Lead Cyber Defense Strategy

The Lead, Cyber Defense Operations Strategy and Coordination drives the strategic direction and operational alignment of enterprise cyber defense capabilities, ensuring coordinated execution across Security Operations Center (SOC), Incident Response, Threat Intelligence, and Vulnerability Management functions to reduce cyber risk and improve resilience.

Responsibilities

• Define and evolve the cyber defense operations strategy, roadmap, and operating model
• Coordinate priorities and execution across SOC, IR, Threat Intelligence, Vulnerability Management, and security engineering teams
• Establish and lead oversight, including operational reviews, risk reviews, and post-incident reviews
• Drive development and standardization of playbooks, runbooks, escalation paths, and response coordination protocols
• Translate emerging threats into operational priorities, detection use cases, and control improvements
• Develop and report KPIs/KRIs such as MTTT, MTTR, detection coverage, and remediation SLA performance
• Partner with Infrastructure, IT, Legal, Privacy, and business teams during incident response and readiness efforts
• Lead improvement exercises and operational readiness drills (PTEs, Table tops, etc.) to strengthen crisis response
• Identify process and tooling gaps and coordinate automation and operational improvement initiatives

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree in Computer Science, Engineering, Information Technology, or a related field, or equivalent experience
• 8+ years experience in Cyber Security or related field
• Demonstrated experience in SOC, incident response, threat intelligence, or vulnerability management leadership
• Strong knowledge of cyber defense frameworks and standards (for example, NIST CSF, MITRE ATT&CK, ISO 27001)
• Proven ability to lead cross-functional programs and influence outcomes without direct authority
• Strong written and verbal communication skills, including executive-level reporting

Preferred Qualifications

• Experience in large enterprise or regulated industry environments
• Familiarity with SIEM, SOAR, EDR, case management, and vulnerability risk platforms
• Relevant certifications such as CISSP, CISM, GIAC (GCIH/GCIA), or PMP

Benefits

At Optimum, every action and interaction is driven by our three Guiding Principles: Do What’s Right, Drive One Optimum, and Make It Happen. These principles help us build trust, create real community, and embrace new ways of thinking. Employees are empowered to do the right thing for customers and co-workers and to recognize and reward these behaviors. Each employee knows they have the power to enact real change, share new ideas, and understand that learning never stops.

Pay

The starting pay rate/range for this position in New York is $133,661.00 - $219,586.00 per year. Pay is competitive and based on skills and experience. For other locations, please inquire with your recruiter.