UK

United Kingdom · Compliance, quality and safety · Principal/Manager (12-16 years)

ISO 27001 Administrator Manager

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  • Experience bandPrincipal/Manager (12-16 years)
  • Direct reports10-25 reports
  • Reports toDirector of GRC
  • UK framework levelUsually someone running a function, or a director

Also advertised as Information Security Compliance Manager · GRC Programme Lead · Head of Information Security Management System (ISMS)

Built on 43,079 real UK job descriptions we analysed · grounded in what real qualifications cover

Two short quizzes about you

1From this job to a course

The qualifications matched to this job

Transcend Level 5 Diploma in Risk Management of Security Operations Transcend Awards · Level 5 · covers 1 of 17 standards
GQA Level 5 Diploma in the Practice of Process Safety Management GQA Qualifications Limited · Level 5 · covers 1 of 17 standards
Qualifi Level 2 Diploma in Business Beginners in Cyber Security Qualifi Ltd · Level 2 · covers 3 of 17 standards
GQA PAA\VQ-SET Level 3 Diploma for a Bulk Storage Operator (Technician) GQA Qualifications Limited · Level 3 · covers 1 of 17 standards
GQA PAA\VQ-SET Level 3 Certificate in Laboratory Technical Skills GQA Qualifications Limited · Level 3 · covers 1 of 17 standards

Matched from the standards this job is measured against: a suggestion, not an official ruling.

The units you would start with

Security operations solutions and service management Transcend Level 5 Diploma in Risk Management of Security Operations
Understand how to comply with the relevant Regulations, Industry Standards and Management Requirements for Process Safety GQA Level 5 Diploma in the Practice of Process Safety Management
Cyber Security Solutions Qualifi Level 2 Diploma in Business Beginners in Cyber Security
Comply with External and Internal Obligations within a Bulk Storage Operations Environment GQA PAA\VQ-SET Level 3 Diploma for a Bulk Storage Operator (Technician)
Good Manufacturing Practice GQA PAA\VQ-SET Level 3 Certificate in Laboratory Technical Skills
Principles of Safe Manufacture of Quality Medicines in the Pharmaceutical Environment Open Awards Level 3 Technical Occupational Entry in the Principles and Practice for Pharmacy Technicians (Diploma)

The future skills this job leans on

AI Fluency working with AI as a thinking partner
Data Fluency turning numbers into a decision
AI Governance Fluency using AI responsibly
Automation Fluency building AI into how work runs
Foresight Fluency seeing round the corner
Your Plan Illustration

Built for ISO 27001 Administrator Manager

6 units that map to this job, from the qualifications that cover it.

  1. Security operations solutions and service management Transcend Awards · covers 1 of 17 standards Level 5
  2. Understand how to comply with the relevant Regulations, Industry Standards and Management Requirements for Process Safety GQA Qualifications Limited · covers 1 of 17 standards Level 5
  3. Cyber Security Solutions Qualifi Ltd · covers 3 of 17 standards Level 2
  4. Comply with External and Internal Obligations within a Bulk Storage Operations Environment GQA Qualifications Limited · covers 1 of 17 standards Level 3
  5. Good Manufacturing Practice GQA Qualifications Limited · covers 1 of 17 standards Level 3
  6. Principles of Safe Manufacture of Quality Medicines in the Pharmaceutical Environment Open Awards · covers 1 of 17 standards Level 3
These are the real units behind this job, in the order they rank for it. Nothing here is marked done, because this plan has not been started by anyone yet. Yours would fill in as you go.

2AI and this work

Will AI change your work as an ISO 27001 Administrator Manager?

Nobody can say exactly how. Here is what this job is being asked for next, and where to start.

The new skills this role is being asked for

  • AI-Driven Compliance Automation & Oversight
  • Cyber Resilience & Adaptive Security Frameworks
Why each one is rising

The future skills this job leans on

We'll only ever tell you what we can actually back up. No hype, no scare tactics.

What happens when you start

Next, a free account. We build your ISO 27001 Administrator Manager plan as you set up, starting with the free Automation Fluency module. No card.

