Associate Director, Cyber Security Operations Centre - Americas

Leverage technology to impact patients and ultimately save lives. Do you have expertise in, and passion for, information technology? Would you like to apply your expertise to influence IT strategy in a company that follows the science and turns ideas into life-changing medicines? If so, AstraZeneca might be the one for you!

AstraZeneca is a global, science-led, patient-focused biopharmaceutical company concentrating on the discovery, development, and commercialization of prescription medicines for some of the world’s most serious diseases. But we’re more than one of the world’s leading pharmaceutical companies. At AstraZeneca, we’re dedicated to being a Great Place to Work.

The IT Security Organisation is responsible for establishing and maintaining corporate-wide cybersecurity to ensure that AstraZeneca’s information assets are adequately protected in terms of confidentiality, integrity, and availability. Information and systems security presents one of the biggest risks and opportunities for all large organisations today. Internal and external attacks are becoming more complex, while balancing business objectives in a cost-effective manner is crucial.

The ability to collect, analyse, present, and respond to logged information from network devices, computing devices, application logs, databases, identity and access management systems, operating systems, policy compliance tools, vulnerability/threat management tools, etc., underpins the security operations of all large organisations and will be increasingly important in the future.

What You’ll Do

You will be responsible for providing management, leadership, and oversight of the internally delivered Security Monitoring service. You will coordinate appropriate responses to identified security alerts, considering AstraZeneca's risk posture. A vital aspect of this role is to identify and seize opportunities for continuous improvement in security operations.

Essential Skills & Experience

• Detailed understanding of cybersecurity.
• Knowledge of incident response methodologies and tools.
• Experience conducting cybersecurity investigations into network and application activity.
• Understanding of modern threats and vulnerabilities.
• Host analysis experience with forensics/EDR tools.
• Excellent written and oral communication skills; ability to work closely with multiple customers, manage expectations, and track engagement scope.
• Experience in enterprise-sized organisations: Managing Cyber Security Operations Centre Incident Response.
• Leading Cyber Threat Hunting Programmes and delivering weekly workloads.
• Working with Regional Cyber Security Operations Centre Leads to deliver a globally consistent service.
• Demonstrated initiative, strong customer orientation, and ability to work across cultures.
• A self-starter capable of autonomous working, direction, and goal setting.
• Well-developed communication and facilitation skills with the ability to explain complex or technical concepts in clear, business terms and produce concise written material.
• Ability to analyse complex situations, assess risks, and balance strategic and tactical security requirements with business pragmatism, risk appetite, and innovation.
• Security certifications such as SANS GIAC, CISSP, CISM, CCSP, or other relevant industry qualifications (e.g., ITIL) are considered assets.
• Experience managing people and guiding the work of others.

Desirable Skills & Experience

• Experience with cloud security platforms and technologies.
• Familiarity with regulatory compliance standards (e.g., GDPR, HIPAA).
• Knowledge of automation and orchestration tools.
• Advanced degree in Information Security or a related field.

Why Join Us?

We’re a network of ambitious self-starters who contribute to something far bigger. We enable AstraZeneca to perform at its peak by delivering premier technology and data solutions. We’re not afraid to take ownership and run with it—empowered with unrivaled freedom. Simply put, we make a significant impact. Everything we do matters.

So, What’s Next?

Are you envisioning yourself joining our team? We’d love to hear from you! Click the link to apply, and we’ll be in touch as soon as we can.

Equal Opportunity Employer

We are an equal opportunity employer and value diversity at our company. We do not discriminate based on race, religion, color, national origin, sex, gender, gender expression, sexual orientation, age, marital status, veteran status, or disability status.