we are looking for an experienced, hands-on Chief Information Security Officer to build and lead our security strategy from the ground up. As a fast-growing mature privately held startup, we need a security leader who can balance strategic vision with roll-up-your-sleeves execution. This role is ideal for someone who thrives in dynamic environments and excels at owning and driving Information Security end to end. The CISO will report to the companys COO.
Key Responsibilities 
Oversee our companys end-to-end information security program, ensuring the protection of data, systems, applications, and employees.
Build, lead, and scale a high-performing security team of 5+ professionals.
Develop and implement a comprehensive security strategy aligned with business goals, industry best practices, and regulatory requirements.
Define and monitor company wide security policies, standards, governance frameworks, and technical controls (e.g., firewalls, IDS/IPS, endpoint security).
Lead Governance, Risk, and Compliance (GRC), including risk assessments, vulnerability management, incident response, and maintenance of the organizational risk register.
Drive proactive security monitoring and threat management, including insider threats, phishing, social engineering, credential theft, and emerging risks.
Conduct regular security assessments and partner with business units to identify, prioritize, and remediate vulnerabilities.
Ensure readiness for internal and external audits; manage the audit process with agencies, auditors, customers, and stakeholders.
Select, implement, and manage security technologies, tools, vendors, and processes supporting the organizations security objectives.
Closely collaborate with the IT team, who will be responsible for executing the security policies.
Collaborate with DevOps and engineering teams to strengthen security posture and embed secure-SDLC practices.
Provide executive-level communication and reporting to leadership and the board regarding cybersecurity risks, investments, and priorities.
Develop and deliver organization-wide security awareness and training programs.
Manage the security budget and resources efficiently.

This position should take ownership of the following key responsibilities:
Policy & Governance Management
Maintain and update the full security policy library (ISO 27001, SOC 2, GDPR, etc.).
Ensure version control, approval workflows, and cross-departmental adoption.
Lead annual policy reviews and align with new business or regulatory needs.
Security Risk Management
Own the corporate Risk Register (e.g., in Monday.com) and drive risk assessments across domains.
Track mitigation progress and report key risks to leadership.
Compliance & Certification Programs
Manage and maintain compliance frameworks (ISO 27001, GDPR, customer-driven requirements).
Prepare evidence and documentation for internal and external audits.
Vendor & Third-Party Risk Management
Oversee the Vendor Security Review process - reviewing new suppliers, SaaS tools, and renewals.
Monitor vendor security posture via SecurityScorecard or similar tools.
Ensure data processing agreements (DPAs) are aligned with legal.
Customer & Partner Assurance
Manage all RFI / RFP / security questionnaire responses.
Provide standardized documentation (e.g., SOC 2 reports, penetration testing summaries).
Support Sales / Customer Success during security discussions.
Security Process Governance
Define and enforce structured approval workflows for new tools, tokens, and architecture changes.
Integrate approvals into Jira or ServiceNow for traceability.
Collaborate with IT / AppSec / Legal for end-to-end governance.
Awareness & Training
Drive company-wide security awareness campaigns.
Onboard new hires with security and compliance training.
Ensure developers and business teams understand their compliance obligations.
Metrics & Reporting
Define KPIs for compliance maturity, audit readiness, and risk reduction.
Deliver quarterly GRC posture updates to the CISO / Security Steering Committee.