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3What this role really is

An ISO 27001 Administrator Manager leads an organisation's information security management system, from setup to audit.

4What you'd actually use

The tools this job runs on, and how well you'd need to know each one.

ServiceNow GRC / OneTrust / Vanta / Drata / Archer GRC Suite Strategic

Leading the selection, implementation, and optimisation of our GRC platform. You'll architect integrations with other systems (e.g., Jira, SIEM) and define the enterprise GRC data model to ensure it meets our strategic compliance and risk reporting needs.

Confluence / Jira / MS Teams/SharePoint Strategic

Setting the governance standards for our ISMS documentation within Confluence, designing complex Jira workflows for CAPA management and audit tracking, and ensuring these platforms are used effectively by your team for collaboration and reporting. You'll use them to drive programme efficiency.

Nessus / Qualys (Vulnerability), Splunk / LogRhythm (SIEM), CrowdStrike / SentinelOne (EDR) Architect

Defining the evidence requirements from these source systems and working closely with IT and Security teams to ensure they are configured to produce auditable logs and reports that feed directly into our GRC platform. You'll interpret high-level findings for management.

Microsoft Excel (Advanced) & PowerPoint (Expert) Strategic

Developing the templates and models the organisation uses for risk assessment, control mapping, and management reporting. You'll create compelling, executive-level presentations for Management Review and Board updates, translating complex data into clear narratives.

Diligent / Nasdaq Boardvantage Intermediate

Overseeing the preparation and uploading of GRC reports, dashboards, and audit summaries into the board portal for C-level and board consumption. You'll ensure all data is accurate, concise, and presented in a way that facilitates informed decision-making at the highest level.

5What you get to decide, and how that grows

Power in a job isn't your title. It's what you're allowed to decide. Here's how it grows as you move up.

The choiceComing in Where you are nowThe step above
ISMS Programme Strategy No involvement. Follows established procedures. Proposes minor process improvements within existing strategy. Designs and recommends significant improvements to ISMS processes and controls, aligning with existing strategy.
Budget Allocation (ISMS) No budget authority. Reports expenditure. Requests budget for specific tools or training, requires manager approval. Manages project budgets up to £25K, with sign-off from Director.
Team Hiring & Development No involvement beyond interviewing peers. Participates in interviews for junior roles, provides feedback. Leads interviews for junior/mid-level roles, makes recommendations to manager.
Third-Party Vendor Selection (GRC Tools) Uses existing tools, no input on selection. Researches potential tools, provides feature comparisons to manager. Evaluates and recommends specific GRC tools based on requirements, with final approval from Director.

6How you'll be judged

The scoreboard, and what is not on it. The hard targets, how often each is actually looked at, and the quiet signals that never reach a dashboard.

ISO 27001 Certification Success
Maintaining our ISO 27001 certification status with minimal non-conformities.
Target · Zero major non-conformities; less than 3 minor non-conformities per annual audit cycle.

In 2024, we passed our recertification audit with no major findings and only two minor observations, both closed within 30 days. That's the standard.

Information Security Risk Reduction
Demonstrable reduction in the overall information security risk exposure across the organisation.
Target · Achieve a 10-15% reduction in the aggregate information security risk score year-over-year, as measured by our internal risk assessment methodology.

After implementing a new patching programme for critical systems, our risk assessment showed a 12% drop in high-rated technical risks, directly attributable to your team's efforts.

ISMS Programme Efficiency
Improving the efficiency of our ISMS processes, reducing manual effort and speeding up evidence collection.
Target · Reduce the person-hours required for the annual audit cycle by 20% within 18 months, through automation, process optimisation, and better tooling.

By automating 3 key evidence collection tasks using GRC platform integrations, your team saved approximately 200 hours in Q2, freeing up time for more strategic work.

Team Engagement & Development
Ensuring your team is engaged, growing, and performing effectively.
Target · Achieve an average team engagement score of 80% or higher in annual surveys; ensure at least 75% of direct reports have a clear development plan with measurable progress.

