Lead, Cyber Security Operations

Prudential Ins Co of America in; Newark (NJ); On-site; USD 124,000 - 204,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Market-competitive base salary

Bonus potential

Comprehensive health benefits

401(k) plan with match

Pension plan

Wellness programs

Work/Life resources

Education benefits

Employee stock purchase plan

Job summary

Prudential Financial, Inc. is seeking a Lead, Cyber Security Operations (Finance) to manage shift-level leadership, triage, and escalation of security events for the enterprise.

You will collaborate with Cyber Defense & Response and stakeholders to strengthen detections, responses, and secure architectures while advancing automation and runbooks. The role emphasizes data-driven insights, ongoing threat awareness, and mentorship of junior analysts.

Qualifications

• 5+ years in a cybersecurity-focused role with at least 2 years in security operations.
• Strong knowledge of security event handling processes and SOC operations.
• Experience with enterprise technologies including OS, networking, IAM, and cloud/SaaS.
• Proficient with security tools: SIEM, SOAR, XDR/EDR, IDS/IPS.
• Ability to analyze security data to identify anomalies and distinguish real threats.
• Excellent problem-solving, communication and collaboration skills.
• Demonstrated ability to learn new skills continuously.
• Analytical thinking to break down complex threats and root causes.
• Experience working in Agile environments.
• Strong time management to prioritize incidents in a fast-paced setting.
• Ability to leverage diverse perspectives to benefit the organization.
• Experience driving automation and orchestration in security operations.
• Certifications such as GIAC GCIH, GSOC, GCFA, GNFA are a plus.

Responsibilities

• Provide shift-level operational leadership, monitor active security events, and adapt resources to risk and demand.
• Coordinate alert intake, triage, and prioritization within defined SLAs.
• Lead and coordinate security event escalation with validated, properly prioritized context.
• Maintain event handling quality control and documentation standards.
• Drive continuous improvement of runbooks, SOPs, and processes; advance automation.
• Stay current on threats and industry trends to enhance capabilities.
• Communicate with cybersecurity/IT teams and stakeholders to implement improvements.
• Mentor junior analysts and share best practices.

Skills

Experience in cybersecurity ops

Security event handling

Enterprise tech knowledge

SIEM/SOAR/XDR/EDR

Data analysis for security

Problem solving & communication

Learning agility

Agile/iterative methods

Time management & prioritization

Automation & orchestration

Security certifications (GIAC GCIH/GS0

Analytics and cross-team collaboration

Tools

SIEM

SOAR

XDR/EDR

IDS/IPS

Job description

Lead, Cyber Security Operations (Finance)

Job Classification:

Technology - Information Security

Are you interested in using capabilities that enable the organization to operate with innovation, speed, agility, scalability, and efficiency? The Global Technology team takes great pride in our culture where digital transformation is built into our DNA! When you join our organization at Prudential, you'll unlock an exciting and impactful career - all while growing your skills and advancing your profession at one of the world's leading financial services institutions.

Your Team and Role

As a Lead in the Cyber Security Operations Center, you will play a key role in securing the enterprise and advancing the maturity of Prudential's Cyber Defense & Response organization. Working with a high degree of independence, you will be responsible for managing triage, event handling, and initial threat assessment operations to safeguard the Prudential Financial enterprise.

In this role, you will collaborate with stakeholders across the Cyber Defense and Response organization to strengthen team capabilities through data-driven insights, automation, and orchestration. Your expertise and observations will directly contribute to enhancing secure architecture and advancing global cyber resiliency across the enterprise.

