M

Microsoft

Builds workplace software, PCs and cloud services

Business Program Manager

Full-Time
£70.3k - £133.9k/yr
Mid, Senior
Reading, UK
HybridAttendance at the Reading office is required as needed; international travel is required from time to time.
CybersecuritySecurity Governance, Risk & Compliance
UK Citizenship, UK Top Secret Clearance Required

About the job

Requirements
  • Demonstrable experience in information security, operational security, programme security, or a government security role.
  • Must be a sole UK National and hold, or be able to obtain and maintain, the UK Government security clearance required for the role (DV).
  • Knowledge of UK Government security policy, security controls, and government information-handling requirements.
  • Demonstrable experience supporting large, complex programmes for UK Government, defence, or national security customers.
Responsibilities
  • Define, maintain, and implement information and operational security policies, standards, and procedures aligned with UK Government policy, Microsoft requirements, and contractual obligations.
  • Act as a subject matter expert on information security governance for UK national security programmes.
  • Translate government and customer security requirements into scalable, operationally workable controls.
  • Provide independent advice and constructive challenge where security, contractual, or compliance obligations may be at risk.
  • Support audits, inspections, assurance reviews, and customer accreditation activity.
  • Maintain awareness of evolving UK Government security policy, regulation, and the national security threat landscape.
  • Provide information security leadership across the programme lifecycle, from early engagement and tenders through delivery and operation.
  • Work with programme management and engineering teams to embed security in programme design and delivery.
  • Review and interpret Security Aspects Letters, Security Grading Guides, contractual security schedules, and security flow-down requirements.
  • Support the development and maintenance of Security Management Plans, procedures, and assurance documentation.
  • Help establish or participate in customer and programme Security Working Groups.
  • Ensure information security risks are identified, documented, reviewed, and escalated through appropriate governance.
  • Engage with sales, account, and bid teams to identify security requirements early.
  • Review relevant DEFCON, Defence Standard, and customer-specific security requirements.
  • Advise on security obligations within Statements of Work and related contractual documents.
  • Identify delivery and compliance risks associated with proposed commitments or solutions.
  • Support customer discussions where security requirements require clarification or negotiation.
  • Ensure agreed security requirements transition effectively into programme delivery.
  • Support security risk assessments across UK national security programmes.
  • Review programme risk registers and evaluate the effectiveness of proposed mitigations.
  • Ensure significant security risks are escalated to the appropriate risk owner or governance body.
  • Provide information security assurance to programme leadership and senior stakeholders.
  • Support remediation, assurance assessments, accreditation reviews, and security testing.
  • Monitor recurring issues and identify opportunities to improve controls, processes, and programme security maturity.
  • Promote consistent, evidence-based security risk management across programmes.
  • Provide guidance on the handling, storage, sharing, transfer, retention, and disposal of sensitive information.
  • Advise on the suitability of Microsoft tooling and collaboration environments for sensitive programme activity.
  • Support secure document management and customer-specific information-handling requirements.
  • Advise on restricted collaboration environments, ethical firewalls, and information-separation controls.
  • Help ensure sensitive information is handled in line with contractual and government requirements and need-to-know principles.
  • Provide information security advice and support during security incidents affecting relevant programmes.
  • Ensure potential incidents are identified, recorded, and escalated appropriately.
  • Support proportionate, independent incident investigations where required.
  • Assess security, customer, and contractual implications of incidents.
  • Recommend containment, remediation, and risk-reduction actions.
  • Produce or support incident reports and after-action reviews.
  • Ensure lessons learned are reflected in programme controls, guidance, and training.
  • Act as an information security point of contact for UK national security programmes.
  • Build trusted relationships with programme teams, Engineering, Sales, Legal, and Microsoft security stakeholders.
  • Engage with UK Government, defence, and national security customers on security assurance and compliance matters.
  • Represent Microsoft at Security Working Groups, assurance meetings, and security governance forums.
  • Develop security briefings for programme leadership, senior executives, and customers.
  • Communicate complex security risks and requirements clearly to technical and non-technical audiences.
  • Promote security as a practical business enabler.
  • Develop positive relationships with legal colleagues within the UK & Ireland Legal Affairs team, UK government affairs colleagues, and colleagues in the wider EMEA region to coach and advise on compliance issues.
  • Engage with legal and business colleagues to identify and share best practices.
  • Support programme-specific security briefings, training, and awareness material.
  • Support and collaborate with the NST Personnel Security Controller and Facility Manager.
  • Develop positive relationships with customers and partners to protect and advocate for Microsoft’s interests.
  • Collaborate with service providers to develop strategies and innovative solutions to address business issues and achieve business objectives.
  • Support project teams and liaise with Microsoft’s international trade specialists on matters involving US and other applicable export-control regimes.
  • Identify gaps and inefficiencies in security processes and lead proportionate improvements.
  • Use AI solutions to scale work and drive continuous improvement.
  • Monitor emerging risks, policy developments, and operational security trends.
  • Attend the Reading offices as required.
  • Travel internationally from time to time.
Desired Qualifications
  • Experience interpreting contractual security requirements and translating them into practical operational controls.
  • Experience managing information security risk, assurance, or accreditation activities.
  • Stakeholder-management skills, including engagement with leaders, customers, and multidisciplinary delivery teams, and the ability to establish a trusted-advisor relationship.
  • Ability to work independently and collaboratively with colleagues based in different locations.
  • High tolerance for ambiguity and change.
  • Interest in technology, digital transformation, and Microsoft’s products and services.
  • CISSP, CISM, or CCSP certification is desirable.
  • Knowledge of defence export-compliance issues is an advantage but is not essential.