After a year, your team's average engagement score jumped from 65% to 82%, and two senior analysts were promoted, showing your investment in their growth.

Strategic Influence & Buy-in
Your ability to influence senior leadership and other departments, ensuring the ISMS is seen as a business enabler, not a bureaucratic burden.
  • You're proactively invited to strategic planning meetings, not just compliance reviews. Business leaders seek your advice on new projects, asking 'how do we do this securely?' before they've even built it. Your recommendations for security investments are consistently approved because you've clearly articulated the business value and risk reduction.
Programme Maturity & Resilience
The overall maturity and resilience of the ISMS, moving beyond basic compliance to proactive risk management.
  • Our internal audit findings are trending downwards, and any non-conformities are quickly addressed with robust root cause analysis. The ISMS feels like a 'well-oiled machine' that runs smoothly throughout the year, not just during pre-audit scrambles. Business continuity and incident response plans are regularly tested and proven effective.
Effective Stakeholder Communication
Clearly communicating complex security and compliance concepts to diverse audiences, from technical teams to the Board.
  • Your quarterly reports to the executive team are clear, concise, and actionable, leading to informed decisions. You can explain the impact of a new control to the Head of Sales in terms they understand, without resorting to jargon. Feedback from other department heads consistently praises your team's collaborative approach and clear guidance.

7Would you like it

Both sides. What people enjoy, and what grinds them down.

What people enjoy
Building & Refining Systems

You'll spend time reviewing and improving our risk assessment methodology, designing new control frameworks, and optimising how we collect evidence. You love seeing a well-oiled machine in action.

You recently overhauled our CAPA management process, reducing closure times by 30% and improving the quality of root cause analysis.

Developing & Leading People

A significant part of your day will involve mentoring your team, coaching them through challenges, and empowering them to take ownership. You get satisfaction from seeing your team members grow and succeed.

You've successfully mentored two senior analysts into leadership roles, expanding their responsibilities and impact within the team.

Driving Strategic Impact

You're motivated by knowing your work directly contributes to the company's resilience and competitive advantage. You'll be making recommendations that genuinely shape our security posture and business strategy.

Your proposal for a new third-party risk management framework was approved by the executive team, significantly reducing our exposure to supply chain risks.

What frustrates people
  • Dealing with executive-level 'audit amnesia' where commitments made last year are forgotten this year, leading to last-minute scrambles.
  • Budget constraints that limit your ability to invest in new security tooling or expand your team as quickly as you'd like.
  • The challenge of balancing strict compliance requirements with the need for business agility and innovation.
  • Managing a team through the inevitable frustrations of chasing evidence and dealing with resistance from other departments.
  • The constant need to justify the value and ROI of security investments to non-technical stakeholders.
What this role does not give you
  • A purely technical, hands-on security role – you'll be managing, not configuring firewalls.
  • A quiet, solitary work environment; expect lots of collaboration and communication.
  • A role where every decision is clear-cut and universally popular; you'll often be making tough calls and navigating trade-offs.
  • Immediate gratification on every initiative; strategic change takes time and persistence.

8Who you work with

You're directly responsible for the health and integrity of our information security posture, which, frankly, underpins everything we do. Your work ensures we meet legal and contractual obligations, protect sensitive data, and maintain customer trust. A strong ISMS, driven by you, means we can innovate and grow securely, avoiding costly breaches or compliance failures that could cripple the business.

Inside the business
  • Director of GRC (your direct manager)
  • CISO (Chief Information Security Officer)
  • Heads of IT and Engineering
  • Legal and HR Leadership
  • Executive Management Team
Outside the business
  • External ISO 27001 Auditors (e.g., BSI, NQA)
  • Key Vendors and Third-Party Suppliers
  • Industry Bodies and Standards Organisations
  • Regulatory Authorities (where applicable)

9What you need before you start

Not a wish list. The things you would be expected to already have.

