VP, Identity and Access Management

MetLife; Cary (NC); Hybrid; USD 230,000 - 260,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Health plan including medical and life

401(k) with employer matching

Disability insurance

Job summary

MetLife’s Global Security team is seeking a VP of Identity and Access Management to lead IAM strategy, governance, and executive oversight for encryption and secret management globally. You will shape security foundations, drive policy, and ensure audit readiness across the enterprise, impacting employees, customers and data worldwide.

You will steer IAM services and technology lifecycle, collaborating with architecture, engineering, and security teams to meet regulatory requirements and

Qualifications

• 15+ years of experience in global IAM environments.
• Strategic thinker translating objectives into strategy and results.
• In-depth knowledge of IAM principles including SSO, MFA and IGA.
• Proven success in large-scale IAM initiatives.
• Understanding of GDPR, HIPAA, SOX and compliance requirements.
• Bachelor’s or Master’s in IT/cybersecurity; relevant certifications may be advantageous.

Responsibilities

• Develop global IAM strategy, governance, and policy alignment across the enterprise.
• Oversee IAM services including privileged access, authentication, access certification and identity administration.
• Design and operate IAM technologies and lifecycle management in a high-volume environment.
• Address audit findings and ensure compliance with security standards.

Skills

IAM strategy

Strategic leadership

Governance

Regulatory compliance

Stakeholder collaboration

Security governance

Education

Bachelor’s or Master’s in IT/Cybersecurity

Tools

SSO

MFA

IGA

Encryption

Secret management

Job description

As part of MetLife’s Global Security team, you’ll work alongside world‑class experts to protect MetLife, our customers and our colleagues. The team is responsible for managing cybersecurity, IT risks and vulnerabilities, physical security, and more. In this fast‑paced, mission‑driven environment, you’ll join outstanding teammates to expand your skills, collaborate across the organization and implement innovative approaches to safeguard MetLife when it matters most. Ready to make an impact? Join us if you want to embrace the rapidly evolving environment and use transformative technology to integrate and build security into the foundation of key initiatives across MetLife.

The Opportunity

The VP, Identity and Access Management is responsible for providing strategic leadership, governance, and executive oversight for MetLife's global Identity and Access Management (IAM), encryption, and secret management capabilities, ensuring the protection of enterprise assets, regulatory compliance, and the effectiveness of one of the company's most critical and highly audited security functions. This role supports MetLife's global operations by driving IAM strategy, policy development, operational excellence, audit readiness, and security governance across the enterprise.

This is an exciting opportunity to shape and modernize the security foundations that protect MetLife's employees, customers, and data worldwide while influencing enterprise‑wide security strategy, compliance, and technology transformation at a global scale.

Key Responsibilities

Strategy / Alignment

• Develop global strategic plan and oversee the policy, governance and management for all Data, Identity/Access.
• Develop and report on key operational metrics and performance indicators.
• Partner with architecture, engineering, application, security, and operational staff to identify and drive resolution on security projects and issuesunder scope.
• Ensure alignment with regional CIOs and CISOs to resolve all global technical vulnerabilities in functional areas.

Identity and Access Mgmt. services

• Guide the overall architecture, engineering, and implementation of Identity & Access Management (IAM) solutions for globally dispersed businesses, employees, and customers.
• Oversee the IAM product lifecycle for services such as privileged access management, human and non-human authentication, access certification, and identity administration, including the lifecycle management of non-human identities and credentials from creation and provisioning through rotation, governance, and retirement.
• Lead the design and implementation of business processes and solutions to ensure that IAM services perform according to defined processes, meet defined policies, and comply with applicable information security requirements and regulations.
• Actively drive leadership alignment inside and outside of Global Security to ensure consistency in policy application.

Identity and Access Technology

• Design, develop, deploy, and operate the most sensitive and mission‑critical core technologies globally, which are the authentication, access, and authorization platforms for all MetLife employees, third parties, and customers.
• Oversee IAM technology lifecycle for services such as privileged access management, authentication, access certification, identity administration and, for ideation through retirement.
• Serve as the leader responsible for operations, reliability, availability, maintenance and performance of Directories, authentication protocols, and related technologies in a high-volume production environment.
• Guarantee that the solutions developed align with cyber security strategy, accepted best practices, business requirements, policies, regulations, and Global Security standards. Ensure resolution to high-profile technical issues in conjunction with partner delivery organizations (IT Ops, Cyber Sec).
• Recommend enterprise‑level IT policy and practice for protection of all ML assets.
• Provide subject matter expertise in developing best practices, procedures, training and guidance for all Data, Identity and Access Management.
• Stay current on industry level changes and track those to keep the programs contemporary for MetLife.
• Own and address all audit findings of the IAM organization.

