Cyber Defense Director

Ameris Bank is a purpose-driven company, dedicated to bringing financial peace of mind to communities, one person at a time. Whether a customer wants to grow their business, buy a home, or feel confident in their retirement plan, they have a partner in Ameris Bank. We serve customers in our locations across the Southeast, Mid-Atlantic and nationwide through our extensive digital offerings and mobile app.

Delivering financial peace of mind starts with a team that values integrity and rewards ingenuity. At Ameris, you'll find teammates who are inclusive, collaborative problem-solvers who go the extra mile to support one another and to meet every customer's needs. When teammates are empowered and bring their diverse perspectives to the table, we create the best possible outcomes for our customers. At Ameris, we know that a growth mindset is key for high performance and fosters an environment that prioritizes continuous improvement. Teammates have access to Employee Resource Groups that serve as advocates and allies as well as professional development opportunities to drive ongoing education. Learn more about our purpose and how you can bring it to life as an Ameris Bank teammate.

The Cyber Defense Director will lead and shape the organization's cybersecurity strategy to anticipate, detect, and respond to evolving threats. This role oversees a multidisciplinary team responsible for threat intelligence, countermeasures, security alerting and monitoring, incident response, and digital forensics. The ideal candidate will bring deep expertise in advanced threat detection, cutting-edge defense technologies, and operational leadership to ensure the organization remains resilient against cyber threats. Performs other projects and duties as assigned.

Essential Functions, Duties, and Responsibilities:

• Develop and implement comprehensive security strategies, policies, and procedures that align to industry standards (e.g. NIST, FFIEC).
• Lead, mentor, and manage the security operations team, fostering a culture of security awareness across.
• Lead the development and implementation of a comprehensive threat intelligence program, leveraging internal and external sources.
• Analyze and contextualize threat intelligence to identify trends, actors, and emerging attack vectors.
• Collaborate with cross-functional teams to develop and implement countermeasures to address identified threats, including advanced persistent threats (APTs) and emerging cyber threats.
• Build partnerships with industry peers, government agencies, and threat intelligence communities to enhance situational awareness.
• Provide threat intelligence insights to guide decision-making at the executive level.
• Design and oversee a 24/7 Security Operations Center (SOC) for real-time monitoring and alerting.
• Optimize security monitoring to ensure the right use cases through threat modeling are in place and aligned to MITRE ATT&CK methodology.
• Ensure continuous tuning of SIEM, EDR, and other security monitoring platforms to reduce false positives and enhance detection capabilities.
• Oversee the daily operations of the security operations center (SOC), ensuring effective monitoring.
• Develop and manage the organization's incident response plan, ensuring swift and effective response to cybersecurity events.
• Lead and coordinate incident response activities, including investigation, containment, eradication, and recovery.
• Conduct post-incident reviews and root cause analyses to drive improvements in response processes and prevent future incidents.
• Oversee forensic investigations to collect, analyze, and preserve digital evidence for security incidents.
• Establish processes and tools to ensure forensic readiness and evidence chain-of-custody compliance.
• Collaborate with legal, compliance, and law enforcement teams during investigations and litigation support.

Required Knowledge, Skills and Competencies:

• Strong knowledge of security technologies such as SIEM, EDR, NDR, SOAR, and forensic tools.
• Strong knowledge of threat intelligence frameworks (e.g., MITRE ATT&CK, Diamond Model, Kill Chain).
• Strong knowledge of digital forensics, including file system analysis, memory forensics, and malware reverse engineering.
• Proficiency in scripting and automation (e.g., Python, PowerShell) for threat detection and analysis.
• Experience with experience leveraging a MSSP provider.
• Strong understanding of security frameworks, standards, and best practices.
• Proven ability to manage and lead a security operations team.
• Exceptional communication and collaboration skills to effectively interact with technical teams, executive leadership, and external partners.
• Strategic thinking with the ability to anticipate evolving threats and adapt the cybersecurity posture accordingly.
• Strong problem-solving skills and decision-making under pressure.

Industry and Work Experience:

• 10+ years of experience in cybersecurity with a focus on threat intelligence, incident response, and digital forensics required.
• 5+ years of leadership experience managing cybersecurity teams and programs required.

Academic:

• Bachelor's degree in Cybersecurity, Computer Science, Information Technology, or a related field required.
• Master's degree in Cybersecurity, Computer Science, Information Technology, or a related field preferred.
• CISSP, CISM, or CISA certifications required.
• GIAC certifications such as GCFA, GREM, or GCIH certifications preferred.
• CEH or equivalent ethical hacking certifications preferred.

Benefits Available to Employees:

Ameris Bank provides a comprehensive employee benefit package to all eligible employees.

• Medical, Dental and Vision Insurance
• Ameris Bank absorbs a major portion of the cost of healthcare. You become eligible for coverage on the first of the month following 30 days of employment
• Life Insurance provided at no additional cost to employees
• Accidental Death & Dismemberment Coverage
• Long-Term Disability Coverage
• Paid Sick and Vacation Leave
• 11 Holidays
• Volunteer/Service Day
• Employee Stock Purchase Plan
• 401(k) Retirement Plan
• Ameris Bank matches 50% of your first 8% of contributions to the plan
• Flexible Spending Accounts
• Health Savings Account
• Health Reimbursement Arrangement
• Supplemental Life & Other Insurance Plans
• Identity Theft Protection
• Pet Insurance
• Legal Insurance
• Employee Assistance Program
• Employee Advocacy Program
• Tickets at Work (Entertainment discounts for Ameris Bank Employees)
• AT&T Employee Discount
• Wellness Discounts for Medical Premiums and Other Rewards
• Employee Referral Incentive
• Education Assistance
• Employee Resource Groups

Banking Advantages for Employees:

In addition to a wide array of benefits, Ameris Bank employees are also eligible for special bank services.

• Free Interest Checking
• Free Safe Deposit Box
• Free Money Orders, Travelers' Checks and Cashier Checks
• Discount on Mortgage Origination Fee
• Free Online Banking and Free Unlimited Online Bill Payment
• Employee Banking Perks

Disclaimer:

The above job description is meant to describe the general nature and level of work being performed; it is not intended to be construed as an exhaustive list of all responsibilities, duties, and skills required for the position.

All job requirements are subject to possible modification to reasonably accommodate individuals with disabilities. Some requirements may exclude individuals who pose a direct threat or significant risk to the health and safety of themselves or other employees.