VP, Enterprise Operations & Security - #2185240

Réalta is partnering with a global B2B SaaS and data analytics business, to appoint a VP of Enterprise Operations & Security.

This is a newly created role with substantial responsibility for security strategy, technology operations and the people leading those functions. It could suit a strong Senior Director ready to step into VP, with the opportunity to work closely with the CIO and build experience for broader executive leadership.

You’ll be joining a capable, established department. The teams work well together, have experienced people and welcome constructive challenge. We want someone who can build on that foundation: bring fresh thinking, encourage innovation and help the function adapt as technology, threats and business needs change.

The role has been created to give the CIO more capacity to spend time with enterprise customers. He wants someone who will take ownership, exercise their judgement and make decisions within their remit, keeping him informed and involving him where his input is needed.

The emphasis is roughly 60% security and 40% enterprise operations. Strong security strategy experience is particularly valuable, complementing a CIO with an operations background. The CIO retains the formal CISO mandate and board-facing security accountability.

You’ll lead teams across the UK, Canada and India, including round-the-clock operations. Most of your work will focus on improving the internal function, with some involvement in customer assurance and requests.

Your responsibilities will include:

• Shaping security strategy: assess the current approach, identify where it needs to evolve and guide the response to emerging threats, including those associated with AI.
• Owning security delivery: take responsibility for vulnerability management, incident response and the reduction of cyber and infrastructure risk, supported by established security specialists.
• Keeping services reliable: lead enterprise applications, cloud infrastructure and product operations, maintaining availability, resilience and readiness to recover when things go wrong.
• Improving cloud efficiency: own a substantial cloud and technology budget, working with product and architecture teams on ongoing changes to make platforms more efficient and sustainable.
• Developing the leadership team: mentor the managers reporting to you, support their development and give them the confidence and clarity to take greater responsibility.
• Making improvement part of everyday work: encourage useful experimentation, automation and better working practices, bringing the existing teams with you.
• Maintaining strong controls: oversee security assurance and audit commitments, including the standards enterprise customers expect from a trusted technology provider.

You should bring senior security leadership experience alongside a sound understanding of cloud operations, service performance and costs. You’ll have dealt with difficult incidents and competing priorities, and know how to make a considered decision when circumstances are changing.

We’re particularly interested in people who have delivered transformation within a mature organisation. You should be able to explain how you improved an established function, earned the team’s support and maintained standards while introducing change.

Your ability to influence will matter as much as your technical credibility. You’ll work closely with enterprise architects, security specialists, product leaders and the CTO. That means understanding shared responsibilities, navigating competing priorities and getting decisions made across teams you don’t directly manage.

Experience in regulated environments would be useful, particularly where you’ve introduced change while maintaining strong controls. Many of their customers operate in regulated sectors. Previous B2B SaaS experience isn’t essential.

You’ll also need to enjoy leading people. This team values honest discussion, good humour and colleagues who can challenge one another while maintaining strong relationships. Someone who listens, develops others and takes the work seriously without taking themselves too seriously will fit well here.

For a Senior Director considering their next move, the appeal is substantial: a first VP role, international responsibility, close exposure to the CIO and the opportunity to shape how a global technology business protects and runs its services.

The role requires 1–2 days a week in Leeds.

For a confidential conversation, contact Tom at Réalta.