Senior Director, Cybersecurity

ABOUT MASTERCARD FOUNDATION 

Mastercard Foundation seeks a world where everyone has the opportunity to learn and prosper. Through its Young Africa Works strategy and Canadian EleV program, the Foundation works with partners to ensure that millions of young people, especially young women, access quality education, financial services, and dignified work. Mastercard Foundation was established in 2006 through the generosity of Mastercard when it became a public company. The Foundation is independent with its own Board of Directors and CEO.

THE WORK AT THE FOUNDATION

We are currently in an exciting period at the Mastercard Foundation as we intensify the implementation of the Young Africa Works strategy, aiming to empower 30 million young people throughout Africa to access dignified and fulfilling employment. 

To ensure the Foundation’s accessibility to our partners and program participants, we have established offices in Rwanda, Kenya, Ghana, Senegal, Ethiopia, Nigeria, and Uganda. These offices provide strong in-country support for the implementation of Young Africa Works. We collaborate with governments, the private sector, educators, and other funders to enhance the quality of education and vocational training, equip young individuals with the necessary skills for the workforce, expand access to financial services for entrepreneurs and small businesses, and facilitate connections between job seekers and meaningful employment opportunities.

Our values serve as our guiding principles, transcending and surpassing all other considerations. We wholeheartedly encourage you to bring your bold ideas, curiosity, and expertise to your work. 

If you are an experienced cybersecurity professional looking to increase your impact, read on!

THE OPPORTUNITY 

Reporting to the Chief Digital & Information Officer, the Senior Director, Cybersecurity will be responsible for strategically leading and managing the Foundation’s Cybersecurity Sub-Function, including developing and implementing a strategic, long-term information security strategy and roadmap to ensure that the Foundation’s information assets are adequately protected. The role oversees the evaluation, selection, and implementation of information security solutions that are innovative, cost-effective, and minimally disruptive. S/he will lead a team of dedicated resources and the core managed service provider for outsourced functionality such as the Security Operations Centre (SOC).

The successful candidate will be based in Canada or any of our offices in Africa (Ethiopia, Nigeria, Senegal, Ghana, Rwanda, Kenya, or Uganda). 

WAYS YOU CAN CONTRIBUTE 

• Aligning with the organization’s overall objectives and risk appetite and Chair the Information Security Steering Committee (or governance/advisory committee).
• Ensure robust cybersecurity defenses across all parts of the organization.
• Staying ahead of potential cybersecurity threats and vulnerabilities, monitor the industry and external environment for emerging threats, and advise relevant stakeholders on appropriate courses of action such as ‘zero day’ vulnerabilities.
• Identifying, assessing, and mitigating cybersecurity risks to the organization.
• Ensuring the organization is prepared to respond effectively to cybersecurity incidents.
• Overseeing the investigation of security breaches: and working with relevant stakeholders to mitigate impacts.
• Overseeing the implementation of appropriate security measures.
• Identify, evaluate, and report on information security risks, practices, and cybersecurity-related projects to the Executive Committee and the Board of Directors, and provide subject matter expertise on security standards and best practices (e.g. FFIEC, Dodd-Frank, SOX, PCI-DSS, etc.).
• Ensuring cybersecurity considerations are integrated into strategic planning and decision-making processes and develop the ExCo and Board’s understanding of cybersecurity beyond a ‘compliance-only’ view.
• Influence systems and data security in decisions related to the overall Foundation data strategy including potential third-party data security risk and impact.
• Design and co-create opportunities with Programs to provide Cybersecurity education, training, and awareness for the Foundation Partners.

WHO YOU ARE

• Cybersecurity, or related experience in similar fields.  Some key areas include network, application, data, cloud and endpoint security, incident response and forensics, compliance and risk management, security governance and strategy, threat intelligence, and security operations.
• 15+ years of extensive experience in progressively senior roles within cybersecurity with a focus on global operations, strategy, and leadership.
• Extensive experience in managing cybersecurity programs across diverse geographic regions and business sectors, ensuring alignment with global regulatory requirements and industry standards.
• Demonstrated expertise in leading large-scale cybersecurity initiatives, including risk management, incident response, threat intelligence, security operations, and database warehouse environments.
• Strong background in developing and implementing cybersecurity governance frameworks, policies, and procedures to safeguard critical assets and data on a global scale.
• Proven track record of effectively leading teams, whether through direct leadership, indirect influence, or project management.
• Possesses diverse sector and geographic experience, contributing to a well-rounded perspective on cybersecurity challenges and solutions.
• Established ability to engage with executive leadership and Board members, translating technical concepts into strategic business insights.
• Additional exposure to philanthropic and development sectors, offering valuable insights into unique cybersecurity requirements within these domains is an asset.
• Possesses an expert level of IT and systems expertise coupled with a high degree of business acumen; translates business strategy and initiatives into technology solutions, while conversing in the language relevant to senior business leaders.
• Provides leading insights into the relationship between technology and business strategy.
• Understands how emerging technologies and service providers can be utilized to improve existing systems and/or increase operational efficiency.
• Can ‘connect the dots’ and successfully implement technical solutions across business line boundaries.
• Possesses technical versatility that allows her/him to quickly evaluate and exploit new technologies and avoid becoming locked into legacy systems.
• Demonstrates high comfort level with leading through transformational change and championing for continuous improvement.
• Possesses a high degree of integrity and forethought in her/his approach to making decisions and driving results; acts transparently and consistently, while always considering what is best for the Foundation.
• Demonstrates strong communication, presentation, and negotiation skills in complex environments with an aptitude for diplomacy.
• Creates a sense of purpose/meaning for the team, which generates followership beyond his/her personality and engages others in the greater purpose of the organization.
• Intellectually curious and flexible, comfortable with ambiguity, receptive to new ideas, and open to change, when presented with best options.
• Is an excellent collaborator and effective decision maker who interacts with all levels organizational-wide, and with external vendors.
• Flexible, adaptable, and able to execute a range of job duties in response to dynamic needs.
• Possess excellent verbal, written, and presentation skills with the ability to articulate information to a variety of constituents across cultures. 
• Demonstrate a commitment to the Mastercard Foundation’s values and vision.

Deadline for Applications is April 23, 2024.

Mastercard Foundation (the “Foundation”) values and respects your privacy. By submitting an application for this opportunity, you hereby agree to the Foundation’s collection, use and disclosure of your personal information in accordance with its Privacy Policy (available at https://mastercardfdn.org/privacy/). Please note that the Foundation may share your personal information with third-party agencies that support the Foundation’s recruitment activities, and such third-party agencies may contact you directly regarding this opportunity. If you have any questions or concerns, please contact the Foundation’s Privacy Officer at the address indicated in its Privacy Policy.

The Mastercard Foundation values the unique skills and experiences each individual brings to the organization and we are committed to creating and maintaining an inclusive and accessible environment for everyone.

Completion of satisfactory business references and background checks are essential conditions of employment.

For more information and to sign up for the Foundation’s newsletter, please visit http://www.mastercardfdn.org/
Follow the Foundation on Twitter at @MastercardFdn

NB: To avoid missing email communication about your application, please check your spam/junk folder and mark our emails as “not junk”.