Incident Response Lead

Placements24; Cape Town; Hybrid; ZAR 900,000 - 1,500,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Executive-level compensation

Health, life, and disability insurance

Budget for professional development

Opportunity to shape IR function

Challenging role with impact

Job summary

Placements24 is seeking an experienced Incident Response Lead to oversee security incident response in Upington, developing response plans, coordinating crisis management, and directing investigations to containment and rapid recovery.

The ideal candidate has 7+ years in cybersecurity, proven leadership of incident response teams, and expertise in digital forensics, malware analysis, and threat intelligence, plus ability to engage external agencies and report trends.

Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree or equivalent experience in cybersecurity or related field.
• 7+ years in cybersecurity with focus on incident response and management.
• Proven leadership of incident response teams during critical security events.
• Expertise in digital forensics, malware analysis, and threat intelligence.
• Solid understanding of network protocols, operating systems, and security technologies.

Responsibilities

• Lead development, implementation, and improvement of the incident response program and playbooks.
• Direct response to critical security incidents across teams.
• Conduct forensic investigations to determine root cause, scope and impact.
• Maintain relationships with external cybersecurity agencies and law enforcement as needed.
• Provide regular reporting on incident trends, lessons learned, and security posture improvements.

Skills

Leadership

Incident response

Digital forensics

Malware analysis

Threat intelligence

Education

Bachelor's degree in Cybersecurity/Computer Science or related field

Job description

About the Role

Our client is seeking an experienced Incident Response Lead to manage and direct their security incident response efforts in Upington . This leadership role involves developing and executing comprehensive incident response plans, coordinating crisis management, and leading the investigation of security breaches. You will be responsible for ensuring swift and effective containment, eradication, and recovery from security incidents, minimizing organizational impact. The ideal candidate is a strategic thinker with extensive experience in cybersecurity incident management and a proven ability to lead teams under pressure.

Key Responsibilities

• Lead the development, implementation, and continuous improvement of the incident response program and playbooks.


• Direct and manage the response to critical security incidents, coordinating efforts across various teams.


• Conduct in-depth forensic investigations to determine the root cause, scope, and impact of security breaches.


• Develop and maintain relationships with external cybersecurity agencies and law enforcement as needed.


• Provide regular reporting on incident trends, lessons learned, and recommendations for enhancing security posture.

Requirements

• Bachelor's degree in Cybersecurity, Computer Science, or a related field, or equivalent experience.


• 7+ years of experience in cybersecurity, with a significant focus on incident response and management.


• Proven leadership experience in managing incident response teams and critical security events.


• Expertise in digital forensics, malware analysis, and threat intelligence.


• Strong understanding of network protocols , operating systems, and security technologies.

Benefits

• Executive-level salary and bonus structure commensurate with experience.


• Comprehensive health, life, and disability insurance.


• Significant budget for professional development, conferences, and advanced certifications.


• Opportunity to lead and shape the incident response function for a key organization.


• A highly challenging and rewarding role with significant impact.