CVS Health

Exec Director, Cyber Defense Operations

CVS Health$175K — $334K *
US-AnywhereRemote in Hartford, CT
Information Technology
11 - 15 years of experience
Job Overview by Ladders

Qualifications

  • 15+ years of experience in cybersecurity, including 8 years in leadership roles.
  • Proven track record in developing and executing long-term strategic visions for security operations.
  • Familiarity with automation and orchestration, particularly SOAR, for SOC efficiency.
  • Experience applying AI/ML for anomaly detection and predictive security.
  • Expertise in managing globally distributed 24/7 security operations teams.
  • Strong understanding of security frameworks and risk management practices.
  • Excellent leadership, communication, and project management skills.

Responsibilities

  • Develop and execute an enterprise-wide detection and response program.
  • Own and maintain the Detection and Response Maturity Model and strategy.
  • Lead a team of detection engineers, threat hunters, and incident response professionals.
  • Strategize with senior leaders to advocate for necessary telemetry and architectural changes.
  • Act as Incident Commander during major security incidents.
  • Create innovative detection content based on established cybersecurity frameworks.
  • Monitor patterns and anticipate future challenges to provide proactive solutions.
  • Ensure tracking of OKRs, KPIs, and KRIs for operational improvement.

Benefits

  • Comprehensive medical, dental, and vision coverage.
  • Paid time off for work-life balance.
  • Retirement savings options to support financial well-being.
  • Wellness programs and resources for physical and emotional health.
Full Job Description

Job Description:

The Executive Director ofDefenseOperations, within the Cyber Defense organization, is responsible for defining and executing a multiyear, enterprisewide strategy forthe Security OperationsCenter andthe Computer Security Incident Response Team functions.

This role provides executive leadership for 24x7 security operations capability, ensuring rapid identification, containment, and remediation of cyber threats while continuously advancing the maturity, scalability, and effectiveness of detection and response programs.This role necessitates ability to rapidly triage and categorizeremediation efforts, effective disseminationof tasksto pertinent business and technologyunits, andis a reliable source of understanding the scope and implication (business and/or compliance) of unfolding events.

This leader sets the longterm vision and operating model for security operations, integrating threat intelligence, threat hunting, automation, orchestration, and advanced analytics to improve outcomes at enterprise scale, while driving pertinent alignment and relationships with colleague executives in the business lines within CVS.

The Executive Director drives the adoption ofleveraged agentic,autonomous and automation capabilities to enhance anomaly detection, threat modeling,remediation triageand predictive response. Partnering closely with business, technology, legal, compliance, and executive stakeholders, this role ensures security operations align with business objectives, regulatory requirements, and evolving threat landscapes. In addition, the Executive Directormentorssenior leaders, develops highperforming global teams, and delivers executivelevel insights, metrics, and strategic guidance that strengthen organizational resilience.

Responsibilities:

Leadership & Strategy
  • Develop, maintainand execute the enterprise-widedetection and responseprogram aligned withCyber Defense, largerbusiness objectives,and regulatory requirements.
  • Develop, own and maintain the enterpriseDetection and Response Maturity Model, Strategy,Roadmap andOperatingModel.
  • Lead and mentor a team ofTriage, Detection Engineers, Threat Hunters, and IncidentResponse professionals, fostering a culture of continuous improvement and operational excellence.
  • Strategize with senior leaders across Product, Engineering, and Security. You are a key stakeholder in the company's direction, advocating for the telemetry and architectural changes required to support future detection use cases.
OperationalManagement
  • Serve as theIncident Commander formajor security incidents, coordinating technical teams and executive leadership
  • Develop innovative and cutting-edge detection content aligned with ATT&CK, ATLAS, D3FENDand various other cyber security frameworks
  • Identify and surface patterns to leadership regarding root causes of problems. You anticipate future challenges and own the delivery of solutions before they become bottlenecks.
  • Ensure tracking of OKRs aligned to maturity models, defining, tracking and reporting on KPIs and KRIs to track operational and strategic improvements
Collaboration & Communication
  • Partner with threat intelligence, other security teams to enhance detection and response capabilities.
  • Act as a liaison with legal, compliance, and public relations during high-impact incidents.
  • Provide executive-level briefings and actionable insights to senior leadership.
Continuous Improvement
  • Drive automation and orchestration initiatives to improveoperationalefficiency.
  • Monitor emerging threats and adaptoperations, tactics, and strategiesaccordingly.
  • Lead tabletop exercises andothersimulations to validate readiness.

