Network Security Manager

Overview

As a Network Security Manager, you will spearhead the design, deployment, operation, and ongoing enhancement of network security encompassing enterprise, data center, and cloud environments. Your responsibility is to ensure the network infrastructure is architected securely, segmented effectively, continuously monitored, and safeguarded against cyber threats while supporting uninterrupted access and performance of essential business systems.

Key Responsibilities

• Provide leadership and direction for the Network Security team, ensuring technical and operational excellence.
• Establish, implement, and maintain network security architecture, standards, configurations, and operational procedures.
• Oversee security technologies such as firewalls, Web Application Firewalls (WAF), Virtual Private Networks (VPN), Intrusion Detection/Prevention Systems (IDS/IPS), secure gateways, and network access controls for enterprise and data centers.
• Design and uphold network segmentation and security zones spanning data centers, cloud platforms, Kubernetes clusters, and enterprise networks.
• Review and manage firewall policies, security rules, NAT configurations, VPN connections, and network access requests.
• Ensure secure integration between on-premise infrastructure, cloud environments, partner organizations, and customers.
• Collaborate with teams in Network, Cloud, Infrastructure, Platform Engineering, Security Operations Center (SOC), Cybersecurity, and Architecture.
• Lead efforts for technical assessments and remediation related to network security vulnerabilities and misconfigurations.
• Support incident response engagements and perform forensic investigations on network security incidents.
• Implement security monitoring, logging, alert systems, and integrate these with SIEM and SOC platforms.
• Ensure all network security controls align with organizational policies and comply with relevant cybersecurity standards and regulations.
• Conduct regular audits of firewall configurations, privileged access, segmentation strategies, and security settings.
• Assess emerging network security technologies and propose architectural improvements.
• Handle vendor relationships including support contracts, licensing, capacity planning, and lifecycle management of security solutions.
• Define and communicate operational KPIs covering security posture, service availability, incident trends, vulnerability status, and remediation progress.
• Mentor and develop network security engineers, facilitating knowledge sharing and documentation practices.

Qualifications & Experience

• Bachelor’s degree in Cybersecurity, Computer Science, Information Technology, Network Engineering, or related fields.
• More than 7 years of practical experience in network and infrastructure security.
• At least 2 years in a managerial or technical leadership capacity.
• Proficient hands-on knowledge of enterprise firewalls, WAF, VPN, IDS/IPS, routing, switching, and network segmentation.
• Extensive practical experience with enterprise-grade network and application security tools such as Next-Generation Firewalls (NGFW), WAF, VPNs, IDS/IPS, and Application Delivery Controllers (ADC); strong preference for experience with F5 BIG-IP (LTM/ASM/Advanced WAF).
• Experience securing environments including data centers, cloud services, and container orchestration platforms like Kubernetes.
• Experience in managing environments demanding high availability and critical business continuity.
• Understanding of security concepts such as Zero Trust and defense-in-depth architecture.
• Knowledge of Saudi cybersecurity regulations, especially NCA controls, is highly valued.
• Skills or experience with automation technologies, APIs, Infrastructure as Code, or security/network automation are advantageous.

Preferred Certifications

• Preferred certifications include CISSP, CCNP Security, Fortinet NSE/FCP/FCSS, Palo Alto PCNSE, Check Point, or equivalent credentials.

Core Competencies

• Proven technical leadership capabilities.
• Expertise in security architecture and system design.
• Strong troubleshooting and root cause analysis skills.
• Competence in incident management.
• Ability to make decisions based on risk assessment.
• Effective stakeholder and vendor management.
• Strong documentation standards and operational rigor.
• Leadership and team development skills.