Senior Security Operations Center (SOC) Manager

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

Benefits offered by this job

Executive-level compensation

Health, dental, vision insurance

Retirement plan with employer contrib.

Professional development opportunities

Collaborative work environment

Job summary

Placements24 is seeking a highly experienced Senior SOC Manager to lead and mature its Security Operations Center in Sandton, Gauteng. You will oversee 24/7 monitoring, incident response, and threat-hunting efforts, driving improved detection, analysis, and containment.

The ideal candidate has 8+ years in information security with at least 4 years in SOC leadership, hands-on experience with SIEM, SOAR, EDR, and threat intelligence, plus strong stakeholder management and budgeting skills.

Qualifications

• 8+ years in information security with 4+ years in SOC leadership.
• Proven track record building and maturing SOC capabilities.
• Experience with SIEM, SOAR, EDR, and threat intel platforms.

Responsibilities

• Lead, mentor, and develop the SOC team, fostering high performance.
• Oversee 24/7 monitoring and timely analysis of alerts and events.
• Develop and improve SOC processes, playbooks, and procedures.
• Manage SOC technologies, budgets, and resource allocation.
• Coordinate incident response and post-incident reviews.
• Establish and report KPIs to senior management.

Skills

SOC leadership

Threat detection

Incident response

People management

Budget management

Security monitoring

Stakeholder management

Strategic thinking

Education

Bachelor's degree in CS/IT/Cybersecurity

Tools

SIEM

SOAR

EDR

Threat intelligence

Job description

About the Role

Our client is seeking a highly experienced and strategic Senior Security Operations Center (SOC) Manager to lead and mature their SOC operations in Sandton, Gauteng . This leadership role is responsible for overseeing the daily operations of the SOC, ensuring effective detection, analysis, and response to security threats and incidents. The ideal candidate will have a proven track record in managing SOC teams, implementing advanced security monitoring technologies, and developing robust incident response procedures. You will play a crucial part in protecting the organization's digital assets and reputation by maintaining a vigilant and proactive security posture. This is an excellent opportunity for a seasoned security leader to make a significant impact and drive excellence in security operations.

Key Responsibilities

• Lead, mentor, and develop the Security Operations Center (SOC) team, fostering a high-performance culture.
• Oversee the 24/7 monitoring of security alerts and events from various sources, ensuring timely and effective analysis.
• Develop, implement, and continuously improve SOC processes, playbooks, and procedures.
• Manage and optimize security technologies, including SIEM, SOAR, EDR, and threat intelligence platforms.
• Lead and coordinate the response to significant security incidents, ensuring minimal business disruption.
• Establish key performance indicators (KPIs) and metrics to measure SOC effectiveness and report on performance to senior management.
• Collaborate with other security teams (e.g., incident response, threat intelligence, vulnerability management) to enhance overall security posture.
• Stay abreast of the latest cyber threats, attack vectors, and industry best practices in security operations.
• Manage the SOC budget and ensure efficient resource allocation.
• Drive initiatives to automate SOC processes and enhance threat detection capabilities.

Requirements

• Bachelor's degree in Computer Science, Information Technology, Cybersecurity, or a related field.
• Minimum of 8 years of experience in information security, with at least 4 years in a leadership role within a Security Operations Center (SOC).
• Proven experience in managing and mentoring security analysts and engineers.
• Deep understanding of security monitoring tools (SIEM, IDS/IPS, EDR), incident response, and threat intelligence.
• Experience with security orchestration, automation, and response (SOAR) platforms.
• Strong knowledge of networking, operating systems, and common attack techniques.
• Excellent analytical, problem-solving, and decision-making skills.
• Exceptional communication, interpersonal, and stakeholder management abilities.
• Experience in developing and managing SOC operational budgets.
• Relevant certifications such as CISSP, CISM, or GIAC certifications (e.g., GCIH, GCFA) are highly desirable.

Benefits

• A competitive executive-level salary and performance-driven bonus structure.
• Comprehensive health, dental, and vision insurance coverage.
• Generous retirement savings plan with employer contributions.
• Significant opportunities for professional development, leadership training, and attending industry conferences.
• A dynamic and collaborative work environment with a focus on continuous improvement.
• The chance to lead a critical function and significantly influence the organization's security posture.