Senior Specialist, Information Security (GRC)

The Senior Information Security Specialist (GRC) independently leads complex governance, risk, and compliance activities and serves as a subject matter expert in one or more GRC domains — enterprise information security governance, risk management frameworks, regulatory compliance, or third-party risk management. 

The role produces high-quality GRC deliverables, provides technical mentoring to junior and mid-level team members, and contributes directly to the continuous improvement of the organization's GRC framework, risk treatment processes, and compliance reporting mechanisms. The Senior Specialist bridges technical execution and programme leadership, collaborating with leads, legal, audit, and business stakeholders to deliver mature, effective GRC outcomes aligned with the UAE Fintech regulatory environment. 

Key Responsibilities

Information Security Governance Leadership:

• Lead the development, review, and continuous improvement of information security policies, standards, procedures, and governance frameworks, ensuring alignment with CSF, NCA ECC, ISO 27001, and PCI-DSS.

• Serve as the subject matter expert for assigned regulatory domains, providing authoritative interpretation of requirements and translating them into implementable control objectives.

• Monitor and proactively track regulatory and legal developments affecting information security, assessing impact and recommending updates to the governance framework.

• Prepare and review governance documentation (RACI matrices, security charter updates, governance committee packs) and present findings to senior stakeholders.

• Lead the preparation of regulatory self-assessments and compliance attestations, coordinating evidence gathering and quality-reviewing submissions before senior sign-off.

• Mentor junior team members on governance documentation quality, regulatory interpretation, and risk assessment methodology.

Enterprise Risk Management:

• Lead the execution of complex enterprise information security risk assessments, applying advanced qualitative and quantitative methodologies to produce risk profiles aligned with the organisation's risk appetite.

• Own and maintain the enterprise information security risk register, ensuring accuracy, currency, and appropriate escalation of significant risks.

• Lead BIA processes for critical business functions, coordinating with asset owners, analysing recovery requirements, and producing BIA outputs for Business Continuity and Disaster Recovery planning.

• Design and execute control effectiveness testing programmes, producing findings reports with gap analysis and risk-ranked remediation recommendations.

• Lead third-party information security risk management, designing assessment frameworks, conducting in-depth vendor reviews, and maintaining the third-party risk register.

• Produce executive-quality risk reporting with trend analysis, emerging risk identification, and treatment progress tracking for senior management and committee consumption.

Compliance Programme Delivery:

• Lead compliance monitoring activities for CSF, NCA ECC, PDPL, ISO 27001, and PCI-DSS, producing gap analyses, treatment plans, and periodic compliance status reports.

• Manage internal and external audit cycles, coordinating evidence collection, reviewing evidence quality, engaging with auditors, and tracking remediation to closure.

• Design and deliver the security awareness programme, producing targeted content for different staff segments, conducting awareness sessions, and analysing effectiveness metrics.

• Develop and maintain GRC programme metrics dashboards, ensuring KPIs and KRIs are accurately measured and presented to senior management on schedule.

• Lead the integration of information security requirements into third-party contracts, procurement processes, and major project onboarding.

• Contribute to the development of the information security programme strategy, identifying capability improvement opportunities and recommending investment priorities to the Lead.

Cross-Functional Collaboration & Knowledge Leadership:

• Serve as the primary GRC point of contact for assigned business and technology teams, providing expert guidance on security requirements, risk treatment, and compliance obligations.

• Lead information classification and security requirements reviews for significant IT, product, and business projects.

• Contribute to the GRC knowledge base, developing reusable templates, guidance documents, and training materials for internal use.

• Represent the GRC function in cross-functional working groups, project steering committees, and regulatory workstreams.

Skills, Knowledge and Expertise

Education:

• Bachelor's degree in Information Technology, Computer Science, Software Engineering, Cybersecurity, Risk Management, or a related field.

• A Master's degree in Information Security, Risk Management, or Business Administration is an advantage.

Experience:

• 3+ years of progressive professional experience in information security governance, risk management, or compliance.

• Demonstrable experience independently leading risk assessment cycles, regulatory compliance programmes, or audit coordination activities.

• In-depth knowledge of at least two regulatory frameworks applicable to Fintech environments (CSF, NCA ECC, PDPL, ISO 27001, PCI-DSS) is required.

• Experience in a regulated Fintech or banking environment is strongly preferred.

Certifications & Licences:

• ISO 27001 Lead Implementer (required).

• CRISC (Certified in Risk and Information Systems Control) or CISM: required or actively working toward.

• CDPSE (Certified Data Privacy Solutions Engineer) is an advantage for PDPL specialists.

Benefits

• A working environment that gives you autonomy and responsibility from day one.

• You should be comfortable with the idea that the quality of your work will influence the shape of your career.

• Participation in the company’s employee stock options program.

• Health Insurance

• Flexi Perks: A monetary benefit that gives you the freedom to use it as you choose—whether for health and well-being, education and professional development or travel needs!