Senior Security Operations Center (SOC) Manager

Placements24; Pretoria; Hybrid; ZAR 900,000 - 1,350,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Medical & Retirement plans

Hybrid work arrangement

Training & development

Job summary

Placements24 in Pretoria is seeking an experienced Senior SOC Manager to lead security monitoring, incident response, and threat detection efforts. The role focuses on managing day-to-day SOC operations, mentoring a team of analysts, and refining incident response processes in a hybrid Pretoria-based setup.

The ideal candidate has 7+ years in information security with 3+ in SOC leadership, strong SIEM experience (Splunk/QRadar), and excellent leadership and communication skills.

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree in Computer Science, Cybersecurity, IT, or a related field.
• 7+ years in information security, with 3+ years in management within a SOC.
• Experience handling security incidents and threat detection.
• Strong networking, OS, and attack-vector knowledge.
• Hands-on with SIEM (Splunk/QRadar), IDS/IPS, EDR, threat intel tools.
• Excellent leadership, communication, and team management.
• Comfortable in fast-paced environments.

Responsibilities

• Oversee 24/7 SOC operations.
• Mentor SOC analysts and engineers.
• Develop threat detection strategies.
• Manage SIEM and security tools.
• Refine incident response processes.
• Conduct regular threat hunting.
• Analyze alerts and logs.
• Report SOC performance to leadership.
• Ensure regulatory compliance.

Skills

SOC Leadership

Incident Response

Threat Detection

SIEM Tools

Networking

EDR/IDS

Certifications

Communication

Education

Bachelor's degree in CS/IT

Tools

Splunk

QRadar

IDS/IPS

EDR

Threat intel tools

Job description

About the Role

Our client, a prominent player in the telecommunications industry, is seeking an experienced Senior Security Operations Center (SOC) Manager to lead their security monitoring and incident response functions. This role is vital for ensuring the continuous protection of our client's extensive network infrastructure and customer data against cyber threats. You will be responsible for managing the day-to-day operations of the SOC, mentoring a team of analysts, and refining incident response processes. This position is based in Pretoria, Gauteng , and operates under a hybrid work model, blending essential in-office collaboration with the flexibility of remote work. We are looking for a strategic leader with a deep understanding of threat detection, analysis, and incident management. The ideal candidate will possess exceptional leadership qualities and a proactive approach to cybersecurity operations, contributing significantly to maintaining the integrity and security of critical services.

Key Responsibilities

• Oversee the daily operations of the Security Operations Center (SOC), ensuring 24/7 monitoring and analysis.
• Lead, mentor, and develop a team of SOC analysts and engineers.
• Develop and implement advanced threat detection strategies and methodologies.
• Manage and optimize the security information and event management (SIEM) system and other security tools.
• Establish and refine incident response procedures, ensuring timely and effective resolution of security incidents.
• Conduct regular threat hunting exercises to proactively identify potential security breaches.
• Analyze security alerts, logs, and threat intelligence to identify malicious activity.
• Create and present regular reports on SOC performance, incidents, and security posture to senior management.
• Ensure compliance with relevant industry regulations and company security policies.
• Drive continuous improvement initiatives within the SOC to enhance detection capabilities and response efficiency.

Requirements

• Bachelor’s degree in Computer Science, Cybersecurity, Information Technology, or a related field.
• Minimum of 7 years of experience in information security, with at least 3 years in a management or team lead role within a SOC environment.
• Proven experience in managing security incidents, threat detection, and incident response.
• Strong understanding of networking protocols, operating systems, and common attack vectors.
• Hands-on experience with SIEM platforms (e.g., Splunk, QRadar), IDS/IPS, EDR, and threat intelligence tools.
• Excellent leadership, team management, and communication skills.
• Ability to work effectively in a fast-paced, high-pressure environment.
• Relevant security certifications such as CISSP, CISM, GCIH, or GCIA are highly desirable.
• Experience in the telecommunications sector is a plus.
• Must be able to commute to our Pretoria, Gauteng office for hybrid work requirements.

Benefits

• Our client offers a competitive salary, comprehensive medical and retirement plans, and opportunities for career advancement.
• Employees benefit from a dynamic work environment, exposure to advanced security technologies, and the flexibility of a hybrid work arrangement.
• Training and development opportunities are provided to ensure continuous skill enhancement.
• The role in Pretoria, Gauteng offers a chance to lead a critical function within a major industry player, impacting security operations on a large scale.