Associate Director DDIT ISC Detection & Response

Novartis AG; Barcelona; On-site; EUR 58,000 - 108,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Insurance plans

Retirement plans

Wellbeing resources

Global recognition programs

Flexible and hybrid working options

Minimum 14 weeks paid parental leave

Job summary

Novartis AG is seeking a Detection and Response Associate Director in Barcelona to lead global cyber threat detection, investigation, and incident response within the CSOC. The role combines deep technical expertise with strategic influence and AI-enabled automation to continuously evolve cyber defense across the organization.

You will collaborate with security leadership, engineering, and business stakeholders to drive operational excellence, enhance monitoring, and advance detection

Qualifications

• 8+ years in cybersecurity with 5+ years in SOC, threat detection, IR, and threat hunting.
• Proven leadership of complex security investigations in large enterprises.
• Strong track record in enhancing detection, IR processes, and operational efficiency.
• Experience mentoring analysts and influencing stakeholders without direct people management.
• Hands-on with SIEM/EDR/XDR and tools (Sentinel/Defender/Splunk).
• Cloud security investigations in Azure and/or AWS.
• MITRE ATT&CK, threat intelligence, and attacker behavior analysis.
• Scripting (KQL, SPL, Python) and AI-enabled SOC use cases; Bachelor’s degree.

Responsibilities

• Shape and influence global TDR strategy and drive advanced cyber defense capabilities.
• Drive AI adoption, intelligent automation, and emerging technologies for detection and response.
• Lead strategic initiatives with global cybersecurity leadership and engineering teams.
• Oversee security monitoring and triage across the IT ecosystem using SIEM and analytics.
• Improve detection engineering and response playbooks; advance SOAR and automation.
• Serve as escalation point for complex incidents involving sophisticated threat actors.
• Translate findings into actionable recommendations to strengthen cyber resilience.

Skills

Threat detection

Incident response

Threat hunting

Security operations

SIEM / EDR / XDR

Cloud security

MITRE ATT&CK

Scripting (KQL / Python)

Education

Bachelor’s degree (or equivalent)

Tools

Microsoft Sentinel

Microsoft Defender

Splunk

Job description

The Detection and Response Associate Director will play a strategic role within the Novartis Cyber Security Operations Center (CSOC), a globally integrated security organization dedicated to protecting Novartis against sophisticated and evolving cyber threats.

This position combines deep technical expertise, strategic influence, and AI-driven innovation to advance global threat detection, investigation, and incident response capabilities. The role will drive operational excellence, champion emerging technologies and intelligent automation, and contribute to the continuous evolution of cyber defense at Novartis. Working closely with global cybersecurity leadership, engineering teams, and key business stakeholders, the Associate Director will lead strategic initiatives, strengthen cyber resilience, and drive meaningful improvements across security operations. The position is designed for an experienced cybersecurity professional passionate about solving complex challenges, advancing innovation, and delivering measurable security impact.

About The Role

Location: Barcelona, Spain

Key Responsibilities

• Shape and influence global TDR strategy, driving operational excellence, innovation, and advanced cyber defense capabilities. Serve as a senior technical authority, providing strategic guidance on complex security challenges and critical incident response activities.
• Drive AI adoption, intelligent automation, and emerging technologies to transform detection and response capabilities.
• Lead strategic initiatives in collaboration with global cybersecurity leadership, engineering teams, and key stakeholders.
• Oversee and enhance security monitoring, threat detection, and triage capabilities across the Novartis IT ecosystem. Leverage SIEM, advanced analytics, and threat intelligence to identify sophisticated threats and improve detection coverage.
• Drive improvements in detection engineering, security controls, and capabilities against evolving TTPs.
• Serve as a senior escalation point for complex security incidents involving sophisticated threat actors.
• Lead critical investigations and response activities, including forensic analysis, containment, stakeholder communication, and remediation.
• Translate incident findings into actionable recommendations to strengthen organizational cyber resilience.
• Drive continuous improvement of TDR processes, investigation methodologies, and response playbooks. Collaborate with engineering teams to advance security orchestration, automation, and technology integration.
• Provide technical mentorship, promote investigation quality, and influence best practices across global TDR teams.

Essential Requirement

• 8+ years of cybersecurity experience, including 5+ years in Security Operations, Threat Detection, Incident Response, and Threat Hunting.
• Proven experience leading complex security investigations and driving cross-functional initiatives in large enterprise environments.
• Strong track record of enhancing detection capabilities, incident response processes, operational efficiency, and investigation quality.
• Experience mentoring security analysts and influencing stakeholders across teams without direct people management responsibility.
• Hands‑on expertise with SIEM, EDR/XDR, Detection Engineering, Security Telemetry, and Incident Response tools such as Microsoft Sentinel, Microsoft Defender, and Splunk.
• Solid knowledge of cloud security investigations across Azure and/or AWS, including identity, endpoint, and cloud telemetry analysis.
• Skilled in leveraging MITRE ATT&CK, threat intelligence, and attacker behavior analysis to improve detection and response strategies.
• Proficiency in security automation, SOAR, KQL/SPL/Python scripting, AI‑enabled SOC use cases, with a Bachelor's degree (or equivalent experience).

Desirable Requirement

• Certifications such as CISSP, GCIH, GCFA, or cloud security certifications preferred.

Benefits & Rewards

At Novartis, we’re committed to reimagining medicine together - and rewarding the people who make it happen.

Expected Annual Base Salary Range for role: 57,900.00 - 107,500.00 EUR

The base salary offered is determined based on gender-neutral objectives, such as relevant skills, competencies and experience in accordance with the Novartis pay setting policy and upon joining Novartis will be reviewed periodically.

In addition to your base salary, you may be eligible for a performance-based bonus depending on certain performance parameters.

The rewards of being part of our team go far beyond base pay and incentives. We also offer a variety of competitive benefits in kind to help you thrive personally and professionally, such as insurance plans, retirement plans, wellbeing resources and global recognition programs. In addition, we provide flexible and hybrid working options, where possible, and minimum 14 weeks paid parental leave.

Pay equity is a fundamental principle of our employment policy and reflects our commitment to create a diverse, equitable and inclusive environment that treats all employees with dignity and respect, as outlined in our Code of Ethics.

Read our brochure to learn more about our global total rewards offering:

https://www.novartis.com/sites/novartis_com/files/novartis-life-handbook.pdf

Note: Benefits and compensation may vary by country and are subject to local legal requirements, including provisions of collective bargaining agreements where applicable. A full overview of your compensation package, including any relevant collective bargaining agreement details applicable to your role based on your employment location and Novartis employer entity, will be communicated separately to you during the application process.

Commitment to Diversity and Inclusion / EEO

Novartis is committed to building an outstanding, inclusive work environment and diverse teams’ representative of the patients and communities we serve.

You’ll receive:

You can find everything you need to know about our benefits and rewards in the Novartis Life Handbook. https://www.novartis.com/careers/benefits-rewards

Why Novartis:

Helping people with disease and their families takes more than innovative science. It takes a community of smart, passionate people like you. Collaborating, supporting and inspiring each other. Combining to achieve breakthroughs that change patients’ lives. Ready to create a brighter future together? https://www.novartis.com/about/strategy/people-and-culture

Benefits and Rewards:

Learn about all the ways we’ll help you thrive personally and professionally.

Read our handbook (PDF 30 MB)