  • Proven experience (at least 5-8 years) leading and managing an ISO 27001 programme in a complex organisational setting, ideally with a team.
  • A track record of successfully navigating multiple external ISO 27001 audits with minimal non-conformities.
  • Demonstrable experience in designing, implementing, and improving information security management systems.
  • Strong leadership skills, with prior experience managing or mentoring a team of security or compliance professionals.
  • Excellent stakeholder management skills, with a history of influencing senior leadership and cross-functional teams.
  • Relevant certifications such as ISO 27001 Lead Auditor/Lead Implementer, CISM, or CISSP (or equivalent practical experience).

10What to practise next

Where the job is going, and what to do about it starting this week.

Cloud Security Governance & Compliance

As more of our infrastructure moves to the cloud (AWS, Azure, GCP), understanding cloud-native security controls, shared responsibility models, and cloud compliance frameworks (e.g., CSA STAR) becomes paramount. Your team will need to audit these environments, and you'll need to set the strategy.

Cloud Security Posture Management (CSPM) · Infrastructure as Code (IaC) Security · Serverless & Container Security

  • This month: Complete an introductory course on cloud security fundamentals (e.g., AWS Cloud Practitioner Security).
  • Next quarter: Review our current cloud security policies and controls. How do they align with ISO 27001 and cloud best practices?
  • Within 6 months: Work with our cloud engineering team to identify key compliance gaps in our cloud environments and develop a remediation plan.
  • Within 9 months: Evaluate potential CSPM tools and consider how they could integrate into our GRC platform for automated cloud compliance reporting.

Quick win: Start subscribing to cloud security newsletters and follow key industry experts. Stay informed about the latest cloud security breaches and compliance challenges.

11Staying current once you are in

What people here do to keep up
  • Regularly attend industry conferences (e.g., Infosec Europe, RSA Conference) to stay abreast of emerging threats and best practices.
  • Participate in relevant professional forums and working groups (e.g., ISACA, ISC2 local chapters) to network and share knowledge.
  • Undertake continuous learning through online courses, webinars, and certifications in areas like cloud security, AI in GRC, or advanced risk management.
  • Mentor junior professionals in the field, as teaching often solidifies your own understanding and leadership skills.

12The rising capability

The rising capability

Zavmo analysis

What's rising in its place

This is where the work is heading, and the higher pay with it. Get fluent here and the shift stops being a threat and starts being your edge.

AI-Driven Compliance Automation & Oversight

AI is rapidly changing how we collect evidence, monitor controls, and assess risk. Competitors are already using AI to automate large parts of their compliance workflows, significantly reducing manual effort and improving accuracy. As a manager, your role shifts from doing to overseeing and strategically deploying these tools.

  • Prompt Engineering for Compliance
  • AI-powered GRC Integrations
  • Ethical AI & Bias in Compliance
  • AI Output Validation & Human-in-the-Loop

Cyber Resilience & Adaptive Security Frameworks

The threat landscape is constantly evolving, and a static ISMS isn't enough. Regulators and customers increasingly expect organisations to demonstrate 'cyber resilience' – the ability to anticipate, withstand, recover from, and adapt to adverse cyber events. This means moving beyond a 'check-box' approach to a more dynamic, adaptive security posture.

  • NIST Cyber Security Framework (CSF)
  • Threat-Led Risk Management
  • Business Impact Analysis (BIA) Integration
  • Continuous Assurance & Monitoring

13What you’ll use

What you’ll use

Skills this role draws on

Technical

  • ISO 27001/27002 Framework Mastery (Strategic)
  • Risk Assessment & Treatment Methodologies (Strategic)
  • Internal & External Audit Management (Strategic)
  • Corrective Action & Preventive Action (CAPA) Management (Strategic)
  • Statement of Applicability (SoA) Development & Governance (Strategic)
  • Third-Party Risk Management (TPRM) Programme Design (Advanced)

14The pathway

The pathway

How you actually get there, here

How you become one varies far more by country than what one does. This is the UK route. Most people take one of these ways in; the right one depends on where you're starting from.

  1. 1

    From Senior ISMS Specialist / Lead GRC Analyst

    3-5 years in a senior individual contributor role.

