Principal, Global Security Operations Center

Okta; Washington (District of Columbia); On-site; USD 180,000 - 240,000; Full time

Job summary

Okta seeks a seasoned Principal, Global Security Operations Center to lead the GSOC with AI-driven security programs across our global operations. You will transition from legacy systems to proactive, automated solutions and partner with executive leadership to shape incident response and security posture.

You\'ll coordinate cross-functional teams, manage global vendors, and ensure ISO 27001 and SOC 2 compliance while delivering high-level briefings to the C-suite during critical events.

Qualifications

• 8+ years of progressive experience in physical security operations, GSOC leadership, and global programs.
• Experience leading large, diverse security teams across multiple regions and vendors.
• Ability to drive enterprise-wide security programs with minimal oversight.
• Strong vendor strategy and contract optimization experience.
• Expertise applying AI and automation to security operations.

Responsibilities

• Lead the Global Security Operations Center and drive AI-integrated security frameworks.
• Architect and deploy AI and automation to enhance threat intelligence and triage workflows.
• Provide high-level briefs and incident summaries to executives during events.
• Oversee multi-regional security operations and global vendor teams.
• Ensure KPIs, SLAs, and ISO 27001/SOC 2 compliance across programs.
• Advise on security infrastructure deployment and video analytics.
• Develop SOPs and training, and coordinate cross-functional emergency responses.
• Align GSOC workflows with international compliance standards and risk posture.

Skills

Strategic Leadership

Global Operations

Vendor management

Project management

AI integration

Security analytics

Executive briefing

ISO 27001 SOC2

Job description

Secure Every Identity, from AI to Human

Identity is the key to unlocking the potential of AI. Okta secures AI by building the trusted, neutral infrastructure that enables organizations to safely embrace this new era. This work requires a relentless drive to solve complex challenges with real-world stakes. We are looking for builders and owners who operate with speed and urgency and execute with excellence.

Secure Every Identity, from AI to Human

Identity is the key to unlocking the potential of AI. Okta secures AI by building the trusted, neutral infrastructure that enables organizations to safely embrace this new era. This work requires a relentless drive to solve complex challenges with real-world stakes. We are looking for builders and owners who operate with speed and urgency and execute with excellence.

This is an opportunity to do career-defining work. We're all in on this mission. If you are too, let's talk.

The (Function/Dept) Team

(The Global Security & Safety team protects Okta’s most valuable assets - our people, workplaces, and operations across the globe. By integrating cutting‑edge physical security technologies, AI‑driven automation, and proactive intelligence, we build resilient, secure environments that empower Oktanauts to do their best work safely. We operate as trusted partners across the business, driving forward‑thinking safety initiatives and modernizing global operations to stay ahead of evolving risks.)

The Principal, Global Security Operations Center Opportunity

Reporting to the Director, Global Security & Safety, this role will serve as the lead operational driver and technical subject matter expert for Okta’s global security operations center.

Transitioning from traditional database management to proactive, automated security solutions, this role is responsible for driving the operational deployment, optimization, and day‑to‑day leveraging of complex physical security technologies. You will autonomously lead global programs with minimal oversight, leveraging Artificial Intelligence (AI), automation, and advanced analytics within our operations to help create a highly efficient, future‑proof GSOC environment. This role focuses on high‑level operational execution, integration, and performance optimization, with a critical emphasis on identifying and leveraging world‑class technologies—both internal platforms and external cutting‑edge solutions to deliver the highest level of protection, responsiveness, and support for Okta globally.

What you'll be doing

• Strategic GSOC Leadership: Assume full operational responsibility for the Global Security Operations Center, driving the transition from legacy systems and procedures to advanced, AI‑integrated security frameworks.
• AI Integration & Optimization: Architect and deploy artificial intelligence and automation solutions to enhance threat intelligence, triage workflows, and operational efficiency across the GSOC program.
• Executive Incident Management: Serve as a key operational liaison, delivering high‑level communication briefs and strategic incident summaries to executive leadership during critical security events.
• Vendor and Global Program Management: Provide oversight for multi‑regional security operations, managing diverse global vendor teams and driving a unified, performance‑driven culture across international markets.
• Operational Excellence & Compliance: Establish and monitor performance metrics (KPIs) and Service Level Agreements (SLAs). Ensure all physical security protocols and data logging maintain strict adherence to ISO 27001 and SOC 2 compliance standards.
• Technological Oversight: Advise and optimize the deployment of critical physical security infrastructure, including advanced access control systems and video analytics, to ensure a hardened global security posture.
• Policy, SOPs, & Training Exercises: Review high‑level global physical security and safety policy documents, translate them into actionable, team‑wide standard operating procedures (SOPs), and conduct robust internal and external training exercises to ensure operational readiness.
• Cross‑Functional Partnership: Act as an operational liaison between Workplace Security Operations and key partners during an emergency, including Business Technology, Real Estate, Travel, Legal, and external vendors.
• System Compliance & Investigations: Serve as the operational lead for complex security investigations. Oversee and ensure compliance for administrative system processes, including onboarding/termination access audits and automated reporting.