Required Qualifications

• 15+ years of experience working in global organizations with complex IAM environments.
• Strategic thinker, who can establish and translate business objectives into a tangible strategy, execution, and results through ongoing prioritization.
• In depth knowledge of IAM principles, practices, and technologies, including experience in solutions such as SSO,MFA and IGA
• Proven success in the development and execution of large scale IAM initiatives.
• Understanding of regulatory frameworks (e.g. GDPR, HIPAA, SOX) and experience implementing IAM solutions to ensure compliance with these regulations
• Strong partnering and collaboration skills, ability to influence and inspire others to drive the desired outcomes and business results.
• Demonstrated ability to manage several diverse workstreams and priorities simultaneously; ability to effectively drive strategy, execution, and governance
• Strong expertise and ability to keep abreast of current IAM methodologies, tools, and platforms.
• Bachelor’s or master’s degree in information technology, cybersecurity, computer science or a related field. Relevant certifications may be advantageous.

Preferred Qualifications

• Advanced degree and/or relevant cybersecurity or IAM certifications (e.g., CISSP, CISM, Identity Management certifications).
• Experience leading large-scale global IAM transformation initiatives, including cloud identity, privileged access management, and non-human identity management.
• Experience operating within highly regulated, complex global organizations, particularly in financial services, insurance, or similar industries.

Location Expectation: This is a hybrid role requiring a minimum of 3 days per week in office.

The expected salary range for this position is 230,000 - 260,000. This role may also be eligible for annual short‑term incentive compensation and stock‑based long‑term incentives. All incentives and benefits are subject to the applicable plan terms.

Benefits We Offer

Our U.S. benefits address holistic well‑being with programs for physical and mental health, financial wellness, and support for families. We offer a comprehensive health plan that includes medical/prescription drug and vision, dental insurance, and no‑cost short‑ and long‑term disability. We also provide company‑paid life insurance and legal services, a retirement pension funded entirely by MetLife and 401(k) with employer matching, group discounts on voluntary insurance products including auto and home, pet, critical illness, hospital indemnity, and accident insurance, as well as Employee Assistance Program (EAP) and digital mental health programs, parental leave, paid time off, paid holidays, volunteer time off, tuition assistance and much more! For more information regarding MetLife’s U.S. benefits, please click here.

About MetLife

Recognized on Fortune magazine's list of the "World's Most Admired Companies", Fortune World’s 25 Best Workplaces™, as well as the Fortune 100 Best Companies to Work For®, MetLife, through its subsidiaries and affiliates, is one of the world’s leading financial services companies; providing insurance, annuities, employee benefits and asset management to individual and institutional customers. With operations in more than 40 markets, we hold leading positions in the United States, Latin America, Asia, Europe, and the Middle East.

As part of our New Frontier strategy, MetLife is building an AI‑enabled, people‑centered future. We’re looking for people who bring curiosity, adaptability, and a growth mindset as we use AI to enhance how we serve customers, support communities, and evolve the way work gets done. At MetLife, AI is a responsible partner that supports human judgment, creativity, and continuous improvement while helping us build trust, inclusion, and long‑term value.

Our purpose is simple - to help our colleagues, customers, communities, and the world at large create a more confident future. United by purpose and guided by our core values - Win Together, Do the Right Thing, Deliver Impact Over Activity, and Think Ahead - we’re inspired to transform the next century in financial services. At MetLife, it’s #AllTogetherPossible. Join us!

MetLife is an Equal Opportunity Employer. All employment decisions are made without regards to race, color, national origin, religion, creed, sex (including pregnancy, childbirth, or related medical conditions), sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, age, disability, marital or domestic/civil partnership status, genetic information, citizenship status (although applicants and employees must be legally authorized to work in the United States), uniformed service member or veteran status, or any other characteristic protected by applicable federal, state, or local law (“protected characteristics”).

If you need an accommodation due to a disability, please email us at [e-mail]. This information will be held in confidence and used only to determine an appropriate accommodation for the application process. MetLife maintains a drug‑free workplace.

It is unlawful in Massachusetts to require or administer a lie detector test as a condition of employment or continued employment. An employer who violates this law shall be subject to criminal penalties and civil liabilities.

This posting is for a current vacancy and is anticipated to remain open for at least 90 days from the listed posting date.