Manager – Information Security Governance

Cognizant; Chennai; Hybrid; INR 4,000,000 - 7,000,000; Full time

Job summary

Cognizant is seeking a Manager – Information Security Governance & Metrics Reporting in Chennai. You will own the ISMS operations, lead audits (ISO/IEC 27001 and AI governance), and consolidate MAC metrics across CAR teams for leadership reporting.

You will drive improvements in governance reporting, work with Enterprise Architects, IT and business stakeholders, and stay updated on DPDP Act and CERT-In directions.

Qualifications

• 9-12 years of experience in information security governance, risk & compliance.
• Bachelor's degree in Computer Science, Information Technology, Cybersecurity or a related field.
• ISO/IEC 27001 Lead Auditor or Lead Implementer certification – Required.
• ISO/IEC 42001 Lead Auditor certification or equivalent AI governance audit experience – Required.
• Strong working knowledge of enterprise information security processes, controls and validation practices.
• Proven experience defining and consolidating security metrics, KPIs and KRIs with dashboarding/reporting (Power BI, Tableau or similar).
• Excellent stakeholder coordination, communication and project-management skills.
• Embodiment of Cognizant's Values: Work as One, Dare to Innovate, Raise the Bar, Do the Right Thing, & Own It.

Responsibilities

• Own the day-to-day operation of Cognizant's ISO/IEC 27001 ISMS – maintaining SOA, Risk Treatment Plans, policies and control documentation.
• Plan and execute the internal audit program, and coordinate external certification and surveillance audits, ensuring NC/CAPA are tracked to closure.
• Serve as ISO/IEC 42001 Lead Auditor for Cognizant's AI Management System – plan and conduct audits, report findings and drive corrective actions.
• Act as the central coordination point across CAR sub-teams, Enterprise Architects, IT, Compliance and business stakeholders.
• Maintain strong working knowledge of Cognizant's information security processes, policies and control framework.
• Own Key Monthly Operations Metrics – defining, tracking and consolidating KPIs, KRIs and SLA/turnaround data across CAR teams.
• Coordinate with CAR leads to collect, validate and normalize metrics across platform, application and vendor validations.
• Prepare and present monthly and quarterly leadership decks and dashboards with clear trends and business impact.
• Drive continuous improvement in metrics collection and reporting, aiming for automated tooling (GRC, Power BI/Tableau) over manual spreadsheets.
• Stay current on DPDP Act and CERT-In directions and reflect these in governance reporting.
• Embrace Cognizant culture, show ownership, build relationships and drive business strategy.

Skills

Information security governance

Risk & compliance management

Stakeholder coordination

Project management

Security metrics reporting

Education

Bachelor's degree in Computer Science / Information Technology / Cybersecurity

ISO/IEC 27001 Lead Auditor

ISO/IEC 42001 Lead Auditor

Tools

Power BI

Tableau

ServiceNow GRC

MetricStream

Job description

About Cognizant Corporate

Cognizant Corporate is a global community united by a shared purpose: to make a meaningful impact. We are committed to excellence and driven by outcomes that matter. Collaboration is at the heart of how we work, and our forward-thinking mindset fuels continuous learning, innovation, and growth.

At Cognizant, careers transcend titles. We empower our people to think strategically, inspire others, and lead with purpose – always guided by our core values. Join us in shaping the future of business.

About the role

As a Manager – Information Security Governance & Metrics Reporting , you will be a key member of the Extended CISO Tower's Cybersecurity Architecture & Risk (CAR) practice, coordinating closely with Associate Directors, CAR team leads, Enterprise Architecture, IT and business stakeholders. You will own the operational health of Cognizant's ISO/IEC 27001 Information Security Management System and act as ISO/IEC 42001 Lead Auditor for the AI Management System, while consolidating Key Monthly Operations Metrics across CAR teams into leadership-ready reporting. You will have the autonomy to bring structure, rigor and clarity to how we measure and communicate our security posture. As a team of self-starters, you can work with impact alongside our vibrant people and culture, all while enjoying unmatched learning opportunities.

