Head of Security Platforms

Guardian Life; Holmdel Township (NJ); Hybrid; USD 152,000 - 250,000; Full time

Job summary

Guardian Life seeks a Head of Security Platforms to lead the delivery, operation, and continuous improvement of security technologies that defend Guardian's enterprise. Hybrid work, based in Holmdel, NJ with options in NY or PA, and reporting to the Head of Security Engineering.

The role requires building strong teams, aligning enterprise objectives with security outcomes, and driving changes across cloud, network, and data security domains. Competitive compensation and benefits are offered.

Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree in Information Security, Computer Science, Engineering, or related field, or equivalent experience.
• 10+ years in cybersecurity, infrastructure, or technology engineering leadership.
• 5+ years leading technical teams within a large enterprise environment.
• Experience translating enterprise, technology, and security objectives into operating plans, budgets, workforce plans, and measurable outcomes.
• Experience leading multiple security engineering domains (cloud, network, endpoint, platform, or data security).

Responsibilities

• Lead the Security Platforms function and oversee delivery of cloud, network, endpoint, data security, and related security engineering capabilities.
• Own the function's operating plan, budget, workforce planning, and vendor relationships.
• Coach and develop team members with clear priorities and measurable outcomes.
• Drive operational excellence through process improvement, service maturity, platform modernization, and performance management.
• Partner with Cybersecurity, Technology, Risk, and business leaders to implement enterprise priorities and reduce risk.

Skills

People leadership

Operational leadership

Security engineering leadership

Cross-functional collaboration

Change communication

Education

Bachelor's degree in Information Security/CS/Engineering (or equivalent)

Tools

CISSP

CISM

CCSP

Job description

Position Summary

Do you want to lead a critical security engineering function responsible for the platforms and services that protect Guardian's enterprise?

Guardian is seeking a Head of Security Platforms to lead the delivery, operation, and continuous improvement of the technologies that defend the company against an evolving threat landscape. Reporting to the Head of Security Engineering, this leader is accountable for the performance, results, and day-to-day leadership of the Security Platforms function, including cloud security, network security, endpoint security, data security, and related security engineering capabilities.

This role is responsible for translating enterprise, technology, and security objectives into operational plans and measurable outcomes. The successful candidate will oversee the function’s budget, workforce planning, vendor relationships, operational performance, and delivery of security platform initiatives while fostering a culture of accountability, collaboration, innovation, and continuous improvement.

You are

• A proven people leader who develops talent, builds strong teams, and delivers results through others.
• An operationally focused leader who excels at execution, prioritization, and driving continuous improvement.
• Comfortable leading multiple security engineering disciplines while balancing business needs, security requirements, staffing considerations, and budget constraints.
• A collaborative partner who can translate enterprise objectives into measurable team goals and outcomes.
• An effective communicator who leads through change, removes obstacles, and creates an environment where teams can perform at their best.

Required Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree in Information Security, Computer Science, Engineering, or a related field, or equivalent experience.
• 10+ years of experience in cybersecurity, infrastructure, or technology engineering leadership roles.
• 5+ years leading technical teams within a large enterprise environment.
• Experience translating enterprise, technology, and security objectives into operating plans, budgets, workforce plans, and measurable outcomes.
• Experience leading multiple security engineering domains, including cloud security, network security, endpoint security, platform security, or data security

Preferred Qualifications

• Experience leading multiple security engineering functions within a complex enterprise environment.
• Experience driving technology modernization, operational excellence, and platform transformation initiatives.
• Industry certifications such as CISSP, CISM, CCSP, or equivalent.

You will

• Lead the Security Platforms function and oversee the delivery of cloud security, network security, endpoint security, data security, and related security engineering capabilities.
• Own the function's operating plan, budget, workforce planning, and vendor relationships to ensure effective delivery of security services.
• Coach and develop team members while establishing clear priorities, performance expectations, and measurable outcomes.
• Drive operational excellence through process improvement, service maturity, platform modernization, and performance management.
• Partner with Cybersecurity, Technology, Risk, and business leaders to implement enterprise priorities, strengthen security capabilities, and reduce risk.

Reporting relationships

As our Head of Security Platforms, you will report to our Head of Security Engineering, who reports to our Head of Enterprise Technology.

Location

Hybrid work arrangement requiring 3 days per week in the office, with work location based in either Holmdel, NJ; New York, NY; or Bethlehem, PA

Salary Range:

$152,290.00 - $250,195.00 The salary range reflected above is a good faith estimate of base pay for the primary location of the position. The salary for this position ultimately will be determined based on the education, experience, knowledge, and abilities of the successful candidate. In addition to salary, this role may also be eligible for annual, sales, or other incentive compensation.

Our Promise

At Guardian, you’ll have the support and flexibility to achieve your professional and personal goals. Through skill-building, leadership development and philanthropic opportunities, we provide opportunities to build communities and grow your career, surrounded by diverse colleagues with high ethical standards.

Inspire Well-Being

As part of Guardian’s Purpose – to inspire well-being – we are committed to offering contemporary, supportive, flexible, and inclusive benefits and resources to our colleagues. Explore our company benefits at www.guardianlife.com/careers/corporate/benefits. Benefits apply to full-time eligible employees. Interns are not eligible for most Company benefits.

Equal Employment Opportunity

Guardian is an equal opportunity employer. All qualified applicants will be considered for employment without regard to age, race, color, creed, religion, sex, affectional or sexual orientation, national origin, ancestry, marital status, disability, military or veteran status, or any other classification protected by applicable law.

Accommodations

Guardian is committed to providing access, equal opportunity and reasonable accommodation for individuals with disabilities in employment, its services, programs, and activities. Guardian also provides reasonable accommodations to qualified job applicants (and employees) to accommodate the individual's known limitations related to pregnancy, childbirth, or related medical conditions, unless doing so would create an undue hardship. If reasonable accommodation is needed to participate in the job application or interview process, to perform essential job functions, and/or to receive other benefits and privileges of employment, please contact [e-mail]. Please note: this resource is for accommodation requests only. For all other inquires related to your application and careers at Guardian, refer to the Guardian Careers site.

Visa Sponsorship

Guardian Life is not currently or in the foreseeable future sponsoring employment-based visas (e.g., such as an H-1B). In order to be a successful applicant, you must be legally authorized to work in the United States, without the need for employer sponsorship/support now or at any time in the future.

Notice Regarding Guardian’s Use of Artificial Intelligence in Recruitment

As part of Guardian’s job application process, Guardian may use artificial intelligence tools (“AI Tools") to automate the sorting and filtering of information provided by applicants as part of its preliminary screening. This preliminary screening may be used to help identify applicant materials and resumes relative to their indication that the applicant meets the requirements for the specific job for which they are applying, as specified in the listing posted on Guardian’s jobs website (Careers at Guardian at https://www.guardianlife.com/careers). At Guardian, we do not use AI Tools to substantially assist or replace human judgment or discretionary decision making in our hiring process. All hiring decisions will be made by Guardian colleagues.

Please be aware that if you apply for a specific position with Guardian, you will have the choice of opting out of Guardian’s use of AI Tools during the job application process. If you would like to request an alternative process that does not utilize AI Tools or would like to request a reasonable accommodation, within ten business days of your position application, you must email your request to [e-mail], making sure to provide your name and job requisition identification number. Guardian will retain your applicant materials and resume and all information therefrom in accordance with Guardian’s document retention policy, a copy of which you may request via [e-mail].

Additionally, at applicable times, Guardian will make public the most recent bias audit results for such AI tools, which may be found here.