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!