Senior Director of Cybersecurity Operations

About the Role

Miral is dedicated to crafting world-class destinations and immersive experiences that captivate millions every year. As we enhance our technological environment, cybersecurity plays a vital role in guaranteeing secure, resilient, and smooth user experiences. We are looking for a seasoned Senior Director of Cybersecurity Operations to spearhead our security operations and safeguard our expansive, complex enterprise environment.

Key Responsibilities

  • Develop and implement Miral’s cybersecurity technical operations strategy aligned with standards such as NIST CSF 2.0, ISO 27001, UAE Information Assurance Standards, and ADHICS.
  • Manage the deployment and operation of network and infrastructure security tools including firewalls, segmentation, NAC, VPN, IDS/IPS, gateways, and DDoS protection.
  • Direct a 24/7 Security Operations Center (SOC) focusing on threat detection, monitoring, incident response, and continuous improvement using technologies like SIEM, EDR/XDR, and SOAR.
  • Oversee identity and privileged access management, application security integration within SDLC, including secure code review, SAST/DAST, API security, and DevSecOps practices.
  • Lead vulnerability management, patching, and configuration control processes to ensure compliance and minimize exposure.
  • Manage cyber incident response processes, including preparation, detection, containment, eradication, recovery, and post-incident analysis.
  • Ensure operational effectiveness of security controls and compliance through audit readiness, KPI and risk reporting.
  • Lead and develop a multidisciplinary team in network security, SOC, and identity access functions, promoting security awareness and continuous improvement.
  • Support budget development, vendor management, and continuous enhancement of security posture while adhering to procurement policies.

Required Qualifications and Experience

  • Bachelor's degree in Computer Science, Information Technology, Cybersecurity, or related field.
  • Professional certifications such as CISSP or CISM; Master's level certifications like CCSP, GIAC, CEH, OSCP, and vendor credentials (Cisco, Fortinet, Palo Alto) highly desirable.
  • Over 10 years in IT security engineering and operations.
  • At least 5 years managing IT Security Operations teams.

Core Skills

  • Expertise in network and infrastructure security technologies (firewalls, segmentation, NAC, VPN, IDS/IPS).
  • Proficient in SOC operations, SIEM, EDR/XDR, SOAR, threat detection and cyber incident response.
  • Strong knowledge of multiple security frameworks including NIST CSF, ISO 27001, UAE Information Assurance, and ADHICS.
  • Experience managing Privileged Access Management, cloud security (Azure, AWS), and application/DevSecOps security.
  • Understanding of OT/IoT security relevant to hospitality, leisure, or large-scale operational contexts.

Why Choose Miral?

Join Miral to be part of groundbreaking projects shaping the leisure, entertainment, and destination sectors in the UAE. Collaborate with industry experts, influence technology strategies, and grow within a culture emphasizing innovation, excellence, and ongoing development.

Responsibilities

  • Translate cybersecurity strategy into actionable technical security operations aligned with NIST CSF 2.0, ISO 27001, UAE standards
  • Oversee network and infrastructure security controls including firewalls, segmentation, NAC, VPN, IDS/IPS, gateways, and DDoS protection
  • Lead 24x7 Security Operations Center (SOC) managing threat detection, triage, and incident response using SIEM, EDR/XDR, SOAR
  • Manage identity, privileged access, and application security across SDLC and DevSecOps practices
  • Drive vulnerability, patch, and configuration management lifecycle across all environments
  • Direct cyber incident response activities: preparation, detection, containment, eradication, recovery, and reviews
  • Ensure compliance, audit readiness, and report security KPIs and risks to leadership
  • Lead and develop multidisciplinary cybersecurity teams and nurture a culture of security awareness
  • Manage cybersecurity operations budget, vendors, and continuously improve security posture

Requirements

  • Bachelor's in Computer Science, IT, Cybersecurity or similar field
  • Certified CISSP or CISM; advanced certifications such as CCSP, GIAC, CEH, OSCP, or vendor-specific credentials preferred
  • Minimum of 10 years in IT Security engineering and operations
  • At least 5 years experience managing IT Operations-Security functions
  • Expertise in network/infrastructure security and SOC operations tools and processes
  • Strong familiarity with cybersecurity frameworks: NIST CSF, ISO 27001, UAE standards, ADHICS
  • Experience with Privileged Access Management, cloud security (Azure/AWS), and DevSecOps security practices
  • Knowledge of OT/IoT security in hospitality or large-scale operational environments
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