As a First Line of Defense Cybersecurity Risk Director within the Enterprise Technology Security (ETS) Risk organization, you will provide strategic leadership in protecting the organization against evolving cyber threats while enabling business innovation. This role is accountable for the design, execution, and continuous maturity of the cybersecurity risk management framework, ensuring cyber risks are proactively identified, assessed, mitigated, monitored, and transparently reported. You will serve as a trusted advisor to senior leadership, translating complex cybersecurity and technology risks into clear business impacts and risk-based decisions aligned to enterprise risk appetite. The role partners closely with Technology, Corporate Security, Legal, Compliance, Risk, Audit, and business leaders to ensure cybersecurity risk strategies are fully integrated with business objectives, regulatory expectations, and enterprise resilience goals. You will also lead and develop a high performing team of cybersecurity risk professionals, fostering a culture of strong risk discipline, constructive challenge, and continuous improvement across the organization.
Key Responsibilities
Leadership & Strategy
Lead, coach, and develop a team of cybersecurity risk analysts, principals, and managers, establishing a consistent, scalable, and value driven risk support model across the enterprise.
Define and evolve the cybersecurity risk management strategy and operating model, ensuring alignment with enterprise risk appetite, regulatory requirements, and business priorities.
Translate cyber and technology risks into business relevant impacts, enabling senior management to make informed, risk-based decisions.
Cybersecurity Risk Management & Oversight
Establish and oversee an end-to-end cybersecurity risk management process that enables continuous identification, analysis, assessment, treatment, and monitoring of cyber and technology risks.
Define and maintain key risk indicators (KRIs), controls, and control testing strategies to measure cybersecurity risk exposure and control effectiveness.
Provide oversight of Risk and Control Self Assessments (RCSAs), Targeted Risk Reviews, business initiative risk assessments, and issue management, ensuring timely remediation and sustainable risk reduction.
Maintain visibility into detailed cyber risk assessments, advising business and technology leaders on prioritized mitigation strategies and risk tradeoffs.
Business Partnership & Advisory
Act as a strategic risk advisor to business lines and technology leaders, providing day to day guidance on regulatory compliance, risk mitigation, and industry best practices.
Advise on new products, processes, technologies, and strategic initiatives, ensuring appropriate risk identification, control design, and governance approvals are in place.
Guide business partners through enterprise governance forums and approval processes, ensuring cyber risks are understood, documented, and appropriately managed.
Regulatory, Audit & External Engagement
Serve as the primary risk lead for regulatory exams and audits related to cybersecurity and technology risk for assigned products or functions.
Partner with Internal Audit, and second line stakeholders, leading exam preparation, responses, and ongoing issue remediation.
Ensure compliance with applicable laws, regulations, and supervisory guidance, including FFIEC, GLBA, SOX, and other relevant standards.
Collaboration & Stakeholder Management
Build and maintain strong, trusted relationships with business partners, technology leaders, security teams, project stakeholders, and subject matter experts.
Collaborate across lines of defense to provide effective challenge while enabling responsible innovation and delivery.
Promote a culture of cybersecurity awareness and operational resilience across the organization.
Qualifications - Experience & Skills
10+ years of experience in Cybersecurity and/or Information Technology, with deep exposure to enterprise environments.
10+ years of risk management experience within financial services, preferably in cybersecurity, technology risk, or operational risk.
Strong experience with cloud technologies (IaaS, PaaS, SaaS), DevSecOps, web applications, operating systems, databases, and networking.
Broad knowledge of cybersecurity domains including:
Network and infrastructure security
Vulnerability and configuration management
Identity and Access Management including Customer Identity
API and application security
Data protection and cryptography
Operational resilience
Incident, problem, and change management
Experience operating in a highly regulated environment under significant supervisory scrutiny.
Solid understanding of internal controls, risk assessments, and governance processes.
Working knowledge of FFIEC guidance, GLBA, SOX, and related regulatory frameworks.
Familiarity with leading industry frameworks, including Cybersecurity Risk Institute, NIST Cybersecurity Framework, Cloud Security Alliance, NIST 800 53, and ISO 27001.
Demonstrated ability to synthesize complex risk data, prioritize mitigation actions, and influence outcomes.
Exceptional communication and executive presence skills, with the ability to engage all levels of the organization.
Proven leadership, coaching, and talent development experience.
Strong project and program management capabilities across multiple stakeholders.
Education & Certifications (Preferred)
Bachelor’s Degree required; Master’s Degree preferred.
Professional certifications strongly preferred, including:
Certified Information Systems Security Professional (CISSP)
Certified Cloud Security Professional (CCSP)
Cloud security specialty certification in AWS and Azure
Certified Information Security Manager (CISM)
Certified Information Systems Auditor (CISA)
Certified in Risk and Information Systems Control (CRISC)
Hours & Work Schedule
Hours per Week: 40
Work Schedule: Monday-Friday
Hybrid: 4 days onsite, 1 day remote
Pay Transparency
The salary range for this position is $190,000 - $240,000 per year, plus an opportunity to earn an annual discretionary bonus. Actual pay is based on various factors including but not limited to the work location, and relevant skills and experience.
We offer competitive pay, comprehensive medical, dental and vision coverage, retirement benefits, maternity/paternity leave, flexible work arrangements, education reimbursement, wellness programs and more. Note, Citizens’ paid time off policy exceeds the mandatory, paid sick or paid time-away policy of every local and state jurisdiction in the United States. For an overview of our benefits, visit
https://jobs.citizensbank.com/benefits
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