Senior Security Analyst

Role: Senior Information Security Analyst

Division: Assessment & Qualifications Delivery

Location: London, Manchester, Oxford or Rotherham, UK

Salary: £60 - 70k plus on target bonus of 8%

About Pearson

Our purpose:At Pearson we ‘add life to a lifetime of learning’ so everyone can realise the life they imagine. We do this by creating vibrant and enriching learning experiences designed for real-life impact.

Our company:Pearson was founded in 1844 and has been built on our ability to grow with and adapt to a constantly evolving market. Our 20,000+ employees are dedicated to creating the high-quality, digital-first, accessible and sustainable resources for lifelong learning.

Diversity:At Pearson we value the power of an inclusive culture and a strong sense of belonging. We promote a culture where differences are embraced as strengths and opportunities are equal and accessible.

Flexible working:Pearson is committed to hybrid working practices and has adopted flexible remote and virtual working. Where possible our employees can choose to manage their attendance to the office more flexibly.

About UK Assessment & Qualifications:We are responsible for the delivery of nearly 4 million examination results per annum, including A-Level, GCSE, BTEC and T-levels for students in UK and International centres. Our in-house systems process every learner from registration to marking and certification, in a highly regulated business. We currently operate a hybrid estate of predominantly bespoke systems, with an ongoing strategic transformation programme to migrate from on-prem to cloud based, cost effective, scalable, and resilient services.

About the Job

The Senior Security Analyst is responsible for supporting the Business Information Security Manager in delivering the Pearson UK Assessment & Qualification’s divisional information security program. The role requires frequent interaction with business and technology partners and covers a broad range of platforms and technologies. The responsibilities include:

Working with cross-functional project teams to ensure secure delivery of the change program across the complete project lifecycle and authorizing security sign-off.

Providing input into divisional security strategy and roadmap planning.

Supporting the secure development process (SDLC) working closely with Development teams.

Keeping informed of new and emerging security threats & assess effectiveness of current controls to identify opportunities for program improvement.

Assessing compliance with security policies to identify control gaps, develop remediation plans and determine residual risk.

Supporting the incident management process and central security operations team as a domain expert.

Identifying, collating, and managing risks. Ensuring that actions and risks are managed.

Provide consultancy and guidance to business partners on all matters relating to Security.

Provide security input into bids, contract renewals and new business initiatives.

Develop and deliver information security awareness programs within the division.

Provide guidance and leadership to junior team members.

Essential Skills & Experience

Prior experience in Information Security in a similar customer or business facing role.

Current security certifications such as CISSP, CISA, CRISC, SABSA, GIAC, CCSP, CCSK or equivalent.

Excellent technical knowledge of cloud and on-premises services and infrastructure, including network, perimeter, application and end points.

A solid understanding of the cyber security risks associated with various technologies and how to apply appropriate controls to mitigate these.

Strong knowledge of IT and cyber security principles and experience with specific assurance frameworks such as ISO27001.

Experience in risk assessment and management in the context of information security.

Ability to work under pressure and to tight deadlines and manage own time effectively.

Excellent oral, written communication and presentation skills.

Confident at communicating to business and technology partners and senior management.

Ability to solve problems using initiative and a methodical approach to tasks.

Adaptable and flexible approach and able to prioritise workloads.

Ability to collate and analyse information from various sources.

Desirable Skills & Experience

Previous experience relevant to Security Architecture.

Technical (non-cyber) experience or qualifications.

Job Location and Hours

The role is aligned to our London, Manchester, Rotherham, or Oxford offices in the UK, working a hour week. Our Rotherham office is located at Junction 1 of the M18.

All our roles are hybrid working; our current policy requires our team to visit their base office no more than once a week, and with the possibility of occasional business travel to other Pearson sites. Candidates must be a suitable commute from their base office as our office presence policy may change to require more frequent presence in 2024.

For this role there is a requirement to provide occasional out of hours support during business critical periods.

Your benefits and rewards

Here at Pearson we offer a range of benefits, which include:

25 Days annual leave (increasing by 1 day with every year of continuous service up to 30 days); annual leave trading, +/- 5 days

Annual Bonus

Private Pension plan scheme where we pay in double what you contribute, up to 16% depending on your age

Life, private medical and dental care insurance options, plus free eye tests

Stock/share purchase options

Maternity, paternity, and family care leave as well as flexible working policies

An employee wellbeing assistance programme

Cycle to work program, volunteering days, gym membership concessions in selected office locations, along with retail and leisure discounts

What to expect from Pearson

Did you know Pearson is one of the 10 most innovative education companies of 2022?

At Pearson, we add life to a lifetime of learning so everyone can realize the life they imagine. We do this by creating vibrant and enriching learning experiences designed for real-life impact. We are on a journey to be 100 percent digital to meet the changing needs of the global population by developing a new strategy with ambitious targets. To deliver on our strategic vision, we have five business divisions that are the foundation for the long-term growth of the company: Assessment & Qualifications, Virtual Learning, English Language Learning, Workforce Skills and Higher Education. Alongside these, we have our corporate divisions: Digital & Technology, Finance, Global Corporate Marketing & Communications, Human Resources, Legal, Strategy and Direct to Consumer. Learn more at

We value the power of an inclusive culture and also a strong sense of belonging. We promote a culture where differences are embraced, opportunities are accessible, consideration and respect are the norm and all individuals are supported in reaching their full potential. Through our talent, we believe that diversity, equity and inclusion make us a more innovative and vibrant place to work. People are at the center, and we are committed to building a workplace where talent can learn, grow and thrive.