Here is What You Can Expect on a Typical Day

• Provide shift-level operational leadership , maintaining awareness of active security events and emerging threats, while dynamically adjusting resources to meet business risk and operational demand s.
• Coordinate and optimize alert intake, triage, and prioritization , ensuring that a lerts are acknowledged and processed within defined SLA s
• Lead and coordinate security event escalation activities by validating all proposed escalations to ensure accurate , appropriately prio ritized, and supported by sufficient analytical context before engaging downstream teams .
• Maintain event handling quality control and documentation standards, ensuring all events are accurately recorded, tracked, and handled consistently.
• Drive continuous improvement of event handling runbooks, SOPs, and operational processes to identify gaps, reduce inefficiencies, enhance operations, and advance automation.
• Continuously build technical expertise and stay current on threats, attack methods, and industry trends to enhance the organization's capability .
• Professionally communicate and collaborate with other cybersecurity and IT professionals, as well as business stakeholders, to coordinate responses and implement security improvements and risk burndown .
• Mentor junior analysts by reviewing their work, sharing best practices, and helping them strengthen analytical and reporting skills.

The Skills & Expertise You Bring

• 5+ years of experience in a cybersecurity- fo cused role with at least 2 years in security o perations
• Strong knowledge of security event handling processes, detection methodologies, and SOC operations.
• Strong understanding of enterprise technologies including operating systems, networking appliances, identity access management, and cloud/SaaS platforms.
• Hands-on experience with SIEM, SOAR, XDR/EDR, IDS/IPS, and other security tools .
• Ability to a nalyze security data across networks, systems, and applications to identify anomalies, validate alerts, and distinguish real threats from false positives.
• Excellent problem-solving, communication, and collaboration skills, with the ability to engage both technical and non-technical stakeholders.
• Ability to learn new skills and knowledge on an ongoing basis through self-initiative and tackling challenges.
• Analytical thinking: The ability to break down complex problems into smaller, more manageable components to identify threats, understand attack patterns, and pinpoint root causes.
• Experience working in Agile or iterative environments.
• Time management and prioritization: The ability to manage multiple tasks, prioritize critical incidents over low-priority alerts, and streamline work in a fast-paced environment.
• Ability to effectively leverage diverse ideas, experiences, thoughts, and perspectives to the benefit of the organization
• Experience driving automation and orchestration efforts to improve efficiency .
• Relevant certifications (e.g., GIAC GCIH, GSOC, GCFA, GNFA ) are a plus.

What we offer you:

Prudential is required by state specific laws to include the salary range for this role when hiring a resident in applicable locations. The salary range for this role is from $123,700.00 to $204,100.00. Specific pricing for the role may vary within the above range based on many factors including geographic location, candidate experience, and skills.

• Market competitive base salaries, with a yearly bonus potential at every level.
• Medical, dental, vision, life insurance, disability insurance, Paid Time Off (PTO), and leave of absences, such as parental and military leave.
• 401(k) plan with company match (up to 4%).
• Company-funded pension plan.
• Wellness Programs including up to $1,600 a year for reimbursement of items purchased to support personal wellbeing needs.
• Work/Life Resources to help support topics such as parenting, housing, senior care, finances, pets, legal matters, education, emotional and mental health, and career development.
• Education Benefit to help finance traditional college enrollment toward obtaining an approved degree and many accredited certificate programs.
• Employee Stock Purchase Plan: Shares can be purchased at 85% of the lower of two prices (Beginning or End of the purchase period).

Eligibility to participate in a discretionary annual incentive program is subject to the rules governing the program, whereby an award, if any, depends on various factors including, without limitation, individual and organizational performance. To find out more about our Total Rewards package, visit Work Life Balance | Prudential Careers. Some of the above benefits may not apply to part-time employees scheduled to work less than 20 hours per week.

Prudential Financial, Inc. of the United States is not affiliated with Prudential plc. which is headquartered in the United Kingdom.

Prudential is an equal opportunity employer. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, national origin, ancestry, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, genetics, disability, marital status, age, veteran status, domestic partner status, medical condition or any other characteristic protected by law.

If you need an accommodation to complete the application process, please email [e-mail] .

If you are experiencing a technical issue with your application or an assessment, please email [e-mail] to request assistance.