Head, IT Security

Unified Payment Services Limitedis a group of companies with services including Banking, Payment Scheme, Financial Technology, Digital Commerce, Value Added Service, Payment Solutions, Software Solutions, etc. Unified Payments is a principal member or licensed acquirer of American Express, Mastercard, Visa and UnionPay; and has been instrumental in building the infrastructure that supports Nigeria’s modern payments ecosystem. We are recruiting to fill the position below:

Job Title: Head, IT Security

Location: Lagos

Employment Type: Full-time Job Objective(s) The Head of IT Security will be responsible for leading the organization’s efforts to protect its information technology infrastructure, applications, and data. This role is crucial for the development, implementation, and maintenance of a comprehensive IT security strategy that ensures the integrity, confidentiality, and availability of the company’s IT systems. The Head of IT Security will also work to minimize risk and ensure compliance with industry standards, regulations, and best practices. Duties &

Responsibilities

Strategic Leadership: Develop and implement a robust IT security strategy aligned with the organization’s business goalsand objectives. Ensure the security of IT systems by monitoring evolving risks and establishing proactive defenses. Lead, manage, and mentor the IT security team to build a high-performing department. Risk Management: Identify, assess, and manage IT security risks and threats to the organization’s systems and data. Conduct regular security assessments, audits, and penetration testing to identify vulnerabilities. Recommend, implement, and monitor risk mitigation strategies and plans. Security Governance and Compliance: Develop and enforce IT security policies, procedures, and standards. Ensure compliance with relevant security regulations and frameworks (e.g., GDPR, HIPAA, ISO 27001,NIST). Oversee and manage security audits, assessments, and certifications as required. Incident Response & Recovery: Develop and manage a robust incident response plan to address and recover from IT security breaches or threats. Coordinate response efforts in the event of a security breach, including forensic investigation and rootcause analysis. Ensure business continuity planning and disaster recovery procedures are in place and regularlytested. Security Infrastructure Management: Oversee the implementation and management of security tools and technologies (e.g., firewalls,intrusion detection systems, endpoint protection, encryption tools). Manage vulnerability management processes, including patch management and system hardening. Collaborate with other IT teams to ensure secure system architecture, network infrastructure, andapplication development processes. Training & Awareness: Lead initiatives to promote security awareness across the organization by providing training to staff onbest practices for IT security. Regularly conduct workshops, seminars, and awareness campaigns to keep employees updated onemerging threats. Reporting & Analysis: Provide regular security status reports and updates to senior management and relevant stakeholders. Present analysis on security incidents, metrics, and trends to inform decision-making. Vendor Management: Manage relationships with external vendors, service providers, and consultants related to IT security solutions. Ensure third-party vendors comply with security standards and practices.