Senior Manager/Manager - Tech Consulting - Cyber Defence Lead (SOC Operations) - Al Khobar

Senior Manager / Manager – Cyber Defence Lead (SOC Operations)

Location: Eastern Region, Kingdom of Saudi Arabia (KSA)

Service Line: Consulting – Cybersecurity

Rank: Manager / Senior Manager

Overview

As part of the Cybersecurity practice, this role will lead the Cyber Defence function for a mission-critical client in the Eastern Region of Saudi Arabia. The position is responsible for overseeing 24/7 Security Operations Centre (SOC) activities, ensuring advanced cyber defence capabilities, and maintaining compliance with regulatory frameworks in KSA while meeting contractual commitments.

Key Responsibilities

• Lead 24/7 SOC operations, ensuring continuous monitoring and incident response (eyes-on-glass model)
• Oversee and optimize cyber defence technologies such as SIEM, SOAR, TIP, EDR, and Vulnerability Management tools
• Drive incident detection, triage, response, and recovery activities
• Ensure compliance with KSA cybersecurity regulations including NCA and CST frameworks
• Establish and maintain SOC processes, playbooks, and automation strategies
• Monitor and report on SLAs, KPIs, and operational metrics to meet contractual obligations
• Lead client governance, reporting, and escalation management
• Manage and develop SOC teams operating across 24/7 shifts
• Drive continuous improvement including threat hunting, detection engineering, and use case optimization

Skills and Attributes for Success

• Strong leadership capability in high-pressure, mission-critical environments
• Deep expertise in SOC operations and cyber defence lifecycle
• Ability to communicate complex cybersecurity topics to executive stakeholders
• Experience delivering managed security services at scale
• Strong analytical mindset focused on risk reduction and operational excellence

To Qualify for the Role, You Must Have

• Bachelor’s degree in Cybersecurity, IT, or related field
• 5–8+ years (Manager) / 8–12+ years (Senior Manager) of cybersecurity experience
• Proven experience leading 24/7 SOC operations
• Hands-on experience with SIEM, SOAR, EDR, TIP, and Vulnerability Management platforms
• Strong knowledge of KSA cybersecurity frameworks (NCA, CST)
• Experience managing SLAs, KPIs, and client contracts

Ideally, You’ll Also Have

• Certifications such as CISSP, CISM, GCIA, GCIH, CEH, or vendor certifications
• Experience in threat intelligence, threat hunting, and automation
• Exposure to critical national infrastructure or high-security environments

What We Offer

• Opportunity to lead mission-critical cyber defence operations in KSA
• Exposure to national-level cybersecurity initiatives
• Collaborative environment with strong learning and career development opportunities
• Competitive compensation aligned with market standards