Head of Cybersecurity & Chief Information Security Officer (CISO) (Hybrid)

Securian Financial • Saint Paul, MN

4d • $225,000 - $295,000 • Hybrid

About The Position

Securian Financial is seeking an accomplished cybersecurity and technology executive to lead its enterprise Cybersecurity organization as Head of Cybersecurity and Chief Information Security Officer (CISO). The role combines deep cybersecurity expertise with business judgment, technology fluency, executive influence, and the ability to translate external threats into enterprise priorities and risk-informed decisions. It extends beyond security operations, control ownership, and compliance to shaping the broader technology agenda, strengthening data protection and resilience, enabling responsible AI adoption, and embedding security and trust into technology design and delivery.

The CISO contributes to company and Enterprise Technology strategy, advises senior leaders, and balances customer, business, technology, financial, regulatory, and reputational considerations. The role partners across technology, data, AI, risk, legal, compliance, audit, and other functions to focus resources on actual enterprise risks, support modernization and innovation, and strengthen cybersecurity and technology resilience.

As an officer-level position, the CISO is a member of Securian’s senior Enterprise Technology leadership team and reports to the Chief Information Officer. The position uses a hybrid work arrangement. Associates living within a 90-minute commute of the St. Paul, Minnesota Home Office work in the office three or more days each week.

The estimated base pay range is $225,000–$295,000. The position is also eligible for annual and long-term incentive programs. Securian offers paid time off, leave programs, paid holidays, retirement plans, health coverage, volunteer opportunities, and associate resource groups.

Requirements

• Significant senior leadership experience in cybersecurity, technology risk, security architecture, engineering, or adjacent enterprise technology disciplines.
• Demonstrated success leading meaningful cybersecurity or technology transformation, beyond operating an established security program.
• Deep cybersecurity expertise combined with strong technology, architecture, data, and AI fluency.
• Strong understanding of enterprise risk, regulatory requirements, risk appetite, and cybersecurity’s role in a complex business environment.
• Demonstrated ability to influence technology strategy, architecture, cloud, data, AI, engineering, and modernization decisions.
• Experience in a regulated environment and credibility with Risk, Legal, Compliance, Audit, and regulatory stakeholders.
• Experience advising executive leadership and presenting material cybersecurity, technology, or enterprise risk matters to Boards or Board committees.
• Demonstrated crisis leadership and understanding of cybersecurity response and recovery, technology resilience, business continuity, and third-party dependencies.
• Proven ability to build strong leadership teams, develop succession, and create durable organizational capability.

Nice To Haves

• Senior cybersecurity or technology leadership experience within financial services, insurance, or another highly regulated industry.
• Experience leading cybersecurity within a large, complex technology environment undergoing significant modernization or transformation.
• Experience enabling enterprise adoption of AI, cloud, modern engineering practices, and emerging technologies while managing associated cybersecurity and data risks.
• Experience as a CISO, Deputy CISO, divisional CISO, Security CTO, or similarly broad senior cybersecurity or technology executive.

Responsibilities

• Lead the enterprise Cybersecurity organization and contribute broadly to Enterprise Technology and company strategy.
• Develop and continuously evolve cybersecurity strategy in alignment with enterprise, technology, data, and AI priorities.
• Advise senior business and technology leaders on how to pursue opportunities responsibly, balancing risk and business objectives.
• Translate emerging cybersecurity threats, industry developments, and technology trends into implications and actions for Securian.
• Establish a focused, risk-informed cybersecurity strategy and operating model that protects the company while enabling appropriate business speed.
• Strengthen understanding and protection of sensitive and critical data, including its location, movement, access, and use.
• Differentiate cybersecurity resources, controls, and investments according to enterprise risk, reducing unnecessary friction and focusing on areas of greatest exposure.
• Partner with Risk, Legal, Compliance, and Audit to meet regulatory requirements while distinguishing regulatory obligations from organizational preferences and risk appetite.
• Set cybersecurity priorities and investment discussions with senior leaders, surfacing material risks early and addressing them transparently.
• Partner with architecture, engineering, data, AI, infrastructure, reliability, and technology operations to embed secure-by-design, resilient-by-design, and trustworthy-by-design practices into technology delivery.
• Provide cybersecurity leadership for the evolving AI environment, including enterprise models, agents, machine identities, privileged access, sensitive data, AI application security, software supply-chain risk, and AI-enabled threats.
• Strengthen cyber and technology resilience by integrating cybersecurity with technology operations, reliability engineering, architecture, business continuity, crisis management, and third-party risk.
• Communicate cybersecurity and technology risks clearly to senior executives, the Board, regulators, and other stakeholders.
• Build productive relationships with external industry peers, regulators, and cybersecurity communities.
• Represent Securian during significant cybersecurity events, regulatory interactions, and other high-visibility situations.
• Build strong leadership teams, develop succession, and create durable organizational capability.

Benefits

• Flexible paid time off, with additional PTO based on length of service.
• Flexible leave programs, including parental, caregiver, bereavement, and military leave.
• Nine company-paid holidays.
• Company-funded pension plan.
• 401(k) retirement plan with a company contribution tied to company performance, up to 10 percent of eligible earnings, with a 5 percent target.
• Medical, dental, and vision coverage for associates and eligible family members from the first day of employment.
• Volunteer paid time off, company-sponsored volunteer events, and a dollar-for-dollar matching gift program.
• Associate Resource Groups.
• Eligibility for an annual incentive program and a long-term incentive program.

What This Job Offers

• Job Type: Full-time
• Career Level: Executive
• Education Level: No Education Listed