Cryptography HSM and Key Management Specialist

Unlocking Your Potential in Cyber Security: A Review of Barclays' Cryptography HSM and Key Management Specialist Role

Barclays is seeking a Cryptography HSM and Key Management Specialist to join its integral Cyber Security Office (CSO) within Global Information Security. This role offers a unique opportunity to be at the forefront of digital security, contributing to the resilience and innovation of a major global financial institution.

Working within the Cryptography team, you'll be instrumental in providing critical cryptographic services, including Secure Key Management, Hardware Security, Application Cryptography, Strong Authentication, and PKI & Certificate services. Your role as a liaison between business, technology, and security functions underscores its strategic importance in safeguarding information confidentiality, integrity, and availability.

Advantages: Why This Opportunity Shines

• High Impact and Strategic Importance: This isn't just a technical role; it's about leading the evolution of Barclays' digital landscape. You will directly contribute to driving innovation and ensuring operational excellence in critical security infrastructure. Your work will have a tangible impact on the entire Barclays Group.
• Specialized Expertise Development: The position is deeply embedded in the specialized and highly sought-after fields of Cryptography, Hardware Security Modules (HSM), and Key Management. This offers an exceptional chance to deepen your technical expertise in a core area of cybersecurity, making you a valuable asset in the industry.
• Comprehensive Professional Growth: Beyond technical responsibilities, the role demands strong stakeholder management, negotiation, and the ability to influence at all levels. You will be expected to act as an advisor, develop technical expertise, and partner with various functions, fostering a well-rounded professional development path.
• Robust Operational Environment: You'll gain experience in a demanding operational setting, covering incident and change management, project delivery, and ensuring stringent risk and compliance requirements are met. This provides exposure to best practices in enterprise-level security operations.
• Values-Driven Culture: Barclays emphasizes its core values of Respect, Integrity, Service, Excellence, and Stewardship, alongside a mindset of Empower, Challenge, and Drive. This suggests a professional environment focused on ethical conduct and continuous improvement, offering a supportive foundation for your career.

Key Considerations for Candidates

• On-Call Commitment: Candidates should be aware of the requirement for on-call duty one week every four weeks. While the core hours are standard UK (9 AM–5 PM), this commitment is essential for ensuring continuous service availability and is a critical aspect of the role's demands.
• Essential Technical and Foundational Skills: A solid background in Cryptography and Information Security is paramount. Specific requirements include:
  • ITIL Foundation certification
  • Experience in SSH Key Management
  • Certificate management experience
  • Experience in HSM configuration/installation/support
  • A Bachelor's degree in Computer Science
  Candidates should ensure they meet these non-negotiable criteria.
• Operational Acumen and Decision-Making: The role demands excellent attention to detail, accuracy, and the ability to make informed decisions under tight deadlines while managing multiple priorities. You will be accountable for key deliverables, risk management, and strengthening controls, indicating a role with significant responsibility and pressure.
• Valued Supplementary Skills: While not mandatory, possessing skills like relevant security/project management certifications, a background in operational environments (incident response, change management), strong documentation skills, and familiarity with tools like SharePoint, Confluence, and JIRA will significantly enhance your application. Expertise in privacy, compliance, and data protection services is also highly valued.
• Location: The position is based at Radbroke Hall, Knutsford. Potential candidates should consider this as part of their career planning.

Is This Role For You?

This opportunity is ideal for a dedicated cybersecurity professional with a strong foundation in cryptography and key management, eager to take on a highly impactful role within a global financial leader. If you thrive in dynamic, high-stakes environments, are committed to operational excellence, and possess the required technical and soft skills, this position at Barclays could be a pivotal step in your career journey. It promises significant growth, exposure to advanced security practices, and the chance to contribute to the digital integrity of one of the world's leading banks.