Cyber Capability Lead

We’re excited to offer an opportunity for a Cyber Capability Lead to shape and grow our offensive cyber practice, with an initial focus on threat-led penetration testing, red and purple teaming, breach and attack simulation, attack surface mapping, and the accredited capability needed to build market credibility. Since our establishment in 2018, Whitetree has been on a mission to empower clients, make lasting impacts, and provide unmatched career growth opportunities. We’re passionate innovators driven by our values of Trust, Integrity, Innovation, and Excellence. To support effective collaboration and client delivery, you will ideally live within commutable distance of Bristol. Your responsibilities will include:

• Define and maintain the competency model for offensive cyber delivery, including methods, standards, quality gates, tooling, templates, and reusable delivery accelerators
• Assure technical quality across engagements and ensure consistent, high-quality delivery
• Grow depth and bench strength in the cyber practice by coaching consultants, shaping career paths, funding certification/accreditation, and building succession for key technical roles
• Develop and maintain the roadmap for required client-facing accreditations, increase certified practitioner numbers, and build strong working relationships with NCSC, MoD, and prime contractors
• Publish insight, represent the organisation at industry events, and strengthen external credibility and reputation
• Own and evolve the offensive cyber service catalogue, prioritising threat-led penetration testing, red team operations, purple teaming, breach and attack simulation, attack surface mapping, adversary emulation, and reusable assessment accelerators in line with market demand and delivery capacity
• Provide senior technical input to bids, shape credible solutions and win themes, support pricing and effort estimation, and demonstrate delivery confidence to customers

In your first 3-6 months, success might look like:

• Accredited capability roadmap agreed, with priority accreditations, owners, evidence requirements, and milestones defined
• Plan agreed for cleared offensive cyber capability, with priority roles identified and recruitment, associate, or partner routes in progress
• Cyber-led bid pipeline shaped, with qualified opportunities, reusable bid content, and clear win themes in place
• Capability status progressed against agreed maturity criteria, with visible movement from the current baseline towards the target state

• Senior offensive cyber leadership in defence, national security, critical infrastructure, or high-assurance environments
• Recognised offensive cyber certifications such as CREST CRT/CCT, CREST Certified Red Team Specialist or Manager, CHECK Team Leader/Member aligned credentials, OSCP, OSEP, CRTO, or equivalent demonstrable experience
• Experience building a cyber practice or capability
• Strong background in threat-led penetration testing, red and purple teaming, breach and attack simulation, attack surface mapping, adversary emulation, and offensive security assurance
• Able to recruit and lead cleared cyber specialists
• Ideally located within commutable distance of Bristol
• Current right to live and work in the UK
• Current SC clearance or willing and eligible to undergo a Security Clearance check
• Willingness and ability to work from home and travel for client engagements, including overnight stays away from home around the UK when required

Pulled from the full job description

• Referral programme
• Annual leave
• Company pension
• Paid volunteer time
• Private medical insurance
• Cycle to work scheme

• Work from home, Whitetree’s success hinges on hiring great people and creating an environment where we can be happy, feel challenged, and do our best work. We hope that excites you enough to apply. Our competitive benefits package includes:

• 25 days annual leave, plus bank holidays and your birthday off

• Flexible working arrangements with an early Friday finish (client-dependent)

• 6% matched pension contributions

• All-staff annual bonus scheme

• Private medical insurance

• Professional development support, including chartership, mentoring and training budget

• Enhanced family friendly policies

• 4 half-days of paid time for charity work annually

• £1000 employee recruitment bounty and £150 associate referral bonus

• Electric car, cycle to work, tech salary sacrifice schemes and exclusive discount vouchers

Our Commitment to you We’re proud of our Gold Defence Employer Recognition Scheme Award, reflecting our commitment to fostering an inclusive environment and supporting diverse communities, including the Armed Forces. Whitetree values the differences that a diverse workforce brings to the organisation and will not discriminate. We celebrate diversity and are committed to creating an inclusive environment for all applicants and employees, building a culture that values openness, fairness, and transparency.

At Whitetree, we are proud to provide a collaborative and supportive environment in which you can grow and develop your career, with the chance to work alongside some of the best people in the industry.