Senior IT Director, Cyber - Security Engineering

Western Alliance Bank • Columbus, OH

1d • Onsite

About The Position

As a Senior IT Director, Cyber - Security Engineering, you’ll lead the delivery of Cyber technology solutions leveraging partnerships with other technology teams (e.g. Architecture, Infrastructure, Engineering, and Support), business teams and leaders, strategic partners, and third-party Cyber technology providers. Additionally, you'll collaborate with internal business partners to proactively address ongoing customer needs and ensure rapid resolution to open issues. In this role you will foster a collaborative environment with focus on continuous improvement and delivery of working Cyber software. As the Senior IT Director - Cyber you'll be accountable you'll be accountable for build and delivery of strategic planning of Cyber products and services as well as evaluate technology and set standards. This role will be accountable to recommend and implement improvements to established business processes while continuing to deliver high value in execution. You'll also be accountable to create comprehensive project plans as well as remove any impediments and track overall project performance, specifically to analyze the successful completion of business short-term and long-term goals. Broad accountability to delivery and support respective domain areas while partnering with the business and Finance, and influence WAB Culture. Implementation of Cyber safety procedures and data recovery plans. Partner with HR and Cyber Leadership's to build and implement a strategy for employee development, retention, resource allocation, talent management, performance management, and achieve a diverse and engaged workforce as well as recruit, train, and evaluate staff members work. Lead budget planning as well as manage budget(s), business cases, execution plans, and operating plans for their respective teams as well as build strategy of the resource plan to achieve established program priorities. Ensure the Cyber organization as well as the enterprise are proactively providing for risk management and cyber security processes and controls that are in alignment with the risk appetite for the Bank, as well as applicable regulatory and enterprise risk management expectations. Own and lead enterprise security engineering domains including Identity & Access Management (IAM), Network Security, Data Security, and Security Platform Engineering—driving architecture, tooling strategy, and control effectiveness aligned to business and regulatory requirements. Define and execute the security engineering roadmap across authentication, authorization, segmentation, data protection, and security tooling—ensuring scalability, automation, and measurable risk reduction. Build, mentor, and scale high-performing engineering teams, establishing standards for secure design, DevSecOps integration, and operational excellence (e.g., CI/CD security, infrastructure as code, and policy-as-code). Partner cross-functionally with IT, infrastructure, application teams, and GRC to embed security controls into enterprise platforms, ensure audit readiness, and support regulatory frameworks (FFIEC, GLBA, CRI). Drive continuous improvement through metrics and innovation—leveraging telemetry, threat insights, and engineering KPIs (coverage, MTTR, control efficacy) to optimize detection, prevention, and response capabilities.

Requirements

• 15+ years of related experience or similar field.
• Bachelor's degree in related field required.
• Previous leadership experience required.
• Advanced knowledge of applicable regulatory and legal compliance obligations, rules and regulations, industry standards and practices.
• Expert experience in managing highly skilled technology teams and being responsible for the execution KPIs and timelines.
• Expert builds and maintains external relationships in academia, industry bodies, fintech’s, and technology providers to drive continued digital innovation and identify potential acquisitions or partnerships to deliver new revenue or experience capabilities.
• Advanced speaking and writing communication skills.
• Occasional travel required.

Nice To Haves

• Advanced knowledge of general Financial Services or Banking is preferred.

Responsibilities

• Lead the delivery of Cyber technology solutions leveraging partnerships with other technology teams, business teams and leaders, strategic partners, and third-party Cyber technology providers.
• Collaborate with internal business partners to proactively address ongoing customer needs and ensure rapid resolution to open issues.
• Foster a collaborative environment with focus on continuous improvement and delivery of working Cyber software.
• Accountable for build and delivery of strategic planning of Cyber products and services as well as evaluate technology and set standards.
• Recommend and implement improvements to established business processes while continuing to deliver high value in execution.
• Create comprehensive project plans as well as remove any impediments and track overall project performance, specifically to analyze the successful completion of business short-term and long-term goals.
• Broad accountability to delivery and support respective domain areas while partnering with the business and Finance, and influence WAB Culture.
• Implementation of Cyber safety procedures and data recovery plans.
• Partner with HR and Cyber Leadership's to build and implement a strategy for employee development, retention, resource allocation, talent management, performance management, and achieve a diverse and engaged workforce as well as recruit, train, and evaluate staff members work.
• Lead budget planning as well as manage budget(s), business cases, execution plans, and operating plans for their respective teams as well as build strategy of the resource plan to achieve established program priorities.
• Ensure the Cyber organization as well as the enterprise are proactively providing for risk management and cyber security processes and controls that are in alignment with the risk appetite for the Bank, as well as applicable regulatory and enterprise risk management expectations.
• Own and lead enterprise security engineering domains including Identity & Access Management (IAM), Network Security, Data Security, and Security Platform Engineering—driving architecture, tooling strategy, and control effectiveness aligned to business and regulatory requirements.
• Define and execute the security engineering roadmap across authentication, authorization, segmentation, data protection, and security tooling—ensuring scalability, automation, and measurable risk reduction.
• Build, mentor, and scale high-performing engineering teams, establishing standards for secure design, DevSecOps integration, and operational excellence (e.g., CI/CD security, infrastructure as code, and policy-as-code).
• Partner cross-functionally with IT, infrastructure, application teams, and GRC to embed security controls into enterprise platforms, ensure audit readiness, and support regulatory frameworks (FFIEC, GLBA, CRI).
• Drive continuous improvement through metrics and innovation—leveraging telemetry, threat insights, and engineering KPIs (coverage, MTTR, control efficacy) to optimize detection, prevention, and response capabilities.

Benefits

• Competitive salaries
• Ownership stake in the company
• Medical and dental insurance
• Time off
• A great 401k matching program
• Tuition assistance program
• An employee volunteer program
• A wellness program
• Opportunity to bolster business knowledge, learning the ins and outs of how successful companies operate and manage their finances, giving you invaluable hands-on experience to help grow your career!

What This Job Offers

• Job Type: Full-time
• Career Level: Senior