Cyber Security Architect

Cyber Security Technical Architect - DR Runbooks (SC Cleared) Hybrid working | 4-6 site visits per month in Gloucester £540 per day (Inside IR35) Initial contract until 31/12/2026 (will be extended based on performance) Active SC Clearance is essential The Opportunity We are seeking an experienced Cyber Security Technical Architect with a strong background in Disaster Recovery (DR), Operational Resilience, and Business Continuity to support a large-scale programme focused on the creation, validation, and operational handover of Disaster Recovery runbooks across critical IT services. This is a fantastic opportunity to play a key role in ensuring business-critical services can be recovered effectively and within agreed recovery objectives. Working within a highly regulated environment, you will partner with technical teams, application support functions, and architecture colleagues to design, test, refine, and deliver service-specific recovery runbooks that support organisational resilience. Key Responsibilities Disaster Recovery Runbook Development

• Create comprehensive DR runbooks for in-scope business-critical IT services.
• Ensure runbooks align with agreed DR recovery patterns and resilience standards.
• Define minimum viable recovery states for each service.
• Develop recovery processes that are sequenced, dependency-aware, and aligned to BIA-driven Recovery Time Objectives (RTOs).
• Identify critical recovery success points, failure conditions, escalation routes, and stop/go decision criteria.
• Document service dependencies, technical assumptions, and recovery requirements. Runbook Testing & Validation
• Design and lead structured walkthrough sessions and tabletop exercises.
• Validate recovery sequencing, recovery logic, and execution pathways.
• Confirm the effectiveness of pass/fail decision points and recovery controls.
• Work closely with Application Support and operational teams to ensure runbooks are practical and executable.
• Facilitate recovery assurance reviews and testing activities. Runbook Refinement & Issue Resolution
• Update and enhance runbooks based on testing outcomes and stakeholder feedback.
• Resolve issues relating to unclear recovery steps, incorrect dependencies, or flawed sequencing.
• Maintain issue logs detailing findings, actions taken, and resolutions implemented.
• Drive continuous improvement across recovery documentation and processes. Recovery Feasibility & Risk Assessment
• Assess whether proposed recovery approaches can realistically achieve agreed recovery objectives.
• Produce clear summaries of recovery constraints, limitations, and risks.
• Identify remediation requirements and areas requiring formal risk acceptance.
• Support resilience governance and assurance activities. Operational Handover
• Deliver fully tested and approved DR runbooks to Application Support teams.
• Document ownership, maintenance responsibilities, assumptions, and operational limitations.
• Ensure support teams have the knowledge and documentation required for ongoing execution and maintenance. Essential Experience
• 10+ years' experience in Technical Architecture, Infrastructure, Cyber Security, Operational Resilience, or related fields.
• Proven track record designing and implementing Disaster Recovery and Business Continuity solutions within complex enterprise environments.
• Extensive experience creating and testing recovery runbooks for critical services.
• Strong understanding of Business Impact Analysis (BIA), Recovery Time Objectives (RTOs), and Recovery Point Objectives (RPOs).
• Experience planning and executing DR exercises, failover testing, and recovery assurance activities.
• Experience operating within highly regulated environments such as: Critical National Infrastructure (CNI); Utilities; Energy; Nuclear; Defence; Government
• Strong knowledge of hybrid infrastructure, cloud recovery architectures, backup platforms, replication technologies, and resilience frameworks.
• Previous experience working alongside teams of Technical Architects delivering multiple DR workstreams and runbook programmes. Knowledge & Expertise Strong understanding of:
• Disaster Recovery & Operational Resilience
• Business Continuity Management
• Recovery Testing & Assurance Governance
• Cloud & Hybrid Recovery Architectures
• Critical Service Recovery Planning
• Enterprise Infrastructure Recovery Strategies Industry Standards & Frameworks
• ISO 22301
• ISO 27001
• ISO 27031
• NIST Cybersecurity Framework Candidates without active SC clearance cannot be considered for this assignment. Apply Now This is an excellent opportunity for a seasoned Cyber Security Technical Architect to lead the development and assurance of enterprise-scale Disaster Recovery capabilities within a complex, security-conscious environment. If you have a proven background in DR architecture, operational resilience, runbook development, and recovery testing, we'd like to hear from you.