Red Team Lead

This review provides an in-depth look at the Red Team Lead opportunity within the Chief Security Office (CSO) at Lloyds Banking Group. We'll explore the advantages and key considerations for potential candidates, helping you navigate your career path with this exciting role.

Red Team Lead: An Opportunity for Impact and Growth

The Red Team Lead position is a crucial role within the Advanced Intrusion Testing (AIT) team, tasked with proactively safeguarding the Group and its customers from sophisticated cyber threats. If you're a seasoned offensive security professional looking to lead intelligence-led intrusion tests and significantly enhance an organisation's cyber resilience, this opportunity warrants serious consideration.

Advantages for Your Career Path:

• Strategic Leadership and Technical Authority: This role offers the chance to not only execute advanced adversary emulation tests but also to technically lead AIT colleagues. You'll be instrumental in devising testing methodologies that challenge the organisation's defenses, acting as a technical authority within the CSO, and sharing your expertise through coaching and consultation. This is an excellent platform for developing leadership and strategic thinking skills.
• End-to-End Cyber Resilience: You'll be at the forefront of evaluating and improving the organisation's complete cyber resilience. By simulating real-life attack scenarios that test people, processes, and technology, you'll contribute directly to a safer and more secure environment for a major financial institution.
• Collaborative Environment and Skill Development: Working closely with multi-functional, matrix teams from across the CSO and business units fosters a rich learning environment. The emphasis on Purple Teaming also presents a unique opportunity to collaborate directly with the Security Operations Centre (SOC), offering valuable insights into defensive strategies and enhancing your understanding of the full security spectrum.
• Continuous Improvement and Strategy: The role encourages identifying and driving continuous improvement within the AIT team and influencing the overall AIT strategy. This means you'll have a voice in shaping the future direction of the team and its offensive security capabilities.
• Flexible Working and Inclusive Culture: Lloyds Banking Group is committed to supporting flexible working arrangements, including hybrid and job share options, allowing for a better work-life balance. Furthermore, the organisation champions an inclusive culture, celebrating diversity and offering a wide range of benefits and initiatives to support employee wellbeing.
• Competitive Remuneration and Benefits: The salary range of £81,999 - £91,110 (London) or £70,929 - £78,810 (outside London) reflects the seniority and impact of this role. A comprehensive benefits package, including a generous pension, annual bonus, share schemes, and extensive wellbeing programs, further enhances the overall value proposition.

Key Considerations for Candidates:

• Depth of Offensive Security Experience: The description emphasizes "solid experience" in offensive security operations. Candidates should be prepared to demonstrate proficiency in network penetration testing, application security (web, mobile, API), red teaming, and purple teaming. A strong understanding of how to conduct targeted, covert tests with minimal reliance on tools is crucial.
• Technical Acumen and Methodological Understanding: A solid grasp of Red Team, Purple Team, and Penetration testing methodologies and tools is essential. Familiarity with frameworks like MITRE ATT&CK is expected, and candidates should be comfortable with network and operating system fundamentals (Windows and *NIX), enterprise architectures, and defensive security tooling.
• Communication and Stakeholder Management: The ability to clearly communicate complex technical issues to both technical and non-technical stakeholders is a key requirement. You'll be interacting with various collaborators, so strong interpersonal and presentation skills are vital.
• Alignment with Group Values: The role requires leaders to embody the Group Values and Leadership Behaviours, demonstrating integrity, approachability, and a commitment to building trust.
• Desirable but Not Essential Qualifications: While preferred qualifications like offensive security certifications (SANS GIAC, CREST, OSCP/OSCE, CRTO) and experience in software development, malware techniques, social engineering, or CI/CD are advantageous, the core requirements focus on practical, hands-on offensive security expertise.

In summary, the Red Team Lead position at Lloyds Banking Group presents a compelling opportunity for experienced offensive security professionals seeking to make a significant impact within a forward-thinking financial institution. It offers a blend of technical challenge, strategic leadership, and a supportive, inclusive work environment, making it an attractive prospect for career advancement.