Costco

Director - Office of the CISO

Costco$160K — $230K *
Information Technology
8 - 10 years of experience
Job Overview by Ladders

Qualifications

  • 10+ years of experience in cybersecurity, tech strategy, or management consulting.
  • 5+ years experience supporting senior executives in a regulated environment.
  • 5+ years leading teams and aligning priorities across multiple groups.
  • Experience in creating actionable strategic roadmaps for measurable delivery.
  • Familiarity with NIST, ISO 27001, and similar security maturity programs.
  • Strategic proficiency in applying AI to cybersecurity processes.
  • Proficient in data visualization and statistical modeling techniques.

Responsibilities

  • Operationalizes cybersecurity strategy by converting objectives into execution plans.
  • Drives security maturity programs and translates insights into actions.
  • Develops enterprise cybersecurity roadmaps for clarity and alignment.
  • Partners with Finance for budgeting and resource optimization while identifying risks and opportunities.
  • Establishes metrics and visualization for decision-making and program performance clarity.
  • Champions agile planning and structured execution at scale.
  • Elevates AI fluency and guides teams in responsible AI adoption.

Benefits

  • Comprehensive health benefits including medical, dental, and vision.
  • Health care reimbursement and dependent care assistance plans.
  • Short-term and long-term disability insurance.
  • AD&D and life insurance coverage.
  • 401(k) retirement plan options.
  • Eligible for stock purchase plan and employee assistance services.
Full Job Description
As a member of the IT Management Team, you are responsible for managing, developing, and leading a team of employees. Your role includes leading the specific functional responsibilities of your team, which involves overseeing team performance and deliverables. However, your role as a leader within our organization requires more than the management of resources and day-to-day operations. As a steward of the company, you are charged with the development and execution of your team's strategic vision and plan and ensuring that your team's actions align with the larger goals of the company and the IT Division.

Costco Wholesale is undergoing significant global expansion, and we are intentionally shaping our security capabilities to support sustained, scalable, and profitable growth. As a key leader in the Office of the CISO, you will play a central role in operationalizing our cybersecurity strategy and ensuring it directly enables business outcomes. You will translate high-level strategic objectives into clear, actionable delivery plans-turning maturity assessments, program insights, and organizational priorities into consumable, reportable roadmaps that guide execution across the enterprise.

The Director will partner closely with Finance to support budgeting, investment planning, and resource optimization, ensuring we identify not only risks but high-value opportunities that strengthen our security posture and accelerate business growth. This role is critical to driving disciplined governance, structured execution, and a culture of accountability. You will lead the maturation of our metrics and data-visualization capabilities, ensuring we have the clarity and insight needed to make informed, data-driven decisions at scale. You will also help champion agile planning and delivery practices across the organization, enabling teams to move with greater speed, alignment, and adaptability.

As AI continues to reshape the cybersecurity landscape, you will be a driving force in elevating AI fluency across the organization-helping teams understand how to responsibly leverage AI, where it can unlock operational advantage, and how to navigate the associated risks. In this role, you will serve as an extension of the CISO's leadership, helping ensure our strategy is executed with precision, transparency, and a forward-looking mindset that positions Costco's Information Security and Compliance organization for long-term success.

As the primary conduit between your employees and senior leadership, your role in communicating and modeling the values and guiding principles of our company culture is of vital importance. All members of IT Management should strive to consciously and consistently foster a culture of engagement, trust, and "open door" communication.

ROLE
  • INTEGRITY: When achieving benchmarks and goals, use methods/strategies that are consistent with the Code of Ethics and the Standard of Ethics for Directors. Always leads by example. Appropriately handles employee concerns and follows through to resolution.
  • MEMBER SERVICE: Provides and ensures staff provides an exceptional member experience.
  • ADMINISTRATION: Ensures proper department coverage (writing schedule and break aids if needed). Understands department budget, able to research and explain budget variances.
  • MANAGING PERFORMANCE: Coaches and mentors' employees to provide support and guidance. Has regular open and honest conversations with employees to discuss work performance and career development. Identifies learning opportunities to strengthen employee knowledge, skill, and ability.
  • COMMUNICATION: Regularly shares information with employees via meetings and one-on-one conversations. Successfully navigates difficult conversations with employees, members, and suppliers. Listens, expresses empathy, and adapts to get points across. Addresses issues immediately to ensure a timely resolution and to avoid escalating the situation. Consistently demonstrates business knowledge during interactions with senior management.
  • SELF-MANAGEMENT: Demonstrates sound judgement, taking a partner when necessary. Ability to maintain self-control in the face of hostility or provocation or in intense, hectic situations.
  • INCLUSION: Encourages different approaches and ideas to work and to accomplish goals. Seeks employee input. Takes the time to get to know or reach out to candidates who show potential that may not come forward on their own.
  • COMPLIANCE AND SAFETY: Takes measures to ensure employee and member information is kept confidential and adheres to IS security policy.
  • Operationalizes the cybersecurity strategy by translating high-level objectives into delivery plans that guide execution across the global security organization.
  • Drives the execution of security maturity programs (eg: NIST assessments and capability evaluations) ensuring insights are translated into prioritized actions.
  • Develops and maintains enterprise cybersecurity roadmaps informed by maturity assessments, program insights, and business priorities resulting in clarity, alignment, and transparency for senior leadership.
  • Partners closely with Finance to drive budgeting, investment planning, and resource optimization, identifying both risks and opportunities that strengthen Costco's security posture and support business growth.
  • Leads the evolution of outcome driven metrics, KPIs, and data-visualization capabilities to enable informed, data-driven decision-making and provide clear visibility into program performance, risk, and progress.
  • Drives disciplined governance and structured execution while championing agile planning and delivery practices at scale, ensuring consistent operating rhythms, clear accountability, and cross-functional alignment.
  • Elevates AI fluency across the organization, guiding teams on responsible AI adoption, identifying opportunities for AI-enabled operational advantage, and helping navigate associated risks.
  • This is a full-time management/leadership position (45+ hours per week).

REQUIRED
  • 10+ years of experience in cybersecurity, technology strategy, management consulting, or related fields.
  • 5+ years supporting senior executives within a global and highly regulated organization.
  • 5+ years of experience leading teams, setting clear priorities, and driving alignment across multiple groups while navigating ambiguity and providing clarity in fast-moving, evolving environments.
  • Experience developing and executing strategic roadmaps, with the ability to decompose initiatives into actionable, agile-enabled epics, features, and work items that drive measurable delivery.
  • Experience leading or supporting security maturity programs, including NIST, ISO 27001, CIS Controls, or similar frameworks.
  • Strategic proficiency in applying AI to cybersecurity, identifying high-impact use cases and guiding responsible adoption across many teams.
  • Proficiency with data-visualization tools and foundational statistical modeling techniques.
  • Exceptional verbal and written communication skills, with the ability to deliver clear, compelling presentations, speak confidently to all levels of the organization, and influence stakeholders' actions.
  • HIPPA Training and Supervisors Orientation (within 30 days of hire); Leadership Development 101 (within one year); Costco Pay Policies (within 90 days of promotion).
Recommended
  • Certified Information Systems Security Professional (CISSP), Certified Information Security Manager (CISM), and/or other relevant Security or AI focused certifications or equivalent experience.
  • Experience in retail, marketing, supply chain, e-commerce industries.
  • Proficient in Google Workspace applications, including Sheets, Docs, Slides, and Gmail.

Required Documents
• Cover Letter
• Resume

Pay Range: - $160,000 - $230,000, Bonus and Restricted Stock Unit (RSU) eligible

We offer a comprehensive package of benefits including paid time off, health benefits - medical/dental/vision/hearing aid/pharmacy/behavioral health/employee assistance, health care reimbursement account, dependent care assistance plan, short-term disability and long-term disability insurance, AD&D insurance, life insurance, 401(k), stock purchase plan to eligible employees.

About Costco

Costco is a membership warehouse club, dedicated to bringing their members the best possible prices on quality brand-name merchandise. With hundreds of locations worldwide, Costco provides a wide selection of merchandise, plus the convenience of specialty departments and exclusive member services, all designed to make your shopping experience a pleasurable one. The company's first location, opened in 1976 under the Price Club name, was in a converted airplane hangar on Morena Boulevard in San Diego. Originally serving only small businesses, the company found it could achieve far greater buying clout by also serving a selected audience of non-business members. With that change, the growth of the warehouse club industry was off and running. In 1983, the first Costco warehouse location was opened in Seattle. Costco became the first company ever to grow from zero to $3 billion in sales in less than six years. When Costco and Price Club merged in 1993, the combined company, operating under the name PriceCostco, had 206 locations generating $16 billion in annual sales.

Costco Careers

Joining the Costco team presents a unique opportunity to be part of one of the largest wholesale membership warehouses in the world. At Costco, we are committed to providing our employees with a path to career growth and a dynamic workplace culture that values innovation, leadership, and diversity.

Work You'll Do

Embark on a professional journey with Costco and play a pivotal role in our mission to continually enhance the Costco shopping experience. You'll find yourself working in a high-energy environment where your skills will be honed and your abilities pushed to new heights.

Explore Job Opportunities

Costco offers a variety of job opportunities that cater to a range of skills and interests, from in-warehouse positions to corporate roles. Each position at Costco is designed to help you build a solid professional foundation, with ample room for growth and advancement.

Internship Programs

Kickstart your career with a Costco internship. Our internships provide invaluable workplace experience and a chance to see what it truly means to be part of a team that prioritizes quality and community. Interns at Costco gain hands-on experience that is not only rewarding but also integral to their professional development.

Professional Growth and Development

Costco is deeply invested in the professional growth of our employees. We offer robust training programs, leadership workshops, and opportunities for advancement. Our commitment to career growth ensures that our team members are always equipped to take on new challenges.

Benefits and Culture

The benefits at Costco go beyond the basics. We offer a competitive benefits package that includes health, vision, dental, and life insurance, as well as a 401(k) plan with a generous company match. More importantly, our company culture is built on a foundation of respect, integrity, and dedication to diversity and innovation.

Join Our Team

If you're looking for a career that offers job security, excellent benefits, and an opportunity to grow both personally and professionally, consider joining the Costco team. Explore our open positions, tailor your resume, and prepare for an interview where you can showcase your unique skills and passion for excellence.

Stay Connected

Keep up to date with all things related to Costco careers by joining our network. Follow us on our careers page, connect with us on professional networking sites, and stay informed about upcoming hiring events and career opportunities.

Apply Now

Ready to take the next step in your career? Search for open positions that match your skills and interests on our jobs page. At Costco, we are always looking for passionate, curious, and solution-driven team players who are ready to make a difference.

Costco Jobs – Where Careers Soar

At Costco, we don’t just offer jobs; we offer career paths. The vast opportunities for growth, coupled with our exceptional culture and benefits, make Costco not just a place to work, but a place to build a lasting career.
Learn more about Costco
Size
288,000 employees
Market Cap
$201.7 billion
Industry
Net Income
$4.3 billion
Founded
1983
5 Year Trend
+12%
Revenue
$178.6 billion
NASDAQ

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