In this role, you will:

• Own the day-to-day operation of Cognizant's ISO/IEC 27001 Information Security Management System (ISMS) – maintaining the Statement of Applicability, Risk Treatment Plans , policies and control documentation.
• Plan and execute the internal audit program , and coordinate external certification and surveillance audits , ensuring non-conformities and corrective actions (NC/CAPA) are tracked to verified closure.
• Serve as ISO/IEC 42001 Lead Auditor for Cognizant's AI Management System (AIMS) – planning and conducting audits against Annex A controls (data governance, human oversight, AI impact assessment, transparency), reporting findings and driving corrective actions.
• Act as the central coordination point across CAR sub-teams, Enterprise Architects, IT, Compliance and business stakeholders , driving open items, validations and remediation actions to closure.
• Maintain strong working knowledge of Cognizant's information security processes, policies and control framework , ensuring day-to-day CAR activities stay aligned to them.
• Own Key Monthly Operations Metrics – defining, tracking and consolidating KPIs, KRIs and SLA/turnaround-time data across CAR teams into a single, consistent reporting cadence.
• Partner with CAR team leads to collect, validate and normalize metrics (validation volumes, findings/remediation aging, audit closure rates) across platform, application and vendor go-live validations.
• Prepare and present monthly and quarterly leadership decks and dashboards , translating operational metrics into clear trends, risk narratives and business impact for the CISO Tower and senior stakeholders.
• Drive continuous improvement in metrics collection and reporting, working towards automated, tool-based tracking (e.g., GRC platform, Power BI/Tableau) over manual spreadsheets.
• Stay current on emerging regulatory requirements relevant to the role, including India's DPDP Act and CERT-In directions , and reflect these in governance reporting.
• Embrace our vibrant culture by striving for excellence, focusing on meaningful outcomes, and collaborating effectively. Take ownership, build relationships, and focus on personal growth to drive business strategy and foster an inclusive culture.

What you must have to be considered

• 9-12 years of experience in information security governance, risk & compliance, including hands‑on ISO/IEC 27001 ISMS management .
• Bachelor's degree in Computer Science, Information Technology, Cybersecurity or a related field.
• ISO/IEC 27001 Lead Auditor or Lead Implementer certification – Required.
• ISO/IEC 42001 (AI Management System) Lead Auditor certification, or equivalent AIMS audit experience – Required.
• Strong working knowledge of enterprise information security processes, controls and validation practices .
• Proven experience defining and consolidating security metrics, KPIs and KRIs , with hands‑on dashboarding/reporting (Power BI, Tableau or similar).
• Excellent stakeholder coordination, communication and project-management skills, with the ability to drive closure across multiple teams.
• A strong sense of ownership, a desire to create meaningful outcomes, and passion for work that serves a greater good.
• The embodiment of Cognizant's Values: Work as One, Dare to Innovate, Raise the Bar, Do the Right Thing, & Own It.

These will help you succeed

• CISA or CISM – strongly preferred.
• Experience with GRC platforms (ServiceNow GRC, MetricStream) for metrics tracking and reporting.
• Working knowledge of India's DPDP Act (2023 / 2025 Rules) and CERT-In directions .
• ISO/IEC 27701 or ITIL certification.
• Experience preparing leadership-visibility dashboards consolidating metrics across multiple teams.
• Exposure to AI governance concepts (NIST AI RMF) supporting the AIMS audit function.

Work model

We believe hybrid work is the way forward as we strive to provide flexibility wherever possible. Based on this role's business requirements, this is a hybrid position requiring 2 days a week in a Cognizant office in Chennai, India. Regardless of your working arrangement, we are here to support a healthy work-life balance though our various wellbeing programs.

The working arrangements for this role are accurate as of the date of posting. This may change based on business and client requirements. Rest assured; we will always be clear about role expectations.

Cognizant is an equal opportunity employer. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to sex, gender identity, sexual orientation, race, color, religion, national origin, disability, protected Veteran status, age, or any other characteristic protected by law.