    Skills to master

    • You'd need to have mastered programme management, strategic planning, team mentorship, and significant stakeholder influence. It's about moving from 'doing' to 'leading' and 'designing'.

    You're ready to move on when

    • Successfully led multiple complex internal audits or compliance projects end-to-end.
    • Consistently provided mentorship and guidance to junior team members, with demonstrable impact on their development.
    • Proactively identified and proposed strategic improvements to the ISMS, which were subsequently adopted.
    • Demonstrated strong communication skills by presenting to senior management or external parties.
  2. 2

    From Information Security Consultant (Specialising in ISO 27001)

    5-7 years as a consultant, with experience leading client engagements.

    Skills to master

    • Translating consulting experience into building and running an internal programme. This means developing internal stakeholder management, team leadership, and long-term programme ownership skills.

    You're ready to move on when

    • Managed full ISO 27001 implementation projects for multiple clients, from gap analysis to certification.
    • Developed strong client relationship management skills, which translate well to internal stakeholder engagement.
    • Demonstrated ability to build and deliver complex project plans and manage project teams (even if matrixed).

15Where this role leads

The long view: This role can lead to Chief Information Security Officer, Chief Risk Officer, or Head of Compliance and Governance.

The ten Future Fluencies

Zavmo analysis

The credential is what you can do today. These are what keep you valuable.

A qualification proves you can do the job as it's defined today. These ten are what decide whether you're still the obvious person for it in five years. They're the capabilities employers are now writing into senior roles faster than people are learning them. Zavmo weaves them through whatever you study, so you come out with both: the credential and the fluency.

The highlighted ones are the Fluencies your role leans on hardest, from how ISO 27001 Administrator Manager is actually changing.

Where it leads

Roles this leads to

The record names a next step, but the catalogue has no page for it yet:

  • Director of GRC

How you would learn this

One to one, on the work you already do

A tutor sets the task against your own job and marks the reasoning, at your pace. There is no cohort to fall behind.

A lesson from Security operations solutions and service management, worked against ISO 27001 Administrator Manager.

Security operations solutions and service management Level 5

Applied to your work in ISO 27001 Administrator Manager

This unit aims to provide learners with a comprehensive understanding of security operations solutions, including their types, functions, benefits, and limitations, and how they contribute to overall organisational security. Learners will also develop an understanding of security operations service management, including key processes and the importance of service level agreements.

How the thinking builds
  1. 1 Remember
  2. 2 Understand
  3. 3 Apply
  4. 4 Analyse
  5. 5 Evaluate
  6. 6 Create
An illustration of a Zavmo lesson, built from this role’s own route. The unit, its objective and every criterion above are the awarding body’s own words, not an example.

It is £70 a month, billed monthly. Your free first module is Future Fluency, and you can cancel any time.

See Your Progress Grow Illustration
ISO 27001 Administrator Manager
  • ISO 27001/27002 Framework Mastery (Strategic)
  • Risk Assessment & Treatment Methodologies (Strategic)
  • Internal & External Audit Management (Strategic)
  • Corrective Action & Preventive Action (CAPA) Management (Strategic)
  • Statement of Applicability (SoA) Development & Governance (Strategic)
  • Third-Party Risk Management (TPRM) Programme Design (Advanced)
This is your Mind Palace on learn.zavmo.ai. Every skill above comes from this role's own record, not an example borrowed from another job. A node lights up when you evidence it, and what you build stays yours between jobs. That is the part a course cannot do.

16The detail, folded away

Everything else the record holds

The career branches in full, how AI is already showing up in the day-to-day, and the questions people ask about this job. Here when you want them, out of the way while you decide.

Where it leads next, rung by rung

Where it leads

The career path, and where it branches

ISO 27001 Administrator Manager is a start, not a ceiling. Each step below asks for new skills and hands back more autonomy.

  1. Director of GRC

    3-5 years in the ISO 27001 Administrator Manager role.

    This is a significant step up, moving from managing the ISO 27001 programme to owning the entire Governance, Risk, and Compliance strategy for a business unit or the entire organisation.

