EMEA Security ManagerCheltenham, GloucestershireUp to £110,000

Note: Successful candidates must currently hold the highest level of UK Government security clearance.

• physical & operational security focus rather than cyber security
• multi country experience is required

My client, a major defence contractor, is actively seeking an experienced senior security specialist to lead diverse Security Operations and Compliance across the EMEA (Europe/UK, Middle East, and Africa) region.

Key Responsibilities: EMEA Security Manager / Information Security Lead / Senior Security Operations Manager

• Lead and further develop the EMEA regional security function, optimizing Security Shared Services across the region to ensure effective, efficient, and compliant service delivery to sector, company, and applicable ISO standards.
• Oversee UK Crisis Management and Business Resiliency efforts, coordinating with Sector and Corporate Security leadership as part of the Global Security program for European operations.
• Conduct continual assessments of potential security risks, developing mitigation strategies and escalating concerns, recommendations, and plans to site, regional, and sector Security leadership as appropriate.
• Collaborate with in-country and in-region security teams to ensure excellence in local security management and compliance, exceeding customer expectations and implementing risk mitigation practices.
• Support UK Cyber Security initiatives in collaboration with the US CISO, and provide security support to sector CISO and Security leadership as needed to enable a cohesive approach to cyber threat mitigation in the EMEA region.
• Lead the review, analysis, recommendation, and implementation of security solutions to meet standards, optimize systems, and fulfill customer requirements for enterprise and program security tools, systems, and processes in the UK.
• Conduct regular reviews of UK and EMEA regional Security Operations, ensuring compliance with ISO standards (as applicable) and alignment with corporate policies, including leading the EMEA Community of Practice (CoP) for Security.

Essential Qualifications & Experience

• Demonstrated experience in the Security profession at a senior manager level within Government and/or the defence industry, with engagement/advisory experience at VP and Director levels.
• Proven track record of effective team leadership in both direct and matrixed organizations.
• Successful delivery of significant security projects within a major global organization.
• Experience leading and managing security transitions within a fast-changing environment.
• Familiarity with ISO27001 standards.
• One or more of the following Security certifications:
  • Certified Information Security Manager (CISM)
  • Certified Protection Professional (CPP)
  • Industrial Security Professional (ISP)
  • NIST Cybersecurity Framework (NCSF)

Competencies & Skills

• In-depth knowledge and understanding of industry security standards, legislation, and best practices in functional areas such as Security, Privacy, Information Security, Cybersecurity, and related regulatory requirements within and outside the UK.
• Willingness and ability to travel occasionally within the UK and throughout the EMEA region to attend meetings, conferences, and training, perform security assessments, and support security projects. A valid UK driver’s license and current passport are required.
• Clearance Requirements: The successful candidate must currently hold or have recently held UK DV clearance and be capable of achieving the highest level of government clearance.