
If you do not hear from us by Monday, 30th June, please assume your application has not been shortlisted on this occasion.
Thank you for your interest!