VP, Technical IAM Programs

Synchrony•Lyons, IL

3d•Hybrid

About The Position

Role Summary/Purpose: We are seeking an innovative and results-driven leader to serve as VP, Technical IAM Programs, responsible for driving key technical initiatives within our Identity and Access Management (IAM) portfolio. This pivotal role combines strategic vision with technical execution to enhance security controls, develop automation-driven solutions, and optimize IAM technology stacks for stronger compliance and overall security posture. The ideal candidate will possess deep technical expertise and hands-on experience managing large-scale IAM programs, working closely with senior technical leaders and stakeholders across Information Security. As a strategic leader, you will guide teams, enable cross-functional collaboration, and align IAM programs with organizational objectives, particularly in critical areas such as Secrets Management, IAM Security Monitoring, and Compliance Assurance & Governance. You will blend technology insight with program management discipline to ensure success in execution and delivery. Key Qualities: A technical leader with exceptional communication skills, capable of creating actionable roadmaps, navigating complexity, and driving cross-functional partnerships. This role requires a proactive, self-starter mindset with experience in managing large-scale, complex IAM programs and strategic engagements. Our Way of Working We’re proud to offer you choice and flexibility. At Synchrony, our way of working allows you to have the option to work from home, near one of our Hubs or come into one of our offices. Occasionally you may be required to commute to our nearest office for in person engagement activities such as business or team meetings, training and culture events.

Requirements

Education: BS/BA in Computer Science, Information Technology, Cybersecurity, or equivalent, plus 8+ years IT experience, OR High School Diploma/GED with 10+ years IT experience demonstrating progressive responsibility.
Experience: Minimum 5 years leading engineering teams delivering technology solutions in medium to large enterprises.
Minimum 5 years’ experience in Identity and Access Management (IAM) or closely related functions such as Security Engineering, Cyber Intelligence, Vulnerability Management.
At least 2 years working with Agile methodologies in roles such as Product Owner, Scrum Master, or Technical Lead.
Minimum 2 years of people management experience, leading teams of 2+ engineers or contractors.
Technical Expertise: Proven experience with Secrets Management technologies: secret scanning, vaulting tools (CyberArk/Delinea, HashiCorp Vault, BigID).
Strong understanding of IAM directory services, such as Active Directory, LDAP, or similar.
Hands-on experience with Splunk Cloud and Splunk Enterprise Security for monitoring and analytics.
Skills: Exceptional written and verbal communication skills for effective cross-team collaboration and executive reporting.
Strategic thinker able to develop and articulate long-term program visions and actionable roadmaps.
Strong organizational and prioritization skills, capable of managing multiple concurrent projects in complex environments.
Proactive problem solver with the ability to navigate ambiguity and escalate appropriately.
You must be 18 years or older
You must have a high school diploma or equivalent
You must be willing to take a drug test, submit to a background investigation and submit fingerprints as part of the onboarding process
You must be able to satisfy the requirements of Section 19 of the Federal Deposit Insurance Act.
New hires (Level 4-7) must have 9 months of continuous service with the company before they are eligible to post on other roles. Once this new hire time in position requirement is met, the associate will have a minimum 6 months’ time in position before they can post for future non-exempt roles. Employees, level 8 or greater, must have at least 18 months’ time in position before they can post.
All internal employees must consistently meet performance expectations and have approval from your manager to post (or the approval of your manager and HR if you don’t meet the time in position or performance expectations).
Legal authorization to work in the U.S. is required. We will not sponsor individuals for employment visas, now or in the future, for this job opening.

Nice To Haves

Proven experience leading large-scale IAM initiatives, including program design, execution, and cross-functional collaboration in complex technical environments.
Exceptional communication and organizational skills, with a track record of creating and executing long-term strategic roadmaps.
Strong ability to manage risk and complexity, navigate roadblocks, and drive corrective actions effectively.
Demonstrated ability to lead, mentor, and manage teams while building partnerships across business units and fostering alignment to organizational goals.
Experience working in highly regulated industries (Finance, Healthcare, Government).
Familiarity with compliance standards such as SOX, GDPR, HIPAA, or NIST cybersecurity frameworks.
Certifications such as CISSP, CISM, PMP, or relevant IAM-focused certifications.

Responsibilities

Lead Technical IAM Programs: Provide leadership across IAM domains, including Secrets Management (e.g., CyberArk, HashiCorp Vault), IAM Security Monitoring, and Compliance Assurance, ensuring seamless execution and security enhancement.
Create and Maintain Strategic Roadmaps: Develop and execute multi-year roadmaps to drive innovation, strengthen security posture, meet regulatory requirements, and streamline IAM operations.
Stakeholder Engagement: Build and nurture strong relationships across Security Operations, Technology Teams, Governance, Operational Risk, and Internal Audit, ensuring program alignment and audit readiness.
Risk and Progress Management: Identify, assess, and mitigate technical and organizational risks while regularly reporting blockers, corrective actions, and program milestones to executive leadership.
Solution Design & Automation: Lead and contribute to designing technical solutions for complex automation use cases, driving operational efficiency and scalability.
Program Integrity: Ensure standards, policies, and procedures are accurately documented and officially maintained for audit and compliance requirements.
Performance Tracking: Define, implement, and monitor Key Risk Indicators (KRIs) and Key Performance Indicators (KPIs) to measure program maturity and overall effectiveness.
Problem Resolution: Independently resolve technical challenges while escalating issues with clarity when necessary.
Perform other critical duties or special projects as assigned.

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