What you'll bring to the role

• Strategic Leadership & Global Operations
• 8+ years of progressive experience in physical security operations, global systems integration, and GSOC leadership supporting fast paced global business operations in dynamic environments
• Demonstrated experience leading and managing large, diverse security teams from multiple third‑party vendors across different global regions
• Demonstrated ability to operate with proactive independence, leading global enterprise‑wide operational programs with minimal oversight
• Strong background in vendor strategy, contract optimization, and managing large‑scale service providers
• Excellent project management skills with a track record of successfully implementing and scaling physical security operations programs
• Technical Expertise & AI Integration
• Demonstrated experience identifying, adapting, and developing AI use cases and automated tools (such as generative AI or workflow automation platforms) specifically to optimize GSOC team efficiency
• Proven experience evaluating, deploying, and utilizing AI‑driven physical security tools and advanced video analytics within a security environment.
• Advanced cross‑functional communication skills, with the ability to translate complex operational requirements to executive leadership and non‑technical stakeholders.
• Excellent executive presence with a track record of communicating clearly and briefing C‑suite and VP‑level executives during high‑pressure, rapid‑onset global incidents.
• Demonstrated experience establishing, monitoring, and reporting on quantitative performance metrics (KPIs) and managing global vendor SLA compliance.
• Direct experience aligning global GSOC workflows and physical security auditing with international compliance standards such as ISO 27001 and SOC 2.
• Strong analytical experience assessing global geopolitical events, evaluating high‑risk travel profiles, and conducting ongoing threat evaluations to safeguard company offices, assets, and employees.
• Demonstrated ability to review high‑level policy documents, draft comprehensive team‑wide Standard Operating Procedures (SOPs), and coordinate or facilitate internal and external operational training exercises.
• Experience with incident alerting and mass notification platforms.
• Exceptional analytical problem‑solving skills and the ability to make sound, rapid decisions under pressure during critical incidents.

Secure Every Identity, from AI to Human

Identity is the key to unlocking the potential of AI. Okta secures AI by building the trusted, neutral infrastructure that enables organizations to safely embrace this new era. This work requires a relentless drive to solve complex challenges with real‑world stakes. We are looking for builders and owners who operate with speed and urgency and execute with excellence.

This is an opportunity to do career‑defining work. We're all in on this mission. If you are too, let's talk.

Secure Every Identity, From AI to Human

Identity is the key to unlocking the potential of AI. Okta secures AI by building the trusted, neutral infrastructure that enables organizations to safely embrace this new era. This work requires a relentless drive to solve complex challenges with real‑world stakes. We are looking for builders and owners who operate with speed and urgency and execute with excellence.

This is an opportunity to do career‑defining work. We're all in on this mission. If you are too, let's talk.

The (Function/Dept) Team

(The Global Security & Safety team protects Okta’s most valuable assets - our people, workplaces, and operations across the globe. By integrating cutting‑edge physical security technologies, AI‑driven automation, and proactive intelligence, we build resilient, secure environments that empower Oktanauts to do their best work safely. We operate as trusted partners across the business, driving forward‑thinking safety initiatives and modernizing global operations to stay ahead of evolving risks.)

The Principal, Global Security Operations Center Opportunity

Reporting to the Director, Global Security & Safety, this role will serve as the lead operational driver and technical subject matter expert for Okta’s global security operations center.

Transitioning from traditional database management to proactive, automated security solutions, this role is responsible for driving the operational deployment, optimization, and day‑to‑day leveraging of complex physical security technologies. You will autonomously lead global programs with minimal oversight, leveraging Artificial Intelligence (AI), automation, and advanced analytics within our operations to help create a highly efficient, future‑proof GSOC environment. This role focuses on high‑level operational execution, integration, and performance optimization, with a critical emphasis on identifying and leveraging world‑class technologies—both internal platforms and external cutting‑edge solutions to deliver the highest level of protection, responsiveness, and support for Okta globally.

What you'll be doing

• Strategic GSOC Leadership: Assume full operational responsibility for the Global Security Operations Center, driving the transition from legacy systems and procedures to advanced, AI‑integrated security frameworks.
• AI Integration & Optimization: Architect and deploy artificial intelligence and automation solutions to enhance threat intelligence, triage workflows, and operational efficiency across the GSOC program.
• Executive Incident Management: Serve as a key operational liaison, delivering high‑level communication briefs and strategic incident summaries to executive leadership during critical security events.
• Vendor and Global Program Management: Provide oversight for multi‑regional security operations, managing diverse global vendor teams and driving a unified, performance‑driven culture across international markets.
• Operational Excellence & Compliance: Establish and monitor performance metrics (KPIs) and Service Level Agreements (SLAs). Ensure all physical security protocols and data logging maintain strict adherence to ISO 27001 and SOC 2 compliance standards.
• Technological Oversight: Advise and optimize the deployment of critical physical security infrastructure, including advanced access control systems and video analytics, to ensure a hardened global security posture.
• Policy, SOPs, & Training Exercises: Review high‑level global physical security and safety policy documents, translate them into actionable, team‑wide standard operating procedures (SOPs), and conduct robust internal and external training exercises to ensure operational readiness.
• Cross‑Functional Partnership: Act as an operational liaison between Workplace Security Operations and key partners during an emergency, including Business Technology, Real Estate, Travel, Legal, and external vendors.
• System Compliance & Investigations: Serve as the operational lead for complex security investigations. Oversee and ensure compliance for administrative system processes, including onboarding/termination access audits and automated reporting.

What you'll bring to the role

• Strategic Leadership & Global Operations
• 8+ years of progressive experience in physical security operations, global systems integration, and GSOC leadership supporting fast paced global business operations in dynamic environments
• Demonstrated experience leading and managing large, diverse security teams from multiple third‑party vendors across different global regions
• Demonstrated ability to operate with proactive independence, leading global enterprise‑wide operational programs with minimal oversight
• Strong background in vendor