Head of Cyber Security Operations

Halian; Dubai; Hybrid; AED 200,000 - 300,000; Full time

Job summary

A leading retail group in the Middle East seeks a Head of Security Operations to establish a Security Operations Centre and drive its security strategy. This role is critical to digital transformation and offers a competitive salary along with comprehensive benefits, including substantial annual bonuses.

Benefits

Comprehensive benefits including medical and life insurance

Educational support for children

Airfare coverage

Qualifications

• Proven experience leading diverse security teams in fast-paced environments.
• Experience in building or transforming SOCs.
• Familiarity with PCI / DSS and large-scale retail operations.

Responsibilities

• Develop and execute a multi-year roadmap for security maturity.
• Oversee SOC operations and ensure compliance with standards.
• Lead a team of analysts and mentor for professional growth.

Skills

Leadership

Operational Security

Incident Response

Security Technology Implementation

Mentoring

Job description

Direct message the job poster from Halian

Principal Consultant - Cyber Security - Middle East

Head of Security Operations

Overview

A leading retail group in the Middle East is seeking a dynamic Head of Security Operations to drive the evolution of its security function during a pivotal three-year investment program. This is a rare opportunity to build and mature a modern Security Operations Centre (SOC) from the ground up, shaping security strategy and operations in a greenfield environment. The role is foundational to the group’s digital transformation and will be closely watched by executive leadership and the board.

Key Responsibilities

• Strategic Leadership : Develop and execute a multi-year roadmap to enhance security maturity, with a focus on year-on-year improvements and measurable outcomes.
• SOC Development : Oversee the internal SOC and manage relationships with external SOC partners, ensuring robust monitoring, detection, and response capabilities.
• Team Management : Lead and mentor a team of three analysts, providing guidance, support, and professional development with the potential to become Director in 2026.
• Technology Enablement : Evaluate, implement, and optimize new security technologies, including the integration of AI across customer-facing platforms and the adoption of next-generation security stacks.
• Operational Excellence : Build security operations processes from scratch, ensuring compliance with PCI / DSS and other relevant standards.
• Vendor and Stakeholder Engagement : Manage relationships with technology vendors and collaborate across business units, supporting a wider ERP transformation and other high-visibility projects.
• Reporting : Report directly to the Chief Information Security Officer (CISO), providing regular updates on progress, risks, and incident response.
• Culture and Soft Skills : Foster a collaborative, level-headed team environment, with a preference for candidates who bring strong interpersonal skills.

Ideal Candidate Profile

• Proven experience leading large, diverse security teams in complex, fast-paced environments.
• Demonstrated success in building or transforming SOCs, ideally in a greenfield or rapidly changing setting.
• Strong background in operational security, incident response, and security technology implementation.
• Experience working with both in-house and external partners (consultancy backgrounds are considered, but not pure consultancy roles).
• Familiarity with PCI / DSS, ERP transformations, and the challenges of large-scale retail operations.
• Excellent mentoring and people management skills; able to support and develop team members at all levels.

Working Arrangements & Compensation

• Hybrid model : 3 days in the head office, 2 days remote.
• Competitive salary of 45,000–50,000 AED per month, with an annual bonus of up to 30% of base salary.
• Comprehensive benefits, including family medical and life insurance, educational support for children, and airfare.

Seniority level

Seniority level

Not Applicable

Employment type

Employment type

Full-time

Job function

Job function

Information Technology

Retail, Computer and Network Security, and Financial Services

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Cyber Security • Dubai, Dubai, United Arab Emirates