Principal Specialist Cyber Security

Cell C; Gauteng; On-site; ZAR 1 000 000 - 1 500 000; Full time

Job summary

A leading telecommunications company in South Africa is seeking a Principal Cyber Security Specialist to lead the execution of the organization's cybersecurity strategy. The role requires deep technical expertise, operational oversight, and mentorship of cybersecurity teams. The ideal candidate will have over 10 years of experience in cybersecurity, with a strong background in incident response and security architecture. This position offers the opportunity to influence cybersecurity practices in a dynamic environment.

Benefits

Diverse and inclusive workplace

Qualifications

• 10+ years in cybersecurity, with at least 5 years in senior roles.
• Proven experience in cyber defense and incident response.
• Experience in a telecom or large enterprise environment preferred.

Responsibilities

• Drive execution of the cybersecurity strategy and roadmap.
• Oversight of security architecture and operational initiatives.
• Lead incident response and forensic analysis efforts.
• Mentor technical teams and oversee third-party performance.

Skills

Cybersecurity expertise

Incident response

Security architecture

Risk management

Mentorship

Education

Bachelor's or master's degree in Cyber Security or related field

Tools

SIEM

EDR/XDR

SOAR

IAM solutions

Job description

Principal Cyber Security Specialist

At Cell C, we are not just a telecommunications company; we are a people-centric, consumer-focused organization committed to delivering exceptional experiences to our customers.

In line with our dedication to customer-centricity, we are seeking a seasoned professional Principal Specialist : Cyber Security to join our dynamic team of #Unstoppables.

Purpose of the Job

The Principal Cyber Security Specialist reports directly to the Chief Information Security Officer (CISO) and acts as the second-in-command (2IC) in driving and executing the organization's cybersecurity strategy.

This role combines deep technical expertise, strategic execution, and operational oversight, ensuring that the CISO's vision is effectively implemented across all cybersecurity domains.

The Principal Specialist provides leadership across security operations, threat intelligence, architecture, and incident response—while maintaining a strong hands-on role in technical design, analysis, and defence operations.

The position also involves oversight of key cybersecurity functions, mentoring of technical teams, and coordination with partners, third parties, and CISOs from allied organizations to enhance the organization's collective resilience and security maturity.

Main Responsibilities

Strategic Delivery & Management Oversight

Serve as the primary deputy (2IC) to the CISO, ensuring the successful delivery of the CISO's cybersecurity strategy and roadmap

Translate strategic objectives into executable technical and operational initiatives across all cybersecurity functions

Oversee daily execution of security programs, ensuring goals, SLAs, and deliverables are met across security operations, architecture, risk, and compliance

Act as the CISO's delegate in leadership meetings, providing technical and operational updates, and ensuring alignment with enterprise goals

Track program performance, report on security metrics, and elevate emerging risks or gaps to the CISO

Cyber Security Architecture & Engineering

Lead the design and continuous improvement of security architectures across network, cloud, and enterprise environments

Define and implement secure configurations, system hardening guidelines, and advanced defence-in-depth strategies

Evaluate, integrate, and optimize core security technologies including SIEM, EDR / XDR, SOAR, and IAM solutions

Drive automation initiatives to improve detection, response, and operational efficiency

Partner with IT, Network, and Engineering teams to embed security into design and development cycles

Incident Response & Forensic Analysis

Act as the lead technical escalation point for complex or high-impact security incidents

Coordinate response activities across internal and external teams to ensure rapid containment and remediation

Lead forensic investigations, evidence analysis, and root cause determination

Review and refine incident response playbooks and detection workflows to improve response maturity

Deliver incident post-mortems to executive stakeholders with actionable improvement plans

Risk, Vulnerability & Assurance

Lead vulnerability management and penetration testing efforts across critical systems and applications

Correlate technical vulnerabilities with threat intelligence to prioritize risk-based remediation

Ensure alignment with regulatory and compliance frameworks (e.g., ISO, NIST, POPIA)

Contribute to audit readiness and support CISO reporting to internal and external auditors

Monitor the effectiveness of security controls and recommend enhancements based on risk exposure

Team Leadership & Functional Oversight

Provide technical and operational oversight to cybersecurity teams, ensuring cohesive execution of objectives

Mentor and develop security engineers, analysts, and specialists to build advanced technical and analytical capabilities

Coordinate with team leads across SOC, architecture, and governance functions to ensure alignment with the CISO's direction

Promote a collaborative, high-performance culture focused on operational excellence and continuous learning

Act as the technical liaison and representative of the CISO in engagements with cybersecurity vendors, MSSPs, and technology partners

Oversee third-party performance, ensuring service quality, SLA adherence, and risk management compliance

Engage with CISOs and senior security leaders in partner organizations to exchange threat intelligence, coordinate response efforts, and strengthen collective defence

Represent the organization in industry forums, regulatory consultations, and cyber defence working groups

Stay abreast of evolving cyber threats, adversary tactics, and emerging defence technologies

Lead proof-of-concept initiatives for innovative security solutions, automation tools, and analytics platforms

Drive maturity in threat detection, analytics, and response through continuous tuning and capability uplift

Contribute to developing future-state security architecture and strategic initiatives led by the CISO

Qualifications

Bachelor's or master's degree in cyber security, Computer Science, or Information Technology

Preferred Certifications

Certified Information Systems Security Professional (CISSP)

Certified Cloud Security Professional (CCSP)

Certified Ethical Hacker (CEH)

ISO Certifications

• Lead Implementer or Auditor

Telecom-specific or cloud security certifications (e.g., Azure, AWS Security Specialty)

Experience

10+ years of experience in cybersecurity, with 5+ years in senior technical or specialist roles

Proven experience in cyber defence, incident response, and security architecture

Experience supporting or deputizing for a CISO in technical or operational functions

Exposure to telecom or large enterprise environments (preferred)

Successful delivery of CISO's cybersecurity strategy and roadmap

Reduction in Mean Time to Detect (MTTD) and Mean Time to Respond (MTTR) for incidents

Improvement in detection coverage, automation, and operational efficiency

Quality and timeliness of intelligence and incident reporting to leadership

Technical uplift and skill progression across cybersecurity teams

Strong partner engagement and collaboration metrics (internal and external)

Demonstrated improvement in overall cybersecurity maturity posture

Cell C is an equal opportunities employer, committed to fostering a diverse and inclusive workplace where all employees are treated fairly and with respect, regardless of race, gender, age, disability, or any other protected characteristic.