cyber defense lead - EMEA

Role Title: Cyber Defense Lead – EMEA

Location: Portugal

Employment Type: Full-time

Role Scope: What This Role Is vs. Is Not

Important Note: This is an Operational Security Leadership & Incident Management role, NOT a hands-on Tier-1 SOC Analyst or Content Engineering role. You will translate global strategy into regional execution, coach a team of 7 engineers, and act as Incident Commander during critical cyber events.

What You Will Achieve

• Drive Operational Excellence: Manage the day-to-day operations of the EMEA Cyber Defense Center (CDC) in alignment with global SOC strategies set by the Global Head of Security Operations.

• Lead & Mentor: Lead, coach, and balance workloads for a dedicated team of 7 Cyber Defense Engineers.

• Ensure 24/7 Global Continuity: Participate in "Follow-the-Sun" shift handovers with counterpart leads in AMER and APAC to maintain uninterrupted global security coverage.

• Command Cyber Response: Serve as the regional escalation point and Incident Commander for high-severity cyber events and incident response operations.

• Optimize SOC Capabilities: Analyze post-incident outcomes to drive workflow enhancements, detection tuning, and automation across our security stack.

Key Metrics You'll Own

• Incident Response Efficiency: Mean Time to Detect (MTTD) and Mean Time to Respond (MTTR) across the EMEA region.

• Team Performance & Delivery: Resource utilization, development goals, and operational output for 7 direct reports.

• Compliance & Governance: Alignment of regional operations with ISO 27001, CIS Controls, NIST CSF, and internal Randstad policies.

• Stakeholder Reporting: Delivery of clear, high-impact security posture updates to C-level executives and regional IT leadership.

What You Need to Succeed

• Leadership Experience: Proven track record leading and managing SOC/security engineering teams in complex enterprise environments.

• Incident Commander Expertise: Strong operational background in threat detection, response, and leading large-scale cyber incident response operations.

• Hybrid SOC Knowledge: Experience working with internal teams alongside external MSSP partners (Tier-1 triage).

• Security Framework Mastery: Deep familiarity with ISO 27001, NIST CSF, CIS Controls, and MITRE ATT&CK frameworks.

• Certifications: CISM, CISSP, GCIH, or equivalent senior security certifications are highly valued.

• Language: Professional fluency in English (written and spoken).

Why Join Randstad?

• Competitive Compensation: Competitive base salary, variable performance pay, and access to Randstad's Employee Share Purchase Plan.

• Flexibility with Intentionality: Hybrid/remote work environment that prioritizes work-life balance and autonomous execution.

• Career Growth: Opportunities for continuous skill-building, executive mentorship, and global mobility within the world's leading talent organization.

apply today to join the team:

Reach out to our recruitment business partner, jennifer.roberts@randstadsourceright.co.uk for the full job spec and a confidential discussion