Head of Cyber Security

CODEVERSE LIMITED; City Of London; On-site; GBP 150,000 - 200,000; Full time

Job summary

A leading technology firm is seeking a Head of Cybersecurity in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia. This foundational role involves building and leading a cybersecurity practice to safeguard critical digital assets. The ideal candidate has over 8 years of cybersecurity experience, with relevant management capabilities and expertise in application and cloud security. This position offers full visa sponsorship and relocation assistance.

Benefits

Full visa sponsorship

Relocation assistance

Qualifications

• 8+ years of experience in cybersecurity.
• At least 2+ years in a Team Lead or Manager capacity.
• Experience with security frameworks (NIST, ISO 27001).
• Prior experience in O&G sector or critical infrastructure.

Responsibilities

• Define strategic vision and methodologies for cybersecurity practice.
• Lead architecture and implementation of security solutions.
• Act as trusted security advisor to key stakeholders.
• Ensure compliance with standards specific to KSA.
• Recruit and mentor a team of security engineers.

Skills

Cybersecurity expertise

Application Security

Cloud Security

DevSecOps

Threat modelling

Security architecture review

Penetration testing concepts

Compliance standards (NIST, ISO 27001)

Management skills

Job description

Head of Cybersecurity

Location: Riyadh, Saudi Arabia

Visa: Full visa sponsorship and relocation assistance provided.

About the role:

A new, dynamic technology start serving as the premier technology partner for one of the b iggest organisations in Saudi Arabia. Our focus is on delivering world–class solutions in cybersecurity, cloud, and AI. We are building from the ground up, and we need visionary leaders to join our founding team and help us create something extraordinary.

The Role: Head of Cybersecurity

This is a foundational leadership role. You will be responsible for building and leading our entire cybersecurity practice. Your primary mission is to ensure the impregnability of the clients critical digital assets. This includes securing public–facing portals, safeguarding the vital infrastructure links between Aramco and Saudi government projects, and developing a proactive security posture that anticipates future threats.

You are not just a manager; you are a player–coach and a strategic thinker. We are looking for someone currently in a Team Lead or Manager role, hungry to step up and own an entire practice. You will have direct client engagement, set technical direction, and have a hand in hiring your own team as we grow.

Key Responsibilities:

• Practice Leadership: Define the strategic vision, methodologies, and service offerings for our cybersecurity vertical.
• Hands–On Technical Delivery: Lead the architecture, design, and hands–on implementation of robust security solutions for critical systems. This includes application security, network security, and infrastructure hardening.
• Client Liaison: Act as a trusted security advisor to our key stakeholders at Aramco, translating their complex requirements into actionable, secure technical plans.
• Compliance & Governance: Ensure all solutions meet the highest standards of compliance, including those specific to the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia (KSA) and critical national infrastructure.
• Team Building: Be prepared to recruit, mentor, and lead a team of top–tier security engineers as the practice expands.

Who You Are:

• You have 8+ years of experience in cybersecurity, with at least 2+ years in a Team Lead or Manager capacity.
• You possess deep, hands–on expertise in areas like Application Security (AppSec), Cloud Security, and DevSecOps.
• You have experience with security frameworks (NIST, ISO 27001) and a proven track record of securing large–scale, high–availability systems.
• You are adept at threat modelling, security architecture review, and penetration testing concepts.
• Prior experience in the O&G (Oil & Gas) sector, government projects, or other critical infrastructure is a significant advantage.
• You are entrepreneurial, thrive in a start–up environment, and are excited by the challenge of building something from scratch.
• Excellent communication skills in English are essential; Arabic is a strong plus.