Security Operations Center (SOC) Manager

Placements24; Upington; On-site; ZAR 1,200,000 - 1,800,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Base salary + bonuses

Medical and retirement benefits

Generous annual leave

Relocation assistance

Leadership training

Career advancement

Job summary

Placements24 is seeking an experienced SOC Manager to lead the security operations center in Upington, Northern Cape. You will oversee daily monitoring, incident analysis, and response efforts to protect critical infrastructure and data.

The role requires hands-on leadership, collaboration with threat intelligence and vulnerability teams, and the development of robust SOC processes while coordinating with management on security posture.

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree or higher in a relevant IT/security field.
• Minimum 6 years in cybersecurity with at least 3 years in leadership within a SOC.
• Proven experience building and guiding SOC teams and processes.
• Hands-on with SIEM platforms and common security tools.

Responsibilities

• Lead, mentor, and manage the SOC team to sustain high performance.
• Oversee 24/7 monitoring of alerts across network, systems, and apps.
• Develop and refine SOC playbooks, workflows, and procedures.

Skills

Leadership

SOC management

Incident response

SIEM

Threat intelligence

Vulnerability management

Cloud security monitoring

Education

Bachelor’s degree in Computer Science, Cybersecurity, Information Technology, or related field

Tools

Splunk

QRadar

ArcSight

Job description

About the Role

Our client, a prominent agricultural technology firm, is seeking an experienced and strategic Security Operations Center (SOC) Manager to lead their security monitoring and incident response efforts in Upington, Northern Cape. This is a leadership position responsible for overseeing the daily operations of the SOC, ensuring the timely detection, analysis, and response to security threats and incidents. The successful candidate will manage a team of security analysts, develop and refine SOC processes and procedures, and ensure the effective use of security technologies. You will play a vital role in protecting the organization's critical infrastructure and sensitive data from evolving cyber threats. This role offers a fantastic opportunity to shape the security operations of a key enterprise in the Northern Cape. The position is office-based to ensure hands-on oversight and team coordination.

Key Responsibilities

• Lead, mentor, and manage the SOC team, fostering a high-performance culture.
• Oversee the 24/7 monitoring of security alerts and events across the organization's network, systems, and applications.
• Develop, implement, and continuously improve SOC procedures, playbooks, and workflows.
• Ensure timely and accurate analysis of security incidents and threats, initiating appropriate response actions.
• Manage and optimize SOC tools, including SIEM, IDS/IPS, EDR, and threat intelligence platforms.
• Collaborate with incident response, threat intelligence, and vulnerability management teams.
• Establish and track key performance indicators (KPIs) and metrics for SOC effectiveness.
• Develop and conduct regular training for SOC analysts on new threats, tools, and procedures.
• Report on SOC activities, incident trends, and security posture to senior management.
• Ensure compliance with relevant security policies, standards, and regulations.
• Participate in security architecture reviews and provide input on security technology selection.
• Manage vendor relationships for SOC-related tools and services.

Requirements

• Bachelor's degree in Computer Science, Cybersecurity, Information Technology, or a related field.
• Minimum of 6 years of experience in cybersecurity, with at least 3 years in a leadership or management role within a SOC environment.
• Proven experience managing and developing SOC teams.
• Deep understanding of security operations, incident response methodologies, and threat detection techniques.
• Hands-on experience with SIEM platforms (e.g., Splunk, QRadar, ArcSight) and other security tools.
• Strong knowledge of network protocols, operating systems, and common attack vectors.
• Excellent analytical, problem-solving, and decision-making skills.
• Exceptional leadership, communication, and interpersonal skills.
• Relevant certifications such as CISSP, CISM, GSEC, or GCIA are highly valued.
• Experience with cloud security monitoring (AWS, Azure) is a plus.

Benefits

• Attractive base salary with performance-based bonuses.
• Comprehensive medical, disability, and retirement benefits.
• Generous annual leave and public holiday allocation.
• Opportunities for leadership training and professional development.
• Relocation assistance may be available for qualified candidates.
• Exposure to cutting-edge security technologies in the agricultural sector.
• A collaborative and supportive team environment in Upington.
• Regular team events and company-sponsored social activities.
• Career advancement opportunities within a growing company.
• Contribute to the security resilience of a vital industry in the Northern Cape.