About the company

Microsoft builds workplace software, operating systems and cloud infrastructure for consumers, businesses and government agencies, from small organizations to global enterprises. Microsoft 365 combines Word and Excel with Teams communication and Copilot AI features, while Windows runs PCs and Surface supplies the company's own computers. Azure rents computing capacity, storage and databases to build and run web applications. Microsoft also sells Xbox consoles and games, collecting revenue through software licenses, subscriptions, usage charges and product sales. Founded in 1975 by Bill Gates and Paul Allen, Microsoft is headquartered in Redmond, Washington.

Company Size

10,001+

Company Stage

IPO

Headquarters

Redmond, Washington

Founded

1975

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Simplify Jobs

Simplify's Take

What believers are saying

  • US corporate staff receive education support: eligible, approved graduate coursework qualifies for up to $10,000 annually.
  • Cloud demand expands: July 2026 results showed Azure and other cloud services revenue grew 43% year-over-year in fiscal Q4.
  • Investment has an earnings cushion: July 2026 results reported $155.2 billion consolidated operating profit for fiscal 2026.

What critics are saying

  • Performance reviews include security: every Microsoft employee must discuss their security contribution with their manager.
  • Office flexibility depends on the role: Microsoft's postings specify requirements ranging from fully remote to fully on-site.
  • Cloud capacity faces local limits: Microsoft describes power-grid delays and water constraints affecting US datacenter expansion.

What makes Microsoft unique

  • Hybrid customers stay within reach: Azure Arc manages servers across customer datacenters and competing clouds.
  • Developer reach extends beyond Azure: Microsoft's GitHub hosts code collaboration alongside AI coding tools.
  • Professional data widens its business: Microsoft owns LinkedIn's recruiting, advertising and workplace-learning network.

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Benefits

  • Health Insurance
  • Dental Insurance
  • Vision Insurance
  • 401(k) Company Match
  • Professional Development Budget
  • Conference Attendance Budget
  • Flexible Work Hours
  • Remote Work Options

Growth & Insights and Company News

Headcount

6 month growth

0%

1 year growth

0%

2 year growth

0%
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