    • Defining and implementing an enterprise-wide GRC framework beyond just ISO 27001 (e.g., SOC 2, PCI-DSS, NIST).
    • Managing larger budgets (multi-million £) and a more extensive team structure, potentially including other managers.
    • Leading M&A due diligence from a GRC perspective and integrating acquired entities into the existing GRC framework.
    • Developing and driving a company-wide GRC technology roadmap.
Working with AI on the job

Working with AI

Where AI is starting to help

As an ISO 27001 Administrator Manager, your time is precious. You're juggling strategic oversight, team leadership, and making sure we're always audit-ready. The good news? AI isn't just for the techies anymore; it's a game-changer for compliance too. Imagine cutting down on the tedious, repetitive tasks that eat into your day, freeing you up to focus on what truly matters: strategic risk management and team development.

We're embedding AI tools across our compliance function to make things smoother, faster, and more accurate. For you, this means less time wrestling with data and more time leading. Here's a glimpse of how AI can transform your daily grind and give you back valuable hours every week.

Automated Evidence Mapping & Vendor Review

Use AI to scan vendor security documents (like SOC 2 reports or security whitepapers) and automatically map their controls to our internal ISO 27001 Annex A. This drastically speeds up third-party risk assessments and helps your team validate vendor compliance in minutes, not hours. You'll oversee the AI's output, ensuring accuracy and strategic alignment.

Intelligent Risk Prioritisation & Reporting

AI can analyse outputs from vulnerability scanners (Nessus, Qualys) and SIEMs (Splunk), correlating technical findings with business context from our ISMS. It then prioritises remediation efforts based on actual business risk, not just raw CVSS scores. This means you get a clearer, more actionable risk picture for your management reviews, helping you make smarter, data-driven decisions.

Policy & Control Drafting Assistant

Imagine generating the first draft of new information security policies, control descriptions, or even audit report summaries based on high-level requirements in minutes. Generative AI can provide a solid, well-structured starting point, allowing your team to focus on refinement and customisation, rather than staring at a blank page. You'll set the parameters and review the outputs.

Continuous Control Monitoring & Exception Flagging

AI-powered scripts can query cloud environments (AWS, Azure) and other systems to automatically gather evidence for specific controls (e.g., 'confirm MFA is enabled for all admins,' 'verify encryption on all S3 buckets'). It flags exceptions for human review, giving your team a real-time view of control effectiveness and allowing you to proactively address gaps before an audit.

Common questions

Common questions

How do you become an ISO 27001 Administrator Manager?

Common routes in include From Senior ISMS Specialist / Lead GRC Analyst (3-5 years in a senior individual contributor role.) and From Information Security Consultant (Specialising in ISO 27001) (5-7 years as a consultant, with experience leading client engagements.). Times vary with prior experience.

Where can an ISO 27001 Administrator Manager progress to?

This role can lead on to Director of GRC (3-5 years in the ISO 27001 Administrator Manager role.), depending on the skills you build.

What new skills matter most for an ISO 27001 Administrator Manager?

Increasingly, AI-Driven Compliance Automation & Oversight and Cyber Resilience & Adaptive Security Frameworks. These are the skills our record of this role lists as growing.

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17Where to go from here

Other roles at Level 6

Same depth of qualification, different job. Useful if the work appeals but this particular role does not.

 More jobs in compliance, quality and safety

Stay in the field you know and move sideways rather than up.
If you leave this industry

The skills built in this role transfer across sectors. ISO 27001 is used worldwide, so the same expertise applies in finance, healthcare, government or consulting.

This role profile is © 2026 Growth Engineering Technologies Ltd. Built from UK occupational standards and regulated qualification data, and written for Zavmo.

You're not behind. You're right on time. The shift is only just beginning. Your role won't look the same in two years. Be the one who leads the change, not the one it happens to. Start my free Automation Fluency module What happens next: a free account, then we build your plan as you set up. No card. Build your plan, see your roadmap and meet the twelve tutors matched to you. All free. When you're ready to start learning, it's £70 a month, billed monthly. Cancel any time and billing stops.