RequiredQualifications:

  • 15+ years of experience in cybersecurity with 8 years in a leadership role managing global detection and response, threat hunting, or security operations teams.
  • Experience developing and executing a long-term strategic vision for security operations at an enterprise scale.
  • Experience leveraging automation and orchestration (i.e., SOAR) to improve the efficiency and effectiveness of a security operations center (SOC).
  • Experience with the application of AI and Machine Learning (AI/ML) on security data for anomaly detection, threat modeling, and predictive security.
  • Experience managing a globally distributed 24/7 security operations team.
  • Experience defining and driving a multiyear strategy for threat detection and response.
  • Strong understanding ofsecurity frameworks, risk management, and incident response
  • Deep understanding of people, process, technologies of successful cybersecurity program
  • Strongleadershipand people managementskills
  • Strong project management and time management skills
  • Proficient in analyzing operational data and creatingvisualizationsand reports
  • Strong communicator, verbal and written, withpresenterskills

Education
Bachelor'sdegreerequired or demonstration ofspecialized trainingin the areas of SOC / CSIRT military or like-structured methodology

Advanced Degreepreferred;technical certifications in advanced management of security incident and remediation will be considered.

Pay Range

The typical pay range for this role is:

$175,100.00 - $334,750.00


This pay range represents the base hourly rate or base annual full-time salary for all positions in the job grade within which this position falls. The actual base salary offer will depend on a variety of factors including experience, education, geography and other relevant factors. This position is eligible for a CVS Health bonus, commission or short-term incentive program in addition to the base pay range listed above. This position also includes an award target in the company’s equity award program.

Great benefits for great people

We take pride in offering a comprehensive and competitive mix of pay and benefits that reflects our commitment to our colleagues and their families.

This fulltime position is eligible for a comprehensive benefits package designed to support the physical, emotional, and financial wellbeing of colleagues and their families. The benefits for this position include medical, dental, and vision coverage, paid time off, retirement savings options, wellness programs, and other resources, based on eligibility.


Additional details about available benefits are provided during the application process and on .

We anticipate the application window for this opening will close on: 08/29/2026

About CVS Health

Omnicare provides comprehensive pharmaceutical services to patients and providers across the United States. As the market-leader in professional pharmacy, related consulting and data management services for skilled nursing, assisted living and other chronic care settings, Omnicare leverages its unparalleled clinical insight into the geriatric market along with some of the industry's most innovative technological capabilities to the benefit of its long-term care customers. Omnicare also provides key commercialization services for the bio-pharmaceutical industry through its Specialty Care Group.

CVS Health Careers

Joining CVS Health presents a unique opportunity to advance your career in a company where innovation, leadership, and growth go hand in hand. As a leader in the healthcare industry, CVS Health is more than just a pharmacy. We are a team of professionals dedicated to improving lives and optimizing health outcomes.

Work You’ll Do

At CVS Health, you will be part of a culture that values diversity and inclusivity, fostering an environment where every team member’s contribution is valued. Engage in meaningful work that directly impacts lives, driving innovation in healthcare services and solutions.

Explore Job Opportunities

Whether you’re looking for a position in pharmacy services, corporate leadership, or in-store management, CVS Health offers a variety of employment opportunities that will help you harness your skills and thrive professionally. Our job opportunities span across a wide range of professional fields and geographic locations, ensuring that your career at CVS Health aligns with your professional goals and lifestyle.

Internship Programs

Kickstart your career with CVS Health through our internship programs. These opportunities are designed for ambitious students eager to develop their skills in a real-world setting. Internships at CVS Health are not only about gaining work experience but also about making meaningful contributions to our ongoing projects.

Professional Growth and Development

CVS Health is committed to the professional growth of our employees. With access to cutting-edge technology, industry-leading experts, and comprehensive diversity training, our team members are equipped to lead and innovate. We support career advancement through professional development programs, leadership training, and opportunities for networking and internal mobility.

Benefits and Culture

Our employees enjoy a range of benefits that reflect our commitment to their well-being and success. From health and wellness benefits to professional development programs, CVS Health is dedicated to ensuring our team members have the resources they need. Our inclusive culture encourages collaboration and continuous learning, making CVS Health a place where you can grow and succeed.

Join Our Team

Ready to take the next step in your career? Explore the open positions at CVS Health that match your skills and interests. We are continuously hiring and looking for passionate, curious, and solution-driven team players.

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READ CAREERS BLOG

Stay ahead in your career with insights from those who know CVS Health best – our team. Learn from their experiences and get insider tips that can help you succeed in your next interview, craft a standout resume, and build a career you’re proud of at CVS Health.
Learn more about CVS Health
Size
300,000 employees
Market Cap
$122 billion
Industry
Net Income
$7.1 billion
Founded
1963
5 Year Trend
+10.5%
Revenue
$268.7 billion